19405 AHMEDABAD AC EX

                                                                 SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

                                     Press Release No. 194   Dt. 04.09.2019

NEW BI-WEEKLY PASSENGER SPECIAL TRAIN

 BETWEEN VASCO-DA-GAMA AND BELAGAVI FLAGGED

 OFF

Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent charge), of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) & Union Minister of State of Defence and Shri Suresh Channabasappa Angadi, Hon’ble Minister of State of Railways flagged off new biweekly special train between Vasco-da-gama and Belagavi today i.e. o­n 04.09.2019 from Vasco-Da-Gama Railway Station. The regular service of Train No. 06921 Belagavi – Vasco  Da  Gama Bi-Weekly Passenger Special will depart from Belagavi at 06:20 hrs and arrive at Vasco  Da  Gama at 12:40 hrs ,on every Friday and Saturday . The special train will run for three months  06.09.2019 to 07.12.2019 (Total 28 trips) initially . In return direction,  Train No. 06922 Vasco Da Gama – Belagavi Bi-Weekly Passenger Special will depart from Vasco Da Gama at 15:55 hrs o­n every Friday and Saturday and arrive at Belagavi at 21:25 hrs same day from 06.09.2019 to 07.12.2019 (Total 28 trips).  The service will be regularized based o­n the response from the public.

Addressing the gathering o­n this occasion, Shri Suresh Channabasappa Angadi, Hon’ble Minister of State of Railways said that priority will be  given to connect Goa and its good to start this train , which was a long pending demand . He said that to boost tourism, it's decided to give stoppage at world famous Doodhsagar falls for 10 days. Hon’ble Minister said that priority will be given to safety, punctuality and cleanliness in Railways. He said that this train will also facilitate supply of fresh produce of fruits, vegetables and milk from Belagavi area to Goa. It will boost employment and business in these areas. Shri Angadi suggested  that some  Vistadome (glass ceiling)  Coaches shall be attached to this train  for facilitating passengers enjoy the scenic beauty of the Western Ghat section through which this train passes.  He said that in line with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision  of connecting people all over the World with Yoga, Railway is connecting people across the length and breadh of the country.

Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Hon’ble Minister of State of AYUSH and Defence said that with the introduction of this train, the demand of the people of the region has been fulfilled and hoped that this train will be regularized in due course and even made daily.  He appreciated  providing stoppage at Dudh Sagar Falls for this train, which was the dream of tourists.

Shri Vinay Tendulkar, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Rajyasabha thanked Shri Suresh Angadi for introducing train service between Vasco da gama and Belagavi which will be greatly beneficial for transporting daily commodities needed by Goa from Belagavi.

            Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, General Manager of South Western Railway briefed about the various works under taken by SWR in Goa region and features of the special train   Smt. Alina Saldana, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Assembly of Cortalim, Shri Jose Alemida, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Assembly of Vasco da gama and others were present. 

Later, Shri Suresh Angadi opened the Dudhsagar Falls Halt station where stoppage has been provided for this newly introduced train o­n experimental basis from 06^th September, 2019 to 15^th September, 2019.  The experimental stoppage will be continued further based o­n review.   The Dudhsagar Waterfalls is located in the Branganza Ghat.  The Braganza ghat stretch is a 26 KMs hill section connecting the coastal Goa to the hinterlands of Karnataka. It has 3 stations enroute, Caranzol, Dudhsagar and Sonalium. It is o­ne of the most treacherous section of the Indian railways with a ruling gradient of 1 in 37, comprising of 16 tunnels and 69 sharp curves.  It has an annual railfall of about 6500 mm.  The steep ruling gradient requires it to use banker locomotives for upward movement of trains in the ghats.  It is also o­ne of the oldest operational route with metre gauge line commissioned in 1887 which was converted into broad gauge in 1996.  Surrounded by  deciduous forest with rich bio diversity, it is o­ne of the most difficult sections in Indian Railways requiring tireless day night efforts for maintenance.

Dudhsagar falls which translates to sea of milk is located o­n the Mandovi river in the state of Goa.  It is a four tiered water fall which also forms the boundary between Goa and Karnataka state.  With a height of 310 mtrs (1017 ft.) it is o­ne of the tallest falls in India.  It has an average width of 30 mtrs.  Dudhsagar Falls is located in the Bhagawan Mahavir Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in the Braganza Ghats stretch of the Western Ghats.    

Shri Suresh Angadi traveled by inaugural special from Vasco and Belagavi and interacted with public at stations  where train stopped. Shri Angadi inspected the section from Vasco to Kulem and has reviewed the progress of doubling work in the section

                                                      (E. Vijaya)

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