http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=021515
Margao-Mangalore express train flagged off NT News Service Margao Feb 14: Assuring that passengers would not be taxed in the Railway Budget, the Union Minister of State for Railways, Mr R Velu today observed that a lot of economic activities had been witnessed by Goa since the commencement of the Konkan Railway. He state that despite initial apprehensions of environment degradation and massive opposition, the project had taken off. Flagging off the Madgaon-Mangalore Janashatabdi Express this afternoon at a function held at the Madgaon railway station, Mr Velu said the commissioning of the express train was possible only due to the demand of the MPs from the state. "The Railway is the common man's mode of transport," he observed. Mr Velu said that under the leadership of Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav, the railway ministry had been taking bigger strides. "We have now adopted a new aggressive marketing strategy and have strengthened our public-private partnership," he revealed. The minister congratulated the KRCL for introducing several innovative ideas. "The roll-on and roll-off system and the patents in KRCL's kitty are commendable," he stated. He informed that the Union government had decided that any metro with a population of above five million would be granted a metro-rail system. Talking about the skybus project, Mr Velu informed that the KRCL was in talks with TUV of Germany for a safety certificate for the skybus. "The project is already patented and in about six months it will be equipped with a safety certificate," he said. The KRCL managing director, Dr K K Gokhale revealed that a long-standing demand of the people, the Janashatabdi Express would cut down travelling time between Madgaon and Mangalore. "Rake management problems kept the project pending despite it being sanctioned during the last Railway Budget," he said. Taking advantage of the presence of Mr Balu in Goa, the three MPs from the state today placed several of their demands before Mr Velu. The three MPs from the state — Lok Sabha MPs, Mr Churchill Alemao, Mr Shripad Naik and Rajya Sabha member, Mr Shantaram Naik — had varied demands ranging from introduction of new trains, increase in frequency to construction of a road over or under bridge, as also the retention of the Konkan Railway Corporation as a corporation independent of the Indian Railways. Mr Alemao underlined the urgent need for the construction of an underpass or a over-bridge at Majorda keeping in mind the rise in traffic along the route. Mr Velu assured the MPs that he would look into the feasibility of a train linking the pilgrim towns in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Requesting for introduction of an additional train to Mumbai, Mr Shripad Naik stated that the two trains running between Madgaon and Mumbai were always fully occupied. He also called for another service to New Delhi. Mr Shantaram Naik observed that Goa was a passing network for many services. "However, there is no daily direct train service to Delhi via Baroda that forms the shortest route," he said. Mr Naik called upon the Union minister to introduce a daily train on the route. "Currently daily trains to Delhi run on the Pune-Bhusaval route that is roundabout," he disclosed. The Rajya Sabha MP hoped that the KRCL would be retained an independent entity and set as an example for the Indian Railways. "Talks of the merger with the Indian Railways will only weaken KRCL," he said. Mr Naik also submitted a memorandum to the minister highlighting the problems faced by the people of Curchorem and requested Mr Velu's urgent attention towards Curchorem station. In his reply to the Rajya Sabha MP's demands, Mr Velu stated that railway ministry would sympathetically consider to ply a train through the Baroda route. "Your demands are not unjustified or it is not that it cannot be met. Being a process it will take some time," Mr Velu said amid applause. On KRCL's merger with the Indian Railways, the minister said that he would convey the sentiments of the KRCL officials to the Railway Minister. -- Peace be with you! Gabe Menezes. London, England