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News18
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- News18
In a first, Konkan Railway to operate Ro-Ro car service for Ganpati festival
Mumbai, Jul 21 (PTI) Konkan Railway on Monday said it would be running special roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) train services from August 23 to September 11 between Kolad in Maharashtra and Verna in Goa for private cars during the upcoming Ganpati festival. The specially designed rake for the Ro-Ro car service, which will commence on August 23 from Kolad and on August 24 from Verna, can accommodate 40 cars per trip, with two cars loaded on each of the 20 wagons, a KR release said. 'The owners will have to shell out Rs 7875 inclusive of GST for transporting their car using Ro-Ro. They will have to pay Rs 4000 initially at the time of booking, and the balance on the day of the journey. Per car, a maximum of three persons will be allowed to travel in the attached 3AC or second seating coach. For this, each person will have to pay the prescribed fare, which is Rs 935 for 3AC and Rs 190 for the second seating coach," the release said. 'In the event of insufficient bookings (fewer than 16 cars), the trip will be cancelled and registration fees will be fully refunded. The bookings for the service will open between July 21 and August 13. Those who want to avail the service can make reservations at KR's Belapur or Verna-based offices with flexible payment options, including UPI and cash," it added. The service will run end-to-end between Kolad and Verna, with departures at 5 pm and arrivals at 5 am the following day, with car owners having to report at the starting point at 2 pm, about three hours before the departure time, the release said. KR pioneered the Ro-Ro service concept in India in 1999 for trucks, officials said, adding this is the first time it is being operated for private cars. On June 3, KR chairman-managing director Santosh Kumar Jha had assured to explore the possibility of launching Ro-Ro service for the private cars during the upcoming Ganapati festival if there is sufficient demand. During the Ganapati festival, among the biggest in the Konkan belt, lakhs of people travel from Mumbai and other parts of the state using various modes of transport, including cars, though many are left distressed due to the poor condition of the national highway. PTI KK BNM view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 18:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Konkan Railway bags multiple honours
Mangaluru: Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) has been conferred with multiple accolades at the National Awards for Excellence in PSU 2025, recognising its leadership, innovation, and operational excellence. At the awards ceremony held in Mumbai on July 10, Shri Santosh Kumar Jha, Chairman and Managing Director of KRCL, was honoured as CEO of the Year for his visionary leadership in steering the organisation. KRCL also won awards in the following categories: Best PSU in Research & Innovation, Best Performance in Procurement of Goods & Services and Best PSU in Training & Development. Organised to celebrate the achievements of India's public sector undertakings, the annual awards highlight excellence across sectors.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Soon, travelling from Mumbai to Goa with your car on a train might be possible; find it how
Imagine packing your bags, driving your car onto a train, and relaxing in comfort while your vehicle hitches a ride alongside you all the way from Mumbai to Goa. This could soon be a reality as Konkan Railway plans to roll out a unique travel experience allowing passenger vehicles like cars and SUVs to be transported on trains. The experiment is likely to begin as early as this Ganapati festival season. Konkan Railway has already been a huge success with its 'Roll-on Roll-off' (Ro-Ro) facility that carries trucks over specially constructed wagons. Not only does this system reduce fuel consumption and travel time, but it also helps disperse traffic on the congested Konkan roads. Encouraged by the efficiency and popularity of this facility, the railway authority now wishes to experiment with its applicability to private passenger vehicles. Santosh Kumar Jha, Managing Director and Chairman of Konkan Railway added that they they have been transporting trucks for years, and might consider allowing private passenger vehicles too. What is the Ro-Ro model? Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) is a model where trucks are loaded onto specially adapted train wagons through a ramp system. These carriages are made in such a way that trucks are able to roll in and be parked safely. The maximum height of loaded vehicles is 3.425 m above road level. Truck drivers and their attendants accompany the vehicles and sleep within the cabin as they travel. The Ro-Ro service presently runs from Kolad in Maharashtra to Mangalore in Karnataka. To maintain cost-effectiveness, the train service only runs when there are at least 40 trucks available. The same will be the case with the passenger vehicle variant. Benefits for travelers The plan has thrilled both tourists and everyday commuters. Traveling by car from Mumbai to Goa normally takes 10 to 12 hours and involves sharp turns, ghats, and heavy lorries on the road. With the Ro-Ro passenger vehicle model, travelers can save time and energy, lower carbon footprints, and enjoy a leisurely ride while their cars are transported safely alongside. The concept is particularly favorable during monsoon , when landslides and waterlogging render highway travel unreliable. With the rail-based option, tourists can steer clear of pothole-filled roads and use their travel time for reading, relaxation, or witnessing scenic railway vistas. Konkan Railway is also making its infrastructure monsoon-proof. In a notable step, it has cut down the monsoon timetable duration by 10 days, which reflects enhanced preparedness. The monsoon schedule this year will be from June 15 to October 20. Further, Jha elaborated about new safety measures for the monsoon season, such as deployment of 636 trained personnel for round-the-clock monitoring of vulnerable zones, reduced train speeds during poor visibility, installation of LED signals, and automated rain gauges at nine key stations to monitor rainfall intensity. If the pilot run succeeds, it can open the door for increased Ro-Ro services all over India, particularly other busy tourist routes. So this Ganapati season, rather than taking to the road, you might be able to take the train with your favorite car as a companion. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Ro-Ro train service for ferry likely on Konkan Rail
Mumbai: Konkan Railway will explore the possibility of running a special roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) train service to transport cars during the upcoming Ganapti festival, if there is sufficient public demand, a top official said. It will be possible to operate such a service if there are at least 40 cars to be transported at a time, chairman and managing director Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd, Santosh Kumar Jha, said on Tuesday. Asked why Konkan Railway does not transport passenger cars by its pioneering Ro-Ro services during the Ganpati festival, Jha said they will have to make changes for ferrying cars on wagons. Konkan Railway's Ro-Ro service, which allows vehicles to be transported with their drivers, has traditionally been used for trucks. "I promise you that this time in Ganpati I will announce a special train (Ro-Ro)," Jha said. PTI
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Business Standard
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Konkan Railway may run Ro-Ro train service to transport cars, says official
The Konkan Railway will explore the possibility of running a special roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) train service for transporting cars during the upcoming Ganapti festival, if there is sufficient public demand, a top official said. It will be possible to operate such a service if there are at least 40 cars to be transported at a time, Konkan Railway Corporation Limited's Chairman and Managing Director Santosh Kumar Jha told reporters at the KRCL headquarters at Belapur in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday. Asked why the KR does not transport passenger cars by its pioneering Ro-Ro services during the Ganpati festival, Jha said they will have to make changes for ferrying cars on wagons. The Konkan Railway's Ro-Ro service, which allows vehicles to be transported along with their drivers, has traditionally been used for trucks. "I promise you that this time in Ganpati I will announce a special train (Ro-Ro)," Jha said. The official said he did not know people would want to transport their expensive cars 750 km away. It takes 24 to 26 hours to reach Mangaluru (in Karnataka) by Ro-Ro from here and for that one has to buy a second class ticket from the driver. Highlighting that KR is not a loss-making corporation, Jha said it generated a net profit of Rs 301 crore in 2023-24. As per unpublished reports, the corporation is expected to register a profit of Rs 140-150 crore in the last financial year. "The Konkan Railway was always in profit, barring two years of COVID-19," Jha said, adding the KR is generating profits from the operations and execution of projects. The corporation got projects valued at Rs 3,150 crore through tendering processes in the last 15 months and is already executing works of Rs 4,087 crore, the official said. "About Rs 7,200 crore of work orders are already in my hand and this year, we have targeted to get Rs 15,000 crore of orders. I have full faith that we will achieve this target," Jha said. The KR has planned to spend Rs 125 crore for various passengers amenities, including platform extension, construction of FOBs (foot overbridges) and providing retiring rooms, at railway stations in the next three years, he said. The Public Works Department of Maharashtra has spent Rs 99 crore for the development of 11 stations on the KR network. Now, the MIDC is spending Rs 39 crore on Ratnagiri station alone for providing facilities, he said. "You will see a full facelift of the Ratnagiri station before this year-end," the official said. Also, the KR has sent a proposal to the Railway Board for the restoration of eight halts which were discontinued during the COVID-19 time, he said. The official further said the entire Konkan Railway route is currently single line, except for a 47-km-long section, and they have proposed patch doubling works, estimated to cost Rs 5,100 crores, but these works need ministerial help. At present, the Konkan Railway has about Rs 2,750 crore loan to repay and the corporation has planned to clear Rs 600 crore dues of it during this financial year, he said. Jha also said they have proposed alternatives for Pernem and Old Goa tunnel construction and the work has received an in-principle approval, but function allocation is awaited. The tunnels are not unstable, he added.
