Pranav Birje | The News Bulletins
Following five months of persistent complaints and growing passenger dissatisfaction regarding the frequent delays of two major coastal trains—the Matsyagandha Express and the Mumbai-Mangaluru Superfast Express—former North Mumbai MP Gopal Shetty intervened by leading a high-level delegation to meet with senior Konkan Railway officials.
The delegation, led by Shetty, included prominent figures such as senior BJP leader Sachidanand Shetty, Arun Shetty Paniyoor, Virar Shankar Shetty, Ashwit Sanjeev Shetty, and Rajit Suvarna, among other dignitaries.
Key Issues Discussed
The joint meeting focused on finding immediate solutions to the following pressing concerns:
Chronic Delays: Specifically affecting Train Nos. 12619/12620 (Matsyagandha Express) and 12133/12134 (Mumbai-Mangaluru Superfast Express).
Passenger Hardship: Highlighting the severe difficulties faced by senior citizens, patients, and students who rely on these “lifeline” trains between Mumbai and Coastal Karnataka.
Security Concerns: Serious alarm was raised regarding recent incidents of gold and cash robberies aboard Konkan Railway trains.
Suspended Services: The delegation demanded the restoration of the train service running from Bandra to Mangaluru via Vasai, which is currently suspended.
Background of the Intervention
The issue gained momentum after concerns were voiced in the ‘Team Yuva Brigade‘ WhatsApp group. Mentors of the group and BJP leaders Sachidanand Shetty and President Arun Shetty Paniyoor brought the matter to Gopal Shetty’s attention, prompting this swift administrative action.
Official Response from Konkan Railway
The delegation held detailed discussions with Sunil Gupta (Director, Commercial and Operations) and Rajendra Kumar Sharma (Chief Operating Officer).
Sunil Gupta provided the following assurances:
Maintenance Work: Current delays are primarily due to large-scale night-time track maintenance in the Ratnagiri and Madgaon divisions.
One-Week Timeline: Efforts will be made to regularize the Matsyagandha Express within the next week.
Enhanced Security: The robbery incidents will be reported to senior RPF (Railway Protection Force) officials to implement stricter crime prevention measures.
Service Restoration: He committed to discussing the resumption of the Bandra-Vasai-Mangaluru service with Western Railway senior officials.
The Director emphasized that ensuring passenger safety and timely operations remains the primary responsibility of the Konkan Railway, and appropriate steps are being taken to resolve all issues shortly.