The Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) has proposed an investment of Rs 5,000 crore for capacity augmentation, comprising a 141-km doubling of critical portions and 18 new crossing stations, development of new stations and loop lines and electrification.
The project has been cleared by the Niti Aayog and the KRC is now expecting an early cabinet approval.
The capacity expansion, which is expected to be complete by 2024, will double the throughput to 80 from the present level of 40.
KRC CMD Sanjay Gupta told DNA, "The proposed investment is to provide more and more passenger amenities to facilitate a comfortable journey. The capacity expansion will further promote domestic and foreign direct tourists and related development for the entire coastal region in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.''
Gupta said that the KRC expects the doubling of the 46-km Veer Roha section by the end of 2019 or mid-2020. The project envisages an investment of Rs 240 crore. Furthermore, a Rs 200-crore project is underway for the development of 10 new stations of which, eight are in Maharashtra and two in Karnataka. The project also includes the addition of eight additional loop lines to increase line capacity. This is expected to be commissioned by December 2019 or mid-2020.
Apart from this, the KRC has launched the electrification of a 740-km corridor at the cost of Rs 1,100 crore. The project has been awarded to L&T and STS-KPTL. It is expected to be complete by end of 2020.
In addition, the KRC and Container Corporation of India, have jointly set up a multi-modal logistics park at Balli railway station in Goa with an investment of Rs 43 crore. The facility will be initially spread over 81,300 sqmt with scope for expansion as traffic is expected to grow in future. "The logistics park has started handling domestic container traffic and in due course of time, it will handle exim traffic. Additionally, commodities transported by both open and covered wagons are also handled from here,'' he said.
Further, Gupta said the KRC is investing Rs 400 crore in the setting up of rolling stock factory at Lote in Ratnagiri district.
Surging Ahead
- The KRC has launched the electrification of a 740-km corridor at the cost of Rs 1,100 crore. The project has been awarded to L&T and STS-KPTL. It is expected to be complete by end of 2020
- The KRC expects the doubling of the 46-km Veer Roha section by the end of 2019 or mid-2020. The project envisages an investment of Rs 240 crore
