MARGAO
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually flagged off the Margao-Mumbai Vande Bharat semi-express train on Tuesday, expected to cover the distance between the two cities in eight hours, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said track doubling of the Konkan railway line will further reduce the travel time to five hours in future.
Saying a small State such as Goa has seen big time developments in road, rail, water and air connectivity in the last nine years, the Chief Minister said introduction of the Vande Bharat will help boost tourism, business and trade and save travel time for the people of Goa availing medical facilities in Mumbai.
Saying that tourism in Goa will soon get a further boost with international connectivity to Mopa airport on the anvil, the Chief Minister disclosed plans to bring about major tourism connectivity from the MPT port in near future.
Sawant said Goa has seen big time air, water, road and rail connectivity in recent years with the commissioning of the Mopa airport and the development of the Patradevi-Polem NH66.
“After its commissioning, Mopa airport is now connected to 20 new cities across the country. There will not be a single city left out with connectivity from Mopa. This is going to immensely benefit Goa and the people”, he said.
“Fears were raised in certain quarters that Dabolim will be shut once Mopa becomes a reality. Today, both Mopa and Dabolim are open and operate in a big way”, he said.
On further strengthening rail connectivity between Goa and Mumbai, the Chief Minister said Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has been requested to the take up track doubling of the Konkan railway route for faster movement of trains between Mumbai and Goa.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said the Vande Bharat will help people to explore new places of tourism and culture in Goa and Maharashtra. “This is a good beginning today on the rail connectivity front. We have recently connected Goa to new cities across the country via the Mopa airport. The Vande Bharat will help connectivity and accessibility for the people and tourists”, he said.
Union Minister Sripad Naik, Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar, besides Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said Vande Bharat will give a further boost to tourism and connectivity in the two States.
