Konkan Railway Celebrates 80th Independence Day with Patriotic Fervour
· Free Press Journal
Konkan Railway joined the nation in celebrating the 80th Independence Day with enthusiasm and patriotic fervour. On the occasion, Santosh Kumar Jha, Chairman & Managing Director, Konkan Railway, hoisted the National Flag and inspected the Railway Protection Force (RPF) contingent at Konkan Rail Vihar, Nerul, Navi Mumbai.
Addressing employees and their families, Santosh Kumar Jha extended his warm wishes and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the Konkan Railway workforce. He said the commitment of employees had played a key role in the organisation’s growth, operational efficiency and service excellence.
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Highlighting the Corporation’s achievements during the past year, he said safety continued to remain the highest priority. The successful dismantling of the Madgaon Central FOB through coordinated efforts of various departments was appreciated, with a collective reward of ₹3 lakh announced for the team involved. Twelve employees who displayed exceptional alertness and helped save passengers’ lives and ensure safe railway operations were also recognised with individual rewards.
Konkan Railway recorded a net profit of ₹199.63 crore in FY 2025-26, reflecting sound financial management and efficient utilisation of resources. Projects worth approximately ₹23,504 crore are currently under execution, while projects worth around ₹23,000 crore are at various stages of development.
For passenger amenities, ₹20.53 crore has been allocated for FY 2026-27, while ₹105 crore will be spent over the next three years. An additional 3E coach has been introduced in Mandovi Express and Konkan Kanya Express, while additional 3AC coaches have been provided in Bandra–Madgaon Express and Madgaon–Ernakulam Express.
Station facilities have also been strengthened. An AC lounge at Kankavali has been commissioned, while AC lounges are planned at Gokarna Road, Sindhudurg and Kudal. Station Transit Lounges are planned at Udupi, Byndoor, Madgaon and Thivim, and Rail Arcades are being developed at Suratkal and Ratnagiri.
Passenger connectivity has improved with the extension of the Kacheguda–Murdeshwar–Kacheguda Express up to Kumta.
During January–July 2026, Konkan Railway operated 10,313 coaching trains, 245 summer special trains, 3,785 freight trains and 37 traffic special trains. Overall train operations increased by 8 per cent compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.
Traffic revenue stood at ₹943.74 crore during the period, registering a 6 per cent increase year-on-year. Ticket-checking staff generated ₹16.60 crore, a 14 per cent increase over the corresponding period last year.
Freight operations also recorded progress, with a new iron ore loading operation commencing at Zarap station in May 2026. Twelve rakes were loaded up to July 15, generating ₹1.72 crore in freight revenue.
Konkan Railway continued to strengthen track and infrastructure safety. A total of 11 km of CTR and 21 km of CRR works were completed. Weld failures declined by 46 per cent, while track tamping over 40 km and deep screening over 5 km were carried out using BCM machinery. Structural safety audits and necessary repairs of all 21 Foot Over Bridges were also completed.
Station infrastructure was upgraded with the completion of high-level platforms at Kumta, Mulki and Gokarna Road, along with platform extensions at Mangaon, Bhatkal and Padubidri. Coach Position Display systems and platform surfacing works were also undertaken at Udupi, Mulki and Suratkal. Tactile tiles were provided at 13 stations to improve accessibility for Divyangjan and senior citizens.
Disaster preparedness was strengthened through two full-scale mock drills, safety seminars, fire safety audits and specialised monsoon safety initiatives. Technology-enabled safety measures included Electronic Interlocking modifications at four stations, resulting in savings of approximately ₹1.20 crore, and commissioning of a modern MSDAC axle-counter system at Achirne station.
Passenger information and surveillance systems were enhanced with the installation of 196 CCTV cameras at 10 stations and one halt. Coach Guidance Systems were commissioned at Thivim and Udupi, while Train Information Display Boards were installed at six stations.
Emergency response capabilities were strengthened with drone cameras provided for Accident Relief Medical Vans for rapid aerial assessment and real-time monitoring. A dedicated pit for the 140-tonne breakdown train was also constructed at Verna.
Konkan Railway achieved its highest-ever scrap disposal performance, selling scrap worth ₹34.12 crore and generating revenue of ₹39.05 crore. Procurement from MSMEs stood at 55.50 per cent, substantially exceeding the Government-prescribed target of 25 per cent and supporting local and small-scale industries.
Employee welfare initiatives included the distribution of ₹17.79 lakh in cash awards and scholarships to children of Konkan Railway employees under the Staff Welfare Fund. The revised rainwear policy provides annual rainwear to Group ‘D’ employees.
The Medical Department conducted 29 health and preventive-care camps, benefiting 1,035 employees and dependants, and attended to 762 passenger medical calls.
Konkan Railway also continued its digital transformation initiatives. The KR Inspection Mobile App was developed for photographic recording of inspection deficiencies and is capable of operating offline.
Under CSR initiatives, 25 schools received 55 all-in-one computers and 22 printers, while 15 colleges received 18 digital smart screens, promoting technology-enabled education in the Ratnagiri and Karwar regions.
Passenger security measures also yielded significant results. Under Operation Amanat, 206 items worth ₹90.55 lakh were returned to their rightful owners. Under Operation Nanhe Farishte, 56 minor children were safely rescued and handed over to Childline. Under Operation Satark, 3,813 bottles of illegal liquor were seized and 24 smugglers were arrested.
Training and skill development remained a key focus, with 578 training programmes, 49 workshops and 286 LEAP programmes conducted between January and July 2026. More than 1,850 external participants received specialised training through Konkan Railway Academy and GFITT.
Konkan Railway also strengthened public outreach, recording more than 19 million social media impressions through 948 posts and videos. It conducted 11 Ministry of Railways digital awareness campaigns and issued 141 press releases during the period.
In the field of Rajbhasha, Konkan Railway’s in-house magazine, ‘Konkan Garima’, received the Best In-house Magazine Award, while the Corporation was selected for the Best TOLIC Award for 2026.
The 80th Independence Day was celebrated with equal enthusiasm across Konkan Railway’s Ratnagiri and Karwar regions, with flag-hoisting ceremonies and active participation of employees reflecting the unity and pride of the Konkan Rail family.
The celebrations reaffirmed Konkan Railway’s commitment to safe, efficient and reliable rail connectivity, while contributing to regional development and the nation’s progress.