PWD Minister Digambar Kamat inaugurating the new waiting halls at the Margao railway station in the presence of KRC CMD Santosh Kumar Jha. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
With the new waiting halls at the Margao railway station inaugurated on Tuesday, the station is set to receive additional facilities in the coming months, benefiting passengers as well as residents on the Aquem side.
The proposed facilities include a station building and a footbridge on the Aquem side, together costing Rs 50 crore. The station will also get a transit lounge and an additional platform with provision to accommodate a 24-coach train.
After inaugurating the new waiting halls, PWD Minister Digambar Kamat said the Goa government would release a part payment of Rs 25 crore in the coming days towards the construction of the station building and footbridge at Aquem.
“The station building on the Aquem side will benefit locals and passengers alike, as it will have all facilities, including ticket booking. The footbridge will also help people from Aquem cross over to Navelim quickly instead of having to take the flyover or the old station footbridge,” he said.
Stating that the Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) had extended cooperation and coordination from the beginning for the benefit of the local population, Kamat recalled that the Margao flyover became a reality after KRC permitted its construction over railway property and tracks.
He said KRC would soon begin painting the footbridges connecting Margao to the southern side of the city, adding that the Goa government had released funds for the work.
KRC Chairman and Managing Director Santosh Kumar Jha thanked the Goa government, including Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and PWD Minister Digambar Kamat, for extending cooperation to the corporation in providing passenger amenities at the station. “The transit lounge, additional platform, station building and footbridge will further improve passenger amenities at the Margao railway station,” he added.
Patch doubling need of the hour: KRC chief
MARGAO: Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) Chairman and Managing Director Santosh Kumar Jha on Tuesday said patch doubling of the Konkan Railway track was the need of the hour, while expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for pursuing the issue with the Union Railway Minister.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new waiting halls at the Margao railway station, Jha said the survey for patch doubling would begin shortly and cover the stretch up to Mangaluru.
“Patch doubling of the tracks is the need of the hour. The Goa Chief Minister has been pursuing the matter with the Union Railway Minister. I am confident that the Railway Ministry will soon sanction the project,” he added.
