New Delhi, August 1: To improve connectivity in Maharashtra's Konkan region, the Konkan Railway is all set to built 10 new stations that would provide rail connectivity to more villages in the region. Also, the work on the 103-kilometre Kolhapur-Vaibhavwadi section of Konkan Railway will begin soon, giving a boost to rail connectivity in the Konkan region. The construction of the section will be a game changer for not only the Konkan Railway but also for the region and the economy of Maharashtra.

This decision was taken at a review meeting of Konkan railway chaired by Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu in New Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by the Chairman, Railway Board, CMD, Konkan Railway and other senior officials.

CMD, Konkan Railway, informed the Minister that in order to improve services of Konkan Railway to more villages and towns in the region, 10 new stations are also being built. The first station will be inaugurated in January 2019.

During the discussions, Prabhu emphasised that the Kolhapur-Vaibhavwadi section will link the coastal region of Maharashtra with Western Maharashtra, lead to the development of ports and harbours in the coastal region and allow the flow of goods from the hinterland to the coast.

The Minister added that the construction of this line will also facilitate the movement of petroleum from the world’s largest integrated refinery cum petrochemicals complexes being built near Vaibhavwadi in Ratnagiri district, in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. The Kolhapur-Vaibhavwadi line has already been sanctioned by the Railway Ministry. Indian Railways will bear 50% of the cost and rest will be borne by the Government of Maharashtra.

The Kolhapur-Vaibhavwadi line will facilitate movement of petroleum and petrochemicals from the refinery to the coast. The Minister further explained that the future economic growth of Maharashtra depends on the connectivity of its coastal areas with the rest of the state and the country. The USD 40 billion mega refinery is being built by IOC, BPCL and HPCL and is expected to be commissioned by 2022. It will have a capacity of 60 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 01, 2018 04:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).