Mangaluru: Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) reported a strong performance in the last financial year, with passenger traffic rising and ticket-checking revenue touching a record Rs 27.5 crore.As part of its operational initiatives, KRCL flagged off the Dev Darshan Special Train, including six FTR services connecting pilgrimage centres such as Ranjangaon, Ayodhya and Rameshwaram.Freight efficiency improved with the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) carrying capacity increasing from 50 MT to 57 MT. Operational efficiency at Madgaon railway station was enhanced by extending the Road-6 line to enable locomotive reversal. KRCL also adopted drone-based track monitoring to reduce maintenance downtime.During the year, KRCL operated 1,400 special trains, comprising 376 Ganpati specials, 185 summer specials, 86 winter specials, 38 FTR services and 715 other special services.Accessibility for Divyangjan passengers was improved through ramps, braille signage and upgraded information boards at stations including Karmali, Thivim, Karwar, Murdeshwar and Udupi.The corporation conducted railway awareness drives for 730 school students. Station infrastructure was strengthened with executive or AC lounge facilities at 10 stations—Khed, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Kankavali, Thivim, Karmali, Madgaon, Karwar, Mookambika Road-Byndoor and Udupi. Further upgrades included DigiLocker facilities at Ratnagiri, Thivim and Udupi, a new foot overbridge at Vaibhavwadi Road, high-level platforms at Kumta and Gokarna, and platform upgradation at Surathkal, Udupi and Mulki.In the sustainability segment, KRCL generated 3.6 lakh kilowatt-hours of solar power, resulting in savings of about Rs 45.9 lakh. On the safety front, the railway recorded 92 theft cases and recovered stolen assets worth Rs 35.7 lakh. It also rescued 90 runaway children.To strengthen safety infrastructure, approximately 2,700 metres of cattle-run-over-prevention fencing was installed in the Karwar and Ratnagiri regions. CCTV surveillance was expanded with new installations at five stations and upgrades at several others.“This year’s achievements reflect our commitment to Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas through world-class rail infrastructure, in alignment with the vision of the Prime Minister,” said Santosh Kumar Jha, chairman and managing director of KRCL.
