Konkan Railway Extends RoRo Booking Deadline For Festival
Konkan Railway has extended the registration window for its popular Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) service to accommodate heavy passenger demand during the forthcoming Ganesh festival. The extension, which moves the booking deadline for the first journey to 22 August 2025, is expected to provide relief for thousands of travellers seeking flexible, hassle-free options to transport their vehicles along the busy Konkan route.
The RoRo service, which allows cars and small commercial vehicles to be carried on flatbed railway wagons, has consistently drawn strong interest from passengers during the festive season. By enabling motorists to bypass long highway delays and rising fuel costs, it offers both economic and environmental advantages. Officials said that for the inaugural trip scheduled from Kolad on 23 August, the registration deadline has been pushed back in response to repeated appeals from commuters for a more passenger-friendly system.
For subsequent services operating between 24 August and 11 September, the registration system has been redesigned with a three-day cut-off period prior to departure. This means passengers will have until 5 pm, three days before their intended journey, to secure a booking. The move is aimed at balancing operational planning with greater convenience for customers, many of whom finalise their travel plans closer to the festival dates.
Senior railway officials clarified that services may be cancelled if registrations fall below the minimum requirement. In such cases, passengers will be notified on the closing date of registration and full refunds will be processed. While this policy ensures financial safeguards for the operator, it also provides transparency for customers, preventing last-minute surprises. Transport experts view the extension as a progressive step towards sustainable mobility. By shifting vehicular traffic from highways to rail, the RoRo service reduces congestion, lowers carbon emissions, and enhances safety on narrow stretches of the Mumbai–Goa highway, which witnesses heavy holiday traffic during the festival period. The service also supports India’s broader climate commitments by encouraging cleaner, more efficient modes of transport.
Urban mobility researchers argue that such services should be expanded beyond seasonal windows. They highlight the potential of RoRo to play a larger role in integrating road and rail networks, thereby reducing dependency on private vehicles for long-distance travel. “Flexible systems like this are essential to encourage behavioural shifts towards more sustainable travel choices,” one researcher noted. For now, the Konkan Railway’s extension is being seen as both a practical and people-centric intervention. With passenger demand set to surge during Ganesh festival, the move underscores how operational flexibility, when aligned with sustainability goals, can deliver immediate public benefit while reinforcing long-term strategies for eco-friendly mobility.
