KR justifies that its monsoon time-table extends from June to October because some parts of the KR route sees rainfall even in October with amount of rainfall in October for the past 10 years varying between 100mm to 300mm.
Konkan Railway (KR) has claimed that it has spent Rs321.71 crores since 2002 towards various geo-safety works in its 63 tunnels and 101 cutting to prevent landslides and other weather-related obstructions that come up in one of the most challenging railway terrains in the country. KR is the only network in the country that operates a monsoon timetable between June to October, something railway activists have for long called a waste of taxpayer's money and also a major reason for the late-running of trains on the network.
KR in its reply to the Western India Passengers Association (WIPA)—which has been opposing the monsoon timetable phenomenon as a waste— says thanks to the monsoon timetable and the completion of geo-safety works, several stretches on KR are now complaint to run trains at 90kmph.
The KR reply to WIPA states, "After completion of geo-safety works maximum permissible speed in Kankavali-Madgaon section of 127 km and Kumta-Udipi section of 136 km was enhanced to 90kmph from 75 kmph. Further enhancement of sectional speed from 75kmph to 90kmph between Madgaon-Kumta, totalling 114 km, is under process for sanction."
KR justifies that its monsoon time-table extends from June to October because some parts of the KR route sees rainfall even in October with amount of rainfall in October for the past 10 years varying between 100mm to 300mm.
Moreover heavy rainfall till September, between 3000mm to 3500mm, means a lot of contaminated ballast in these stretches have to be replaced in the comparatively dry weather of October. Moreover the soil is typically laterite with boulders mixed which is highly susceptible to landslides during heavy rains, also was stated by KR in its reply.
Speaking to dna, Thomas Simon of the WIPA said that it is time KR junks the monsoon timetable phenomenon. "It isn't there in any part of the country though several stretches have the same monsoonal problems as Konkan Railway. So why does KR need a monsoon timetable. There is possibly something more than what meets the eye and I earnestly hope the railway ministry as well as the Prime Minister's Office looks into it," he says.
KR's claims of monsoonal works:1) flattening of slopes2) lining of catch-water drains3) construction of retaining wall4) rock bolting- a bolt that is drilled into a rock surface to stabilize it5) shortcreting- strengthening walls and ceilings of tunnels etc with high-intensity concrete bursts
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