Konkan Railway’s innovative Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) train service, designed to transport cars between Maharashtra and Goa, has received a cold response since bookings opened last week. With just 38 inquiries and a single confirmed booking so far, officials warn the August 23 inaugural run may be cancelled if fewer than 16 cars register by August 13.
The non-stop service between Kolad and Verna can accommodate 40 vehicles per trip, offering an alternative to the congested NH66 during the Ganesh Chaturthi rush. However, the lack of intermediate stops at popular destinations like Ratnagiri and Sawantwadi, combined with a 12-hour journey time (plus a 3-hour loading window), appears to be deterring travellers.
Priced at ₹7,875 per vehicle plus passenger fares, the service will operate on alternate days until September 11 if it gets enough takers. With the festive season approaching, railway authorities are hoping for a last-minute surge in bookings to save this pioneering initiative.
