Merger of Konkan Railway only after approval from 4 states: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Merger of Konkan Railway only after approval from 4 states: Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 13, 2026: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that efforts are underway to merge the Konkan Railway with Indian Railways, but the timeline for the proposed merger remains uncertain as it requires the approval of the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.

Speaking to reporters at Mangaluru International Airport on Thursday night, Vaishnaw said the Union government and the four state governments are stakeholders in the Konkan Railway. He added that he had requested the chief ministers of all four states to approve the merger proposal.

On the proposed doubling of the railway line between Mangaluru and Bengaluru, the minister said administrative approval had been granted for a survey and preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR). The process is currently underway.

Acknowledging the engineering challenges involved in doubling the track through the Western Ghats, Vaishnaw said the project had been redesigned after taking into account the difficulties encountered during the construction of the existing line.

In particular, lessons from the steep gradients along the present route are being incorporated into the new plan to ensure a reduced slope on the second track and avoid operational difficulties.

Referring to the new Vande Bharat service connecting the coastal region with the state capital, Vaishnaw said the project involved overcoming several geographical and technical challenges, including structural modifications along the steep Ghat sections, adjustments to track electrification and customised train configurations.

Responding to Karnataka Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil’s allegations that the state had been treated unfairly in the allocation of railway projects, Vaishnaw dismissed the claims as baseless.

He said Karnataka had received unprecedented investment and support under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He cited railway projects worth around Rs 27,000 crore currently underway in the state, along with sanctioned bullet train projects, multiple Vande Bharat and Vande Bharat Sleeper services, and extensive railway station redevelopment works.