Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says Konkan Railway merger awaits four-state approval

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters that the long‑awaited merger of the Konkan Railway Corporation with Indian Railways cannot be finalised until all four states through which the line runs give their formal approval. He emphasized that the government respects the fiscal and operational concerns of the state governments and will seek their assent before any structural change is made.
The Konkan Railway, which links the western coastal belt, traverses four states. Each state is required to evaluate the impact of the merger on revenue sharing, asset valuation and service management. The minister said the Railway Ministry has already opened a consultative process with the concerned state officials to address these issues.
While no specific timeline was announced, Vaishnaw indicated that the ministry will continue discussions and aim to complete the approval process as swiftly as possible, noting that the merger is expected to streamline operations and improve connectivity along the Konkan corridor.