Says trains Halts are under the purview of Railway Board
Goemkarponn desk
CANACONA: Reacting to the demands for resuming train Halts at Canacona KRC Station, Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) washed off its hands that decisions regarding halts for the trains are under the purview of the Railway Board.
In a letter addressed to The President of Canacona Senior Citizens Forum (CSCF), KRC Dy. Chief Operations Manager Sumit Bhadarke informed that during the Covid-19 lockdown exercise, a zero-based Time Table was carried Over Indian Railways.
“In this Zero Based Time Table process, a criterion for halts of trains was defined by the Ministry of Railways, considering patronage for the said train and time of day/night of halt at a particular station,” he said.
The further reply states,’ the halts were withdrawn at many stations on pan India basis over Indian Railways, wherever the criteria were not met. This exercise was conducted on Konkan Railways also and based on criteria of Zera Based Time Table, several halts were withdrawn on Konkan railway, which included halts of Netravati Express, Magsyagandha Express and Gandhidham-Nagarcoil Express at Canacona”.
The letter, however, said the decision regarding halts for trains at any station is under the purview of the Railway Board.
Interestingly, CSCF president J P G Martins, besides representing various other authorities, has also sought KRC intervention to resume train halts at Canacona KRC Station, which were stopped due to the Covid-19 lockdown situation.
KRC at its office in Navi Mumbai first acknowledged the letter from CSCF, besides clarifying the situation.
According Martins, who on behalf of senior citizens has threatened agitation if train halts are not resumed at Canacona KRC Station, asked the government authorities to take up the matter with the railway authorities for fruitful action.
