The proposed Konkan Railway merger with Indian Railways will require approval from the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Mangaluru on Thursday. He added that the Centre had begun efforts to secure the consent of the four states, but that no timeline could yet be given for completing the process.
Vaishnaw made the remarks while speaking to reporters at Mangaluru International Airport during a visit to the city for the launch of the Bengaluru–Mangaluru Vande Bharat service. He said the central government and the four states are partners in Konkan Railway, making their approval necessary for any merger with Indian Railways.
“An effort is being made to merge Konkan Railway with Indian Railways. It cannot be said now how much time this will take. It depends on the decision of the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala,” Vaishnaw said, according to the report.
The proposed merger would concern the railway corporation that operates the coastal route connecting the western states through some of India’s most difficult terrain. The minister did not provide details of the proposed administrative structure, financial arrangements or the process through which the states would give their consent.
Vaishnaw also said approval had been granted for the survey and preparation of a detailed project report for constructing a second railway line between Mangaluru and Bengaluru. The DPR process is currently under way, he said. The project would involve expanding capacity through the Western Ghats, where terrain and gradients have historically made railway construction and operations difficult.
The minister said the proposed second line had been redesigned to avoid repeating problems encountered after the first line was built. According to him, sections of the existing route through the Western Ghats have steep gradients, and the new line would be planned with gradients kept as low as possible. He described construction of a second line in the region as a challenging task but said the project would be taken up.
The Bengaluru–Mangaluru Vande Bharat service is intended to improve rail connectivity between Karnataka’s coastal region and its capital. Vaishnaw said the route required modifications because of the steep Western Ghats, including changes made during electrification to suit the terrain. He added that modifications had also been made to the train for operating on the route.
Responding to allegations that Karnataka was being treated unfairly in the approval of railway projects, Vaishnaw rejected the charge. He said railway projects worth approximately ₹27,000 crore are under implementation in Karnataka, and referred to the approval of bullet train infrastructure, several Vande Bharat services and a Vande Bharat sleeper train, along with station redevelopment works.
The immediate next steps are the preparation of the Mangaluru–Bengaluru double-line DPR and consultations with the four state governments on the proposed Konkan Railway merger. No completion schedule for either process was announced.
