Speaking at the remote flagging off of the double decker train at Kala Academy, Union Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu said, "plans to collaborate with 17 State governments to boost railway infrastructure are in the pipeline as Indian Railways eye major changes with hopes of being a significant contributor to the GDP of the nation".
PANAJI/MARGAO: Train travel from Goa to Mumbai got a further boost today with the launch of of a double decker AC train from Madgaon to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai.
The double decker AC train would run three times a week with a carrying capacity of 1000 passengers -- 120 passengers can be accommodated in each bogie with 70 in the upper deck and 50 in lower.
“Currently all infrastructure development was undertaken by the Union government through the railway budget. We have plans of collaborating with State governments and 17 States including Kerala and Maharashtra have shown interest in working with the railways”, he said.
The Union minister also said safety standards of railways will be revamped.
He went on to say that if implemented, the annual GDP would see an increase of at least 2.5 to 3 per cent. Additionally, he also announced Indian Railways had signed an agreement with Japan, Korea and 10 other countries to form a collaboration tackling ways of how to better the railways safety standards.
Plans are also afoot for Goa-Tirupati train. “There has been interest in the Goa-Tirupati route which we will try on an experimental basis. Based on the response and if there is sufficient interest, we may consider making it a regular route,” said Prabhu.
Also speaking at the flag off, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar praised the central government’s initiative in connecting Goa with the rest of India citing the recently launched Goa-Delhi Rajdhani Express. “Konkan Railways has helped Goa in a big way in improving railway stations and in providing better infrastructure. This proposal was put in two months ago, it is due to the efforts of Prabhu that it has be implemented,” he said.
He also highlighted plans of a road overbridge proposal that had been submitted to the government.
Meanwhile, the remote-controlled flagging-off of the train from Panaji was telecast live at Margao Konkan Railway station.
Addressing the travellers and the assembled audience, MMC Chairperson Babita Angle Prabhudesai termed this event as a proud moment for Goans. She reminded the people that 21 days back, the Goa Rajdhani Express train was flagged off from Margao KR station by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu. “This event is a milestone in the history of Goa,” she said, while terming Prabhu as a “revolutionary” Railway Minister who has ushered in lot of reforms and transparency in the railways.
Earlier, Regional Railway Manager of KR, Bindu Madhavan welcomed the gathering.
