Mumbai, Sep 3 (IANS) Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday flagged off the inaugural service of the new train between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Sawantwadi Road, marking a significant step towards strengthening direct rail connectivity between Mumbai and the Konkan region.
Minister Vaishnaw was accompanied by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, among others.
The new train service will provide an important direct railway link between Mumbai and several major towns across the Konkan region, covering a distance of around 510 km.
With a wide network of stoppages, the service will benefit passengers travelling to and from Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts.
Minister Vaishnaw said the new service would meet the long-standing demand of the people of Mumbai and Konkan.
He highlighted that 350 special trains are being operated this year to facilitate the movement of passengers during the Ganeshotsav festival.
He added that arrangements have also been made to increase the number to 370 trains, if required.
Union Minister Goyal said that the launch of the new daily train service between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Sawantwadi brings immense joy to the people of Maharashtra, particularly during the upcoming Ganesh Utsav.
He highlighted that the new railway service is not merely the launch of another train but an important milestone in the development journey of the Konkan region.
He stressed that the new service will help connect lakhs of families by providing a safe, fast and reliable journey between Mumbai and Konkan.
Union Minister Goyal also said that as freight movement increases on the route, fishermen and other local producers will be able to transport their goods to Mumbai more quickly.
He emphasised that improved connectivity will create employment opportunities in Konkan and reduce the need for young people to migrate in search of work.
He also pointed to the benefits for students, employees and families.
He said that people from Konkan who study or work in Mumbai will be able to maintain closer links with their families and travel more conveniently.
He added that Mumbai’s higher education opportunities and healthcare services will become more accessible to people in Konkan through improved rail connectivity.
Deputy Chief Minister Shinde said the new railway service is a major gift for the people of Konkan, migrant workers and devotees travelling to their native places during Ganesh Utsav.
He highlighted several major railway achievements, including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, Vande Bharat trains and expansion of the railway network across the country.
He particularly noted the completion of electrification of the 741-km Konkan Railway route in record time.
He said the initiative has enabled a more environment-friendly journey and increased train speeds.
The new railway service is expected to give a further boost to tourism in the Konkan region by improving rail access to destinations in Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Kankavli, Kudal and Sawantwadi.
Enhanced connectivity will facilitate travel for tourists while creating greater opportunities for local tourism-related businesses and services.
The service will also benefit students, employees, traders, families and other regular travellers by providing an additional dependable rail option between Mumbai and Konkan.
Improved movement of people will strengthen economic linkages between Mumbai and the region and support local economic activity, the government statement said.
The train is particularly expected to provide additional travel capacity during festivals, holidays and the tourism season, when passenger demand between Mumbai and Konkan witnesses a substantial increase.
The service will operate with an LHB rake, providing passengers with modern and comfortable passenger coaches.
Speaking about the Mumbai suburban railway network, Union Minister Vaishnaw emphasised that several major works are being undertaken to increase capacity and improve passenger services.
He said projects worth around Rs 18,000 crore are currently underway in Mumbai.
He noted that the Railways is systematically extending platforms designed for 12-coach trains to accommodate 15-coach trains.
He said work has already been completed at several locations, adding that these initiatives will significantly enhance the capacity of the suburban railway system and improve the daily lives of Mumbaikars.
Union Minister Vaishnaw also mentioned that the Railways is upgrading the existing signalling system to a modern signalling system to further improve the capacity and efficiency of the Mumbai suburban network.
He said 238 new AC local train rakes have also been sanctioned to meet Mumbai’s requirement without delay.
He announced that delivery of the first AC local train will begin in 2027.
Union Minister Vaishnaw said this will transform the Mumbai suburban railway system with new-generation, air-conditioned local trains, increased capacity and improved passenger comfort.
Turning to the Dedicated Freight Corridors, Vaishnaw added that the Eastern and Western Dedicated Freight Corridors are a major strength for the country.
He said that both freight corridors are now 100 per cent complete.
He also referred to the announcement in the Union Budget of a new East-West Dedicated Freight Corridor.
He said that the Railways is designing the new corridor from Dankuni to Surat in a manner that will provide rail connectivity to several areas of Vidarbha, Marathwada and Western Maharashtra, while also connecting the corridor towards Wardha and the port at Nashik, providing a strong network for industrial and rural development in Maharashtra.
On the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, Union Minister Vaishnaw said that work is progressing rapidly.
He highlighted the construction of an undersea rail tunnel, which will connect Bandra-Kurla Complex and Thane.
Two tunnel boring machines, one from Vikhroli and the other from Ghansoli, are currently working on the tunnel.
–IANS
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