Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening rail connectivity and passenger experience in Goa, KRCL Chairman and Managing Director Santosh Kumar Jha said while addressing the media at Margao, South Goa, today, December 16. Highlighting major achievements, ongoing works and future plans, he underscored Goa’s importance as a critical operational segment of the 739-km Konkan Railway network stretching from Maharashtra to Karnataka.
“The Goa section, known for its complex terrain and engineering challenges, is part of one of India’s most remarkable railway corridors, featuring 91 tunnels, nearly 1,900 bridges and full route electrification. Despite difficult topography, Konkan Railway has ensured reliable and safe operations, with nearly 42 per cent of the track passing through tunnels or deep cuttings, reflecting the organisation’s technical resilience and expertise,” he said.
Talking about the continuing expansion of passenger services in response to growing demand, the Chairman said that during 2024–25, Konkan Railway operated an average of 55 passenger and 17 freight trains daily, with a large number of special trains deployed to manage seasonal and festival rush, particularly during Ganapati and summer periods. “The upcoming 2025–26 schedule plans an even higher number of special services to cater to peak travel needs,” he said.
Goa has also benefited from improved premium and long-distance connectivity with the introduction of Vande Bharat Express services linking Madgaon with Mumbai and Mangaluru, along with new express services to Bandra Terminus, Secunderabad and additional halts at stations like Canacona, Jha said and added that those services had significantly reduced travel time and improved convenience for passengers.
“Over the past three years, KRCL has invested heavily in upgrading passenger amenities across Goa. Executive lounges at Madgaon and Thivim, a modern Rail Arcade at Madgaon, recreation and wellness zones, and tourism-oriented facilities such as the Lake View Restaurant at Karmali have transformed station environments. Under the Ministry of Tourism’s Central Financial Assistance scheme, projects worth Rs. 25 crore have been completed at Madgaon, Thivim and Karmali, including parking infrastructure, food courts, waiting areas, lighting, external development works and a bird observatory deck overlooking Carambolim Lake,” said the Managing Director.
Several passenger-friendly initiatives, including Digi-lockers, women-exclusive “Pink Bubble” spaces, UPI-based QR ticketing, One Station One Product outlets and the sale of local products and handicrafts, have further enhanced the travel experience, he said.
Looking ahead, KRCL plans to add executive and transit lounges at Karmali, expand food court facilities at Madgaon and continue station development works worth Rs. 11.6 crore over the next three years, Jha added.
“Beyond passenger services, Konkan Railway is strengthening Goa’s logistics ecosystem through modern warehousing and container-handling facilities at Verna and the Multimodal Logistics Park at Balli, supporting efficient freight movement and multimodal connectivity,” Jha said and added that KRCL’s expansion into operations and maintenance, coupled with its in-house engineering capabilities and international collaborations, had positioned it as a trusted partner for large infrastructure projects across India.
