Konkan Railway to start upgrade of major stations along route soon

Passenger amenities on Konkan Railway stations are set to improve. Minister of Railway Suresh Prabhu has directed KR to upgrade its stations. To begin with, major stations along the 738km line will be covered.
Last month, dna had reported about the optimism within KR with Prabhu, who has been four-time MP from Rajapur (now Sindhudurg-Ratnagiri) constituency, taking charge.

In all, there are 58 stations of which a handful of major ones will be taken up for upgrade — installing escalators, widening platforms, providing more seats, extending cover sheds keeping the region's heavy rainfall in mind, and better toilets among other facilities.

"As the number of passengers has gone up, there is a need to widen the platforms, besides providing more benches for sitting as well as extending cover sheds over all platforms. The sheds are important in Konkan region in view of the very heavy rainfall and long monsoon period it usually witnesses. The minister has also emphasised that better toilet facilities should be provided at all stations, and instructed that their cleanliness must be ensured," read a statement issued by KR. Soon, bio-toilets will be put up at stations. The stations for these works are yet to be identified. There is a possibility that Ratnagiri, Karmali and Madgaon will be part of the list of stations to be upgraded.