Friday, August 30, 2024 Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that Indian Railways will operate 342 special trains to accommodate the surge in travel demand for the Ganesh festival, which begins on September 7. This decision follows the festival’s tradition of prompting a significant migration from Mumbai to the Konkan region, necessitating additional train services. Although the initial request was for 300 trains, the Railways opted to increase the number to better meet the expected travel demand.
The announcement was made during the launch of a new bi-weekly train service connecting Bandra Terminus in Mumbai to Madgaon in Goa. Union Commerce Minister and local MP Piyush Goyal officiated the event, highlighting the new service’s role in strengthening connectivity between Mumbai’s western suburbs and the Konkan area. Beyond the measures for the upcoming festival, Vaishnaw emphasized ongoing enhancements to Mumbai’s suburban rail network.
With an investment of Rs 16,240 crore, 12 major infrastructure projects are set to be completed, significantly benefiting daily commuters. Notable projects include the addition of the CSMT-Kurla 5th and 6th lines, the Mumbai Central-Borivali 6th line, and the development of the Panvel-Karjat Suburban Corridor. Vaishnaw also pointed out the dramatic increase in the budget allocation for Maharashtra’s railway infrastructure, which has grown from Rs 1,171 crore before 2014 to Rs 15,940 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
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