Protest marks demand for stop at Pernem

Konkan Railway Corporation Managing Director B Rajaram said the commissioning of the trains has put Konkan Railway on the economic map of the country and opened new markets for the people of the north as both freight and passenger trains would be allowed on this route.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday night, he said 28 trains would run up and down the route every day. Although there is higher revenue generation from freight trains, a healthy balance would be struck by operating six passenger trains everyday.

With the anticipated traffic potentialof the region, Rajaram said it was expected that the single line would saturate in five to six years which would necessitate doubling the lines on the route.

He expected the survey to be carried out next year for laying the double lines for which land had already been acquired.

According to the Konkan Railway Corporation chief, the Corporation would have to generate a surplus of Rs 200 crore per annum in order to meet in order to repay the existing debts. “We plan to earn Rs 30 lakh to Rs 35 lakh from passenger traffic and about Rs one crore from freight traffic per day. Unless we earn about Rs 1.3 crore per day, we will not be able to meet our debt payment,” he said.

Describing the completion of the project as “a triumph of human spirit” he said it was the human spirit which helped the Konkan Railway Corporation overcome the ecological challenge.

Among the industries that will gain from the Konkan Railway are iron ore in Roha, steel in Sawanwadi and refinery products in Mangalore. TheMaharashtra Industrial Development Corporation in Kudal is also expected to benefit from the Railway. He said prospective users were being tapped and that a meeting would soon be held with chemical manufacturers in Khandala.