Union Minister Raosaheb Danve announces Vande Bharat Express on Mumbai-Goa route

Delhi (India), March 4, 2023: The Mumbai-Goa railway route is set to welcome a new semi-high-speed express train, according to Union Minister of State for Railways Raosaheb Danve.

During a meeting with a delegation of legislators from Maharashtra, Danve confirmed that a Vande Bharat Express train will be introduced on the route to reduce travel time, similar to the recent additions on the Mumbai-Shirdi and Mumbai-Solapur routes. The Mumbai-Goa railway route has already been electrified, and the new train service will be launched after a thorough inspection.

The delegation discussed several issues pertaining to railways in the Thane and Konkan regions with the minister during the meeting. They raised concerns such as the allotment of stalls to railway project-affected persons and their relatives, mobile stalls for farmers at each railway station, and the need to raise platform height to reduce the gap between them and trains. The delegation also called for measures to prevent flooding caused by the railway bridge at Mahad in Raigad.

The demand to extend the Sawantwadi-Diva train service till Dadar and the rehabilitation of those residing along the railway tracks under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme were also discussed.

Additionally, the legislators requested that the Mumbra station in Thane be renamed as Mumbra Devi station, a proposal that Danve agreed to consider once the state government submits an official request.