Nishtha Ganesh
Minister of State for Railways, V Somanna, announced that the Centre is considering merging Konkan Railways with Indian Railways to improve services for commuters. Speaking during the arrival of the Pune-Hubballi Vande Bharat train, Somanna highlighted the extensive Konkan Railways network, which spans 742 km in Karnataka.
He emphasised the need for better services and mentioned that discussions are underway with the governments of Karnataka, Kerala, and Goa. The merger process will begin once Maharashtra is on board, aiming to enhance the overall efficiency of the railway system.
Somanna also noted that while previous railway projects in Karnataka were executed with 50% state government contributions, due to a lack of current cooperation, the Centre will now bear all project costs. This decision marks a shift in the funding approach for ongoing and future railway initiatives.
Additionally, he assured that many pending projects in the state would soon be completed, including the direct railway line between Belagavi and Dharwad, which is expected to be finished in three years. Land acquisition for the project will be completed within three months.
