Paswan for quality coaches

PANAJI, Aug 25: The Union Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has warned that railway works of sub-standard quality would not be tolerated by...

PANAJI, Aug 25: The Union Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has warned that railway works of sub-standard quality would not be tolerated by him and officers responsible for them would invite strict action. And following his precept with practice, the Minister ordered a probe into the poor quality of coaches, soon after inaugurating three new train services in the State.

The three new services are Konkan Railway8217;s new Margao-Mangalore Express service, South Central Railway8217;s commuter train service between Kullem and Vasco and the new diesel rail car shuttle service between Pornem and Canacona which will be operated by the Konkan Railway specially on the request of the Government which has also shared 50 per cent of the total cost of Rs 3 crores.

The quality of the newly procured coaches for these services displeased the Railway Minister so much that he promptly ordered a probe to fix the responsibility for the lapse.8220;We have 20-year-old coaches which look much better than these,8221; he commented much to the embarrassment of the Railway officials present.

Insisting that available resources should be put to best possible use, Paswan, in an obvious reference to high levels of corruption in the railways, said measure had been initiated by him to bring about greater transparency in the railway functioning and minimise scope for corruption. Paswan announced that railway booking offices would be opened at all International airports including Goa to popularise rail travel with the tourists.

With the introduction of rail car service between Pernem and Canacona the 105 kms route in Goa sector now becomes fully operational except for a small stretch at Parnem which is still incomplete because of the unfinished Pernem tunnel.

This tunnel, according to KRC officials will be ready by October after which, a through traffic from Mumbai to Managlore via Goa would be made operational. At present, the service from Mumbai comes up to Sawantanwadi and from Managalore up to Margao.