Konkan Railway to assess feasibility of patch doubling on Thokur-Byndoor and Majorda-Vaibhavwadi road stretches

Mumbai: Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) will conduct a feasibility study for patch doubling of its track network between Mangaluru (Thokur) and Byndoor in Karnataka, and Majorda in Goa to Vaibhavwadi Road in Maharashtra, as part of plans to boost capacity, as reported by 'The Hindu'.

KRCL has invited bids for the feasibility study covering the Thokur–Mookambika Road Byndoor section (112 km) and the Majorda–Vaibhavwadi Road section (151 km), at an estimated cost of ₹1.31 crore. The last date for submitting bids is October 14, and the corporation expects the successful bidder to complete the study within three months of appointment.

The railway had already doubled a 47-km stretch between Roha and Veer in 2021. With the proposed patch doubling, the total double-line track in KRCL’s 741-km network will increase to 310 km.

“Patch doubling has become inevitable due to rising demand for freight and passenger trains,” KRCL Chairman and Managing Director Santosh Kumar Jha told The Hindu. A few years ago, the Railway Ministry had rejected KRCL’s proposal for patch doubling a 141-km stretch with 18 new stations. Despite the earlier setback, the corporation will now carry out the feasibility study along with a cost estimate and seek funding from the four stakeholder states, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala, for capital expenditure.

Recently, with support from the Karnataka government, KRCL completed the full renewal of about 200 km of track in the state.

The Thokur–Byndoor section has no tunnels, while the Majorda–Vaibhavwadi Road section includes three tunnels. The Ministry has approved KRCL’s plan to construct a parallel tunnel at Pernem in Goa under safety works, addressing frequent waterlogging in the existing tunnel. Strengthening and construction of parallel tunnels are also planned for Old Goa and Verna.

KRCL’s 741-km network includes 92 tunnels, with the majority located in Maharashtra between Veer and Vaibhavwadi Road.