Media Release
Udupi, Sep 4: To accommodate the increased passenger traffic, Konkan Railway will operate 310 special train trips in coordination with Central Railway, Western Railway, and Southern Railway during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival season.
These special trains will run from Udhna, Vishvamitri, Surat, Ahmedabad, Mumbai Central, Mumbai CSMT, Lokmanya Tilak (T), Bandra, and Panvel to Ratnagiri, Kudal, Sawantwadi Road, Madgaon, Surathkal, Thokur, and Mangaluru.
Arrangements have been made to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers. First Aid posts will be set up at Mangaon, Khed, Chiplun, Sangameshwar, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Kudal, and Sawantwadi stations in coordination with state health authorities. These posts will be manned 24 hours a day by para-medical staff until 16th September 2024. Medical officers, staff nurses, and multi-purpose health workers will be available at Chiplun and Ratnagiri health units for emergencies. Ambulance services from government hospitals and empaneled hospitals will also be available.
To facilitate travelers, UTS ticket booking facilities will be available at the existing seven PRS locations: Mangaon, Khed, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Kudal, and Sawantwadi Road stations until 18th September 2024. Additional UTS ticket booking windows will open at Mangaon, Veer, Khed, Chiplun, Sangameshwar Road, Kudal, Sindhudurg, and Sawantwadi Road stations until 18th September 2024. Regular announcements will be made at stations, and "Yatri Sahayak" will be deployed to assist passengers. KRCL and MSRTC will coordinate to ensure buses are available at stations for onward journeys, facilitating smooth travel. QR code facilities will be available for mobile ticket booking.
To maintain security and order, intensive ticket checking will be conducted at stations and on trains to prevent unauthorized travel. Adequate security arrangements have been made for the safe travel of passengers. All stations are equipped with CCTV cameras, monitored securely at the main control room at Madgaon station. The RPF will work with local police to enhance passenger safety and security. Konkan Railway has also started operating dynamic QR code devices at 25 stations, with plans to extend this to encourage cashless transactions and increase digital payments at UTS booking counters. This initiative aims to resolve issues such as disputes over change, boost operational efficiency, and maintain transparency by reducing cash handling time.