MARGAO: As train no. 12779 Vasco - H Nizamuddin Goa Express Special chugged out of the Margao railway station on Sunday afternoon, the South Western Railway (SWR) announced the commissioning of the 15.2 km double-tracked Margao-Chandor-Sanvordem route. The Margao-Sanvordem section is a part of the SWR’s Tinaighat-Vasco double-tracking project.
Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd’s (RVNL) general manager of projects (Goa) Sashibhusan Sahoo, SWR’s transportation inspector Mehra Fernandes and other senior officials of Indian Railways were present on the occasion.
“This is an important milestone in the double-tracking works on the Tinaighat-Vasco section which will further accelerate the progress of work on the remainder of the section,” Sahoo said. He said that work of electrification of the Goa section was also progressing at a fast pace.
The Margao-Sanvordem section was commissioned following the completion of the non-interlocking works at Sanvordem, Chandor and Margao, SWR’s chief public relations officer Aneesh Hegde told reporters.
Earlier, on September 23, the commissioner of railway safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, had conducted a statutory inspection and speed trial on the Margao-Chandor-Sanvordem section, following which authorisation was granted to SWR for opening of commercial services of passenger and freight traffic on the newly built double-line section.
“Preparatory works for commissioning the Margao-Chandor-Sanvordem section commenced from September 25 and pre non-interlocking work was taken up from October 3. On successful completion of preparatory works, non-interlocking works were carried out on October 9 and 10,” a SWR press note stated.
Three running lines each at Sanvordem and Chandor have been commissioned on signals with state-of-the-art electronic interlocking system, it was informed.
“The commissioning of this double line will improve train mobility on this section as the trains need not wait for crossing,” SWR general manager Sanjeev Kishore said.
