Latest news with #SantoshKumarJha
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.
Hindustan Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Journalist exposes ‘speechless' Bilawal Bhutto's anti-India spin at UN
The Konkan Railway is considering a special roll-on/roll-off train service for car transport during the Ganapti festival, contingent on public demand. KRCL's Chairman, Santosh Kumar Jha, emphasized the need for at least 40 cars for viability. The railway, profitable since COVID-19, plans significant infrastructure improvements and aims for substantial project orders in the coming years.
Hindustan Times
04-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Konkan Railway to explore running Ro-Ro train to ferry cars if adequate demand
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 ₹301 crore in 2023-24. As per unpublished reports, the corporation is expected to register a profit of ₹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 ₹3,150 crore through tendering processes in the last 15 months and is already executing works of ₹4,087 crore, the official said. "About ₹7,200 crore of work orders are already in my hand and this year, we have targeted to get ₹15,000 crore of orders. I have full faith that we will achieve this target," Jha said. The KR has planned to spend ₹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 ₹99 crore for the development of 11 stations on the KR network. Now, the MIDC is spending ₹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 ₹5,100 crores, but these works need ministerial help. At present, the Konkan Railway has about ₹2,750 crore loan to repay and the corporation has planned to clear ₹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.
