Konkan Railway Merger Needs Consent of Four Partner States, Says Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

By Editor

Posted on November 13, 2026

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Konkan Railway Merger Needs Consent of Four Partner States, Says Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Mangaluru : Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the formal consent of four partner states, including Karnataka, is mandatory for the proposed merger of the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) with Indian Railways.

Addressing media representatives at the Mangaluru International Airport on Thursday night, the Minister shared key updates regarding the Konkan Railway merger, the Mangaluru-Bengaluru railway line doubling project, and the launch of the Vande Bharat Express service.

Explaining the merger dynamics, Vaishnaw noted that alongside the Central Government, the state governments of Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, and Maharashtra hold equity stakes in the Konkan Railway Corporation. Therefore, securing approval from all four states is indispensable before proceeding. He confirmed that formal requests have already been dispatched to these state governments, and the integration process will move forward once the respective Chief Ministers grant their nod.

Highlighting the Centre’s focus on the Mangaluru-Bengaluru rail line doubling project, the Minister announced that the Final Location Survey (FLS) has been successfully completed, and work is currently underway to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

Acknowledging the engineering complexities of laying tracks through the rugged terrain of the Western Ghats, he explained that the second line is being designed with a gentler, more favorable gradient rather than the steep inclines found on the existing track. This upgraded alignment is aimed at ensuring smoother and more efficient train operations across the ghat section.

Regarding the highly anticipated Mangaluru-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, which commences operations on Friday, Vaishnaw remarked that bringing this semi-high-speed connectivity between coastal Karnataka and the state capital required overcoming several technical hurdles, particularly completing the ghat electrification and implementing specialized technical modifications to the trainset. He also announced that an FM radio transmitter will be inaugurated in Udupi during his visit.

Dismissing allegations made by Karnataka Minister M.B. Patil regarding central discrimination against the state in railway allocations, Vaishnaw termed the claims completely baseless. He asserted that Karnataka’s railway infrastructure has witnessed massive transformation since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, with projects worth nearly Rs 75,000 crore currently under execution—spanning high-speed bullet trains, Vande Bharat, Vande Bharat Sleeper trains, and comprehensive station redevelopments. Challenging Patil, the Union Minister retorted by asking him to disclose the quantum of railway funds allocated to Karnataka during the previous UPA regime.