Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Narayan Rane has revived the proposal for a new railway line with a toy train for tourist purposes, along the Konkan coast, calling upon Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for the same. The proposal had been first initiated by former railway minister Suresh Prabhu.

‘First tourist district’

“You may be aware, Sindhudurg in Konkan region of Maharashtra is the first ‘Tourism District’ in the country. With serene beaches, picturesque mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, magnificent sea forts and meandering rivers, Sindhudurg has always been a tourists’ delight. Keeping in view the huge tourism potential, a few years ago, the Konkan Railway had carried out a survey for operating a tourist/toy train to and fro Kankavli and Sawantwadi via Devgad, Malvan and Vengurla. The project is still pending with the Konkan Railway and it has the potential to create a major spin-off effect on the economy of the region,” Rane said.