Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Feb 25: The electric engines from the direction of Kerala which hitherto were able to move only till the city (central) station, will soon be able to move beyond, on the Konkan railway line. This is because the 400 km electrification work undertaken by Konkan Railway at an investment of Rs 1,000 crore is expected to be completed by the end of June this year.
Electrification from Thokoor to Bijoor had been completed in 2019. Now, the works are almost completed till Karwar but for some minor works. By the end of March, work up to Karwar will be complete.
The officials noted that 105 km electrification between Thokoor and railway electrification had been completed and inspected by the safety commissioner in 2019. The officials said that once the work up to Karwar is finished, the safety commissioner will be requested to conduct an inspection. Thokoor is located at the point whether southern railway and Konkan railway lines meet.
The introduction of electric loco results in savings to the government in the form of fuel cost. 1,500 litres of diesel would be required for the trains to cover a distance of 300 km and goods trains demand more. Not only that, even the time required for filling diesel at Mangaluru central station will be saved. At present, the trains coming from southern railway have to shift to diesel loco at the city central station.
At the same time, the construction of substations is on. Nine substations are in different stages. The regional manager of Konkan Railway, B Nigam, expects the Konkan Railway total electrification to be completed by the end of June this year.