mangalore today

Konkan Rail plans doubling of tracks in Udupi- Thokur section


Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, June 3, 2015:   A media interaction on June 2, Tuesday, was informed  by Bindu Muralidharan, Konkan Railway Regional Head that railway track doubling for Udupi-Thokur and Roha-Karanjadi was submitted to government for the year 2015.


The official said that there was also a proposal to build new track route for Chiplun-Karad railway route.  Stating Konkan Railway always runs at profit,  loss was owing to loan repayment.


Konkan Rail plans exposed to publicOn security arrangements made at railway stations, she said CCTV cameras are introduced in all major railway stations across the Konkan Railway and Railway Police Force has intensified patrolling at the stations. Watchmen are deployed across major junctions where potential of danger exista, boulders are a danger largely along the Ratnagiri track. Watchmen deployed at 500-800 mets intervals including  tunnels is done.

Listing the activities taken up under rail passenger and Customer Facilitation Fortnight, she said the period is observed across zonal railways from May 26th to June 9.  Konkan railway has launched 25 year of Sadar Seva. Swacch Bharat Campaign is taken up as part of fortnight celebrations.


Steps would be taken to make Madgaon Station a ’Zero Waste Station’ and  measures also would be taken to convert all stations suitable for green manure or energy. A compost plant is installed in Madgaon Station.  Bio toilets would be set up at all stations of Konkan Railway. The bio toilets are installed at Kankavali, Sawantwadi, Chiplun, Karmali, Madgaon, Karwar and Byndoor stations now. She said bio-degradable garbage is already installed from pantry car in the stations, by paying Rs 50 per 20 km to encourage collection of garbage.


The measure is taken to avoid littering of garbage on tracks and stations by pantry car. A fine of Rs 50,000 is imposed for littering or throwing garbage in other than nominated areas by either the pantry car or catering vendors. 


She said competitions are organised for employees children for hand crafts from waste material. The Regional head also said Konkan Railway will be purchasing 200 brooms made from organic product and manufactured by Sell-Help Group for ’ Cleanliness Drive’.  


Schools, colleges and NGO’s are being approached for participating in ’Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’.  Officials have been nominated for inspection of all stations along Konkan Railway route to ensure proper cleanliness.  Awards will also be given to those employees who have taken special initiative to keep their work areas and living areas clean. 

Tour guides : Training is being impacted for  tour guiding by Konkan railway. Local taxi and auto rickshaw drivers are roped in to promote tourism. During the fortnight special ticket checking drives have been planned on Konkan Railway route.  

The Konkan Railway has earned Rs 9.07 crore during 2013-14 and 11.48 crores during 2014-15 as fine by conducting surprise checks.

For patients below poverty line, a special camp is been organised at Gokarna Station. She said meetings will be held with sarpanchs and villagers residing near level crossing gates to prevent level crossing accidents. Tourism policy for Konkan Railway is underway with Tourism Directorate of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.

The official said that  extension and widening of platform, provision of escalator is taken up at Udupi railway station and new station building, new platform and circulating area and 45x10 meters platform shelter is planned at Byndoor railway station respectively. Many other improvements are planned.