A passenger organisation has urged the Union Railway Ministry to fast-track the expansion of the Sawantwadi railway terminus in Maharashtra and provide dedicated capital funding through the third Financial Restructuring Package of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL).
The Konkan Railway Pravasi Sanghatana (KRPAS) made the request in a representation to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The representation, submitted on behalf of commuters, passenger associations and residents of coastal Maharashtra and the Konkan region, called for the long-pending project to be included in ongoing capacity-enhancement and restructuring plans.
The group said additional terminal facilities are particularly important during peak travel periods such as Ganeshotsav, when passenger traffic on the Konkan Railway route rises sharply. It has sought the development of two additional high-level island platforms, dedicated loop lines, stabilising tracks and a standard coach-maintenance pit line at Sawantwadi.
According to KRPAS, these facilities would allow the station to handle train terminations, reversals and stabling more effectively. The organisation said inadequate terminal and stabling infrastructure was affecting train operations serving passengers in South Konkan.
KRPAS vice-president Sagar Talwadekar said several services catering to South Konkan passengers currently operate up to Madgaon in Goa. The passenger body said developing Sawantwadi as a fully equipped terminal could allow more trains to terminate and reverse closer to their main passenger catchment area.
The proposed facilities are also intended to improve rolling-stock turnaround and provide additional operational support on the Konkan Railway network. The passenger organisation has linked the request to the need for improved capacity during periods of high demand, although no implementation schedule or funding allocation was cited in the representation as reported.
The Sawantwadi terminus project has been pending since its foundation stone was laid on June 27, 2015. KRPAS has now asked that the project be brought under the third Financial Restructuring proposal of KRCL and supported through dedicated capital funding.
The representation also referred to a review by the Network Planning Group under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. KRPAS welcomed proposed investments in safety and capacity-enhancement works along the Konkan Railway route but expressed concern that the Sawantwadi terminus expansion continued to be excluded from the plans.
The passenger organisation said completing the project would strengthen railway infrastructure in South Konkan and improve operational support during periods of high passenger demand. The next step sought by KRPAS is consideration of the project by the Railway Ministry as part of KRCL’s restructuring and capacity-enhancement proposals.
