Margao: Uncertainty shrouds the fate of the double decker train that was introduced by the Central Railway (CR) on the Konkan Railway (KR) route last year, with inconsistent and contradictory statements emanating from the railway authorities. While the CR claims it has received the sanction from the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) for running the double decker as a regular train from Mumbai to Goa, CRS maintained that it is yet to receive any application from the CR with regards to operation of the double decker.

Moreover, while ten coaches of the double decker train have been sent to the Western Railway (WR) for the periodic overhaul (POH), the remaining two were recently dispatched to the Southern Railway (SR) for unspecified reasons.

With summer vacation round the corner, and the passenger traffic at its peak during this period, the KR is likely to lose the prospects of cashing in on the opportunity of having a double decker train. Consequently, Goa stands to lose on the tourism front if the double decker fails to run on the Mumbai-Goa route as a regular train.

General manager of the CR, Sunil Kumar Sood, speaking to TOI, said that it would take another 2-3 months for the 10 coaches of the double decker rake to come back to them after the POH.

He also confirmed that two of the train’s coaches have been sent to SR as it was “in need of it”.

“Once we get the 10 coaches after the POH, in say two to three months, we will operate the double decker train on the Mumbai-Goa KR route. The two coaches given to SR will also be returned to us by then. Even if we do not get back those two coaches, we can very well run the double decker train with 10 coaches,” Sood said.

Significantly, the Central Railway plans to use the double decker train on the KR route as a premium service during festive occasions. “On days when the double decker will not run as a premium train, it will be run as a regular service,” Sood said.

He even qualified his statements stating that CRS has already granted the sanction for the CR to run the double decker train on the KR route as a regular service.

But Sood’s claims fell flat as CRS made it categorically clear to TOI that the CR has so far not made any application for such clearance. “A decision will be taken only after we receive an application from the CR. We have granted sanction to the KR for the double decker train, but the CR has not made any application to us so far,” Chetan Bakshi, CSR, central circle, told TOI over phone.

Though the KR is in receipt of the CRS sanction for running the double decker train on the KR route from Thokur to Roha, CRS nod for CR is essential as the Roha to Mumbai route comes under CR jurisdiction.

With railway authorities speaking in different tones, there is no clarity over whether the double decker train will run on Goa tracks this year. Besides, packing two coaches off to SR have also caused to raise eyebrows within certain circles in the railways, giving rise to doubts that the CR could well be handing over the double decker rake to the SR.

“The SR is not operating any double decker train on its route. Why would SR need the coaches if not for a trial run?” a knowledgeable source questioned. If that happens, Goa could well be a loser.

General manager, CR, Sunil Kumar Sood, also failed to provide any convincing justification, when asked. “They (SR) were in need of it (coaches). I don’t know what they are doing with it,” Sood told TOI.

South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar, when contacted, assured to take up the matter with the minister for railways Suresh Prabhu, soon.

“It was because of our demand placed before the then railway minister Sadanand Gawda that the double decker train was introduced on the Konkan Railway route last year. The double decker train from Mumbai to Goa will certainly boost tourism prospects of Goa, besides improving the state’s economy. As the union railway minister Suresh Prabhu is from the Konkan region and is the son-in-law of Goa, he will surely understand Goa’s concerns. I will take up the issue with him at the earliest,” Sawaikar told TOI.

