Konkan Railway may turn to govt for green signal to set up railway stations in Areal and Sarzora

Questions, however, remain unanswered over the Konkan Railway’s plan to build two new railway stations in the immediate vicinity of Margao, playing host to the Margao Junction railway station. One, what role is the Areal and Sarzora station expected to play when all the long distance and main trains halt at the Margao railway junction? Or, are  the proposed stations aimed at catering to the local rail traffic in the future? Or are they being built to facilitate crossing of trains given that Margao railway junction has reached a point of saturation coupled with the fact that new trains are being added every year by the Indian railways?

Konkan Railway deputy general Manager, Public Relations Baban Ghatge said the Konkan railway has drawn up a plan of action to tide over the saturation of lines at the Margao railway junction. “Margao railway station has almost reached the point of saturation. From one platform, we now have a total of six platforms at the Margao railway junction. There’s no space to add more platforms and the loop lines. New trains are being added by the Indian railways every year. We have to keep pace with the growing requirements. Hence, we zeroed in on Areal which is located just 2.5 kms away from Margao”, he said.

Interestingly, Ghatge said work on the proposed railway station at Areal has already started in right earnest. 

“The station at Areal will have a platform and two lines. Primarily, the Areal station is meant to facilitate crossings of trains especially during peak hours when Margao cannot handle the additional traffic”, he said.

He refuted reports that Areal station is being developed to handle coal and goods in the future. “To handle goods, you need a yard. There is no space at Areal to set up a yard. Hence, the new station will be only meant for passenger traffic”, he said.