CANACONA
After persistent demands and agitations by locals, the Railway Board has decided that two long distance trains will halt at the Canacona Konkan Railway Station from April 2, but these halts will be on experimental basis.
In a communique issued by the Railway Ministry, the Railway Board Joint Director stated that two trains, Netravati and Gandhidham Express, should be provided on an experimental basis for a period of six months at Canacona KRC station.
The Netravati Express (16345/16346) plies daily between Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram, while the Gandhidham-Nagarcoil Express (16335/16336) plies weekly.
The Railway Board has approved the halt at Canacona railway station for the Netravati train plying on either directions (Up and Down) from April 2, while the weekly Gandhidham-Nagarcoil Express will began its halt at Canacona on April 5 for the up-train coming from Thiruvananthapuram and for the down-train coming from Gandhidham on April 8.
The Railway Board has asked the respective Circle General Managers (Optg) to keep a close watch on sale of tickets at Canacona station and to report the same within five months for a review of the stoppages.
It may be recalled that these two trains along with the weekly train Magsyagandha Express used to halt at the Canacona KRC station till the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic suspended train services throughout the country.
When trains services were resumed, stoppages (halts) for these all three trains were cancelled, sparking off several complaints in Canacona.
Canconcars, including senior citizens, NGOs and political parties other than BJP, agitated in Canacona, forcing Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar to take up the matter in Delhi.
Tawadkar met the union railways minister on February 8, who assured to get two trains to halt at Canacona immediately, while a halt for the third train would be considered a short while later.
Despite the union minister’s assurance, these two trains were yet to make a halt at Canacona railway station even after a month and this led to bitter complaints from people in Canacona.
However, news that the Railway Board has decided that two long distance trains will halt at the Canacona Konkan Railway Station from April 2 on the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa will be welcomed by the people in Canacona.
