Konkan Railway Merger With Indian Railways Gets Karnataka’s Nod

The state government has formally approved the merger of Konkan Railway with Indian Railways and initiated the necessary correspondence to facilitate the process.

Energy Minister K.J. George confirmed this development during the ongoing Winter Session in Belagavi while responding on behalf of the Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development.

Addressing the Assembly during a call attention motion raised by MLAs Kiran Kumar Kodgi and V. Sunil Kumar, George stated, “The Konkan Railway should have been merged with Indian Railways much earlier. However, operational losses have hindered significant development at railway stations in the region. Efforts are underway to address Karnataka’s equity contribution of Rs 270 crore.”

The merger is expected to bring substantial improvements, including the introduction of new trains and upgrades to existing railway stations. George emphasized that the integration with Indian Railways would resolve the financial and operational challenges currently faced by Konkan Railway, reports The Hindu.

Adding to the discussion, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge revealed that the state government has already communicated its intent to the Konkan Railway and is awaiting their response. The merger is anticipated to enhance connectivity and bolster infrastructure development in the region.