31 July,2026 04:16 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
The committee has urged the railway administration and the govt to address demands that it says have remained unresolved. Representational Pic/File
The Konkan Railway Passenger Service Committee has announced a token hunger strike at the Konkan Railway headquarters in Belapur on August 15, alleging that Maharashtra has not received its fair share of benefits despite contributing 22 per cent of the equity in the Konkan Railway project.
The committee said the protest is intended to draw attention to several long-pending demands related to train services, passenger facilities and railway infrastructure across the Konkan region.
The passenger body claimed that although Maharashtra is the largest stakeholder in the Konkan Railway project, the state currently has only three dedicated train services - the Diva-Sawantwadi Passenger, Diva-Ratnagiri Passenger and Tutari Express.
It also pointed to the annual rush during the Ganesh festival, saying thousands of Konkan-bound passengers struggle to secure confirmed railway tickets as demand far exceeds the available capacity.
According to the committee, passenger numbers on the Konkan Railway have increased substantially over the past 25 years, but train services have not expanded at the same pace.
The committee has urged the railway administration and the government to address several demands that it says have remained unresolved for nearly a decade.
Among the key demands are:
- Development of Sawantwadi as a full-fledged railway terminus.
- Introduction of Vasai-Sawantwadi and Kalyan-Sawantwadi passenger services.
- A new Mumbai-Ratnagiri Intercity train.
- A Dadar-Chiplun MEMU service.
- A Pune-Ratnagiri Express.
- Completion of the doubling of the Konkan Railway line.
- Merger of the Konkan Railway Corporation with Indian Railways.
- Diversion of selected superfast trains to Madgaon via Panvel and Miraj.
- Construction of platform roofs at all stations along the Konkan Railway route.
- Additional halts for long-distance trains at stations across the Konkan region.
The association also said the completion of the long-delayed Sawantwadi Terminus project would allow more trains to operate from Mumbai, Thane and Pune to the Konkan region.
Committee president Shekhar Bagwe and secretary Yashwant Jadyar said the hunger strike is being organised to press the authorities into taking action on the pending demands.
Jadyar said people across the Konkan region had sacrificed land and even entire settlements for the construction of the railway, hoping it would improve connectivity with Mumbai and boost regional development.
He said the association believes those expectations have not been fully realised and that the protest is aimed at securing better rail services and infrastructure for passengers across the Konkan region.
