Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu has said that the
Kolhapur-Vaibhavwadi railway route survey has been completed and has
assured of speeding up the process of constructing the railway line.
"The feasibility study is going on but we will certainly complete the project," Prabhu said on Tuesday at a function at Panaji in Goa. This was his first statement on the issue after taking charge as Union railway minister.
The train service will further connect the city with Jaigarh port, which has started handling larger vessels for import and export.
Prabhu added, "There are two proposals before me— one connecting Karad and Chiplun and another connecting Kolhapur to Vaibhavwadi. Survey reports are already ready with the Railways. There is hardly any forest land that could obstruct the proposal. So, the government is planning to bring clearance for the project."
Elaborating on the need of the project, the minister said, "We want to bring in more business activities to bring down the losses of the Railways. The Vijaydurga site is proposed to be developed as port, which will benefit the state in generating higher revenue. Such a connection of the railway lines with ports will boost trade. Freight charges will also contribute to the Railways' income."
Member of the Zonal Railway Users' Consultant Committee Shivnath Biyani said, "The train service between Kolhapur and Vaibhavwadi is of utmost importance for the district. The unused industrial plots, stagnated demand and higher cost of transport have had an adverse impact on the development of Kolhapur. Once there is rail connectivity, it will bring down the transportation cost. The subsequent benefits will be more investment and employment for all."
"Along with business potential, Kolhapur is also a major tourist destination. Rail connectivity will support the flourishing tourism sector in the district. During the monsoon, train services on the Konkan route get affected. Some of the trains can be diverted from Rajapur and can reach their destination via Kolhapur. As no such connectivity is available at present, it is affecting train service every year," he added.
City MP Dhananjay Mahadik said, "I have been following up on the issue for some months. I have written several letters to the railway board appealing them to take up the issue as will be a mutually benefitting project. It is also necessary for passenger traffic because if there is a problem on the Konkan railway route, the trains can be diverted from Chiplun or Kolhapur."
The Jaigarh port has already started operations and the development company, Jaigarh Infrastructure Ltd, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd to lay a railway line from the port to Digni station on the Konkan railway route. It is a Rs 700-crore project and the company itself has invested a major amount
"The feasibility study is going on but we will certainly complete the project," Prabhu said on Tuesday at a function at Panaji in Goa. This was his first statement on the issue after taking charge as Union railway minister.
The train service will further connect the city with Jaigarh port, which has started handling larger vessels for import and export.
Prabhu added, "There are two proposals before me— one connecting Karad and Chiplun and another connecting Kolhapur to Vaibhavwadi. Survey reports are already ready with the Railways. There is hardly any forest land that could obstruct the proposal. So, the government is planning to bring clearance for the project."
Elaborating on the need of the project, the minister said, "We want to bring in more business activities to bring down the losses of the Railways. The Vijaydurga site is proposed to be developed as port, which will benefit the state in generating higher revenue. Such a connection of the railway lines with ports will boost trade. Freight charges will also contribute to the Railways' income."
Member of the Zonal Railway Users' Consultant Committee Shivnath Biyani said, "The train service between Kolhapur and Vaibhavwadi is of utmost importance for the district. The unused industrial plots, stagnated demand and higher cost of transport have had an adverse impact on the development of Kolhapur. Once there is rail connectivity, it will bring down the transportation cost. The subsequent benefits will be more investment and employment for all."
"Along with business potential, Kolhapur is also a major tourist destination. Rail connectivity will support the flourishing tourism sector in the district. During the monsoon, train services on the Konkan route get affected. Some of the trains can be diverted from Rajapur and can reach their destination via Kolhapur. As no such connectivity is available at present, it is affecting train service every year," he added.
City MP Dhananjay Mahadik said, "I have been following up on the issue for some months. I have written several letters to the railway board appealing them to take up the issue as will be a mutually benefitting project. It is also necessary for passenger traffic because if there is a problem on the Konkan railway route, the trains can be diverted from Chiplun or Kolhapur."
The Jaigarh port has already started operations and the development company, Jaigarh Infrastructure Ltd, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd to lay a railway line from the port to Digni station on the Konkan railway route. It is a Rs 700-crore project and the company itself has invested a major amount
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