Panaji, Aug. 24: South Goa MP Capt. Viriato Fernandes on Monday strongly raised the issue of families who surrendered their land for railway projects, demanding that Konkan Railway give them priority in manpower recruitment as well as allotment of shops at railway stations.

Fernandes chaired the 24th meeting of the Konkan Railway Users Consultative Committee at Navi Mumbai, where several issues concerning railway passengers from Goa were discussed.

Highlighting the concerns of land-losers, Fernandes said that people who parted with their land for railway infrastructure and development should receive due consideration when employment opportunities arise in Konkan Railway. He also sought preference for such affected families while allocating commercial shops and other facilities at railway stations.

The South Goa MP also strongly pressed for additional trains connecting Goa with important pilgrimage destinations, particularly Velankanni and Pandharpur, considering the growing demand from passengers.

Fernandes said the Union Railway Minister had assured additional trains between Goa and Velankanni towards the end of August and in September for the annual feast. He also proposed additional trains between Mumbai and Margao during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival to cater to the heavy festive rush.

Passenger amenities at railway stations across Goa also figured prominently in the meeting. Fernandes called for their improvement and sought expeditious completion of the foot overbridge at Madgaon railway station.

He thanked Kerala MP Jebi Hisham, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanavade, Irikkur MLA Sajeev Joseph and others for supporting his demand for additional train services to Velankanni and Pandharpur.

Konkan Railway CMD Santosh Kumar Jha assured the committee that additional trains would be deployed to cater to the increasing number of passengers travelling to pilgrimage centres.