PANAJI
The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) is cashing on the heavy travel demand on its route during the Ganesh Chathurti festival and all the specials it has introduced are running full.
The Corporation is running 312 special trains during the festival, celebrated across the Konkan region with reverence. The number of special trains is marginally higher than the 302 specials the Corporation pressed into service last year.
The working population of the Konkan region, especially in Maharashtra, returns to their native villages from cities like Mumbai, Pune and elsewhere to celebrate the Ganesh festival which is why the special trains are introduced on the Konkan Railway line.
In 2016, the KRCL had operated 240 special trains which dipped a bit to 236 in 2017. It further went down to 202 special trains in 2018, and marginally rose to 217 in 2019.
In 2020, however, due to the pandemic and lockdowns, the Ganeshotsav festivities were muted even in the Konkan. Only 194 special trains were run but it quickly rose in 2021 to 256 special trains. Last year, 302 special trains plied during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.
KRCL sources said, the number of special trains for the Ganesh Chathurti period could climb beyond the planned 312 going by the current rush on the route.
