Panaji: The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) will double 147 km tracks and develop 21 more railway stations under an ambitious expansion and modernisation project of worth ₹3,000 crores, Mr. Josehp E George, General Manager (Strategic Planning and Business Development), KRCL, said here on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference, Mr. George said of the 147 km line to be doubled, 35 km would be in Goa sector. This project will also comprise electrification at a cost of ₹1,110 crores.
After doubling of the tracks, 21 new stations would be developed taking the total number of stations to 87, which would reduce the average distance between two stations from 12.75 km to 8.3 km.
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‘’This will enable us to introduce more new trains in the system,” he said.
The Konkan railway connects the Konkan region of Maharashtra to Kerala via Goa and Karnataka and passes through 94 tunnels in its 736 km stretch.
On the financial performance of KRCL, Mr. George said the corporation earned a profit of ₹62 crore in the recently-ended financial year during which is turnover touched ₹2,164 crores as against the turnover for the corresponding period last year of ₹1,277 crores giving an annual growth of 69%.
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Mr. George said the work on Multi Modal Logistics Park is being developed at Balli station in South Goa. Its work was progressing and was expected to be completed by end of this year or early next year. There are plans to develop a food court at Margao station in Goa. A rail coach has been shifted near the station and would be developed as a unique restaurant.