Gateway Of Goa

Altamash Panjwany

C18-3443
FY B.COM D

The link that the Cultural Capital of Goa has with the rest of India besides the National Highway 66 is the railway station. It is one of the most important railway stations not only in Goa but also, in the Konkan Region. The fact here is that it is the meeting point of South Western Railways as well as Konkan Railways.This station has 2 Entrances. One from the Aquem and Malbhat Road and the other on the road leading to Navelim and Davorlim which is the main entrance.

Main Entrance of Madgaon Junction

The history of this station is very unique, the old station which is just 100 meters north of the existing railway station used to handle the iron ore exports going to Mormugao Port as well as imports of different goods coming from Mormugao Port during the Portuguese Rule. With the development of Konkan Railways in 1998, the new station was built. I refer to this station as a gateway since almost major trains have a halt of at least 10-15 Minutes. Even some of the trains have its originating as well as final destination here. Like Mandovi and Konkanya Express to Mumbai or Rajdhani Express to Hazrat Nizamuddin Junction in New Delhi or to Hapa in Gujarat Super Fast Express or Jan Shatabadi Express to Dadar in Mumbai and many more. Also Exotic Trains can be spotted here like the Deccan Odyssey and the Golden Chariot. A Double Decker train to Mumbai from here will be introduced soon.

Even Konkan Railways had a introduced a test run for Sky-bus Metro in 2004 which was scrapped due to an accident which killed the driver and today, you can only see just some of the laid out tracks as ruins as most of them are demolished. 

Ruins of Sky-bus Metro

Due to close proximity of station to the market, many hotels of medium budget have been developed. While there is a station master's room if you have any problem. There are steps leading to Announcement Room where Arrival and Departure of Trains are being shouted out to passengers using an intercom system. There is a luggage room for goods to be mailed to other cities and also a room for passengers to keep their luggage if their train is delayed . There are 4 platforms at the station for the trains and I think a new platform will be built soon and also a digital signboard is available to indicate different compartments of a train. While if your train is delayed, there is a rest room for you where charging ports are available. Also you can enjoy free WiFi available at any part of the station. There are 3 washroom available for men, women and the physically challenged people. There are 5 ticket counters in the ticket counter room which is separate for reservation, tatkal and general/unreserved passengers which is usually crowded. Here you can find a map with different railway zones and stations of India. You can also avail platform ticket in this room itself. Outside the station, on the other side of footbridge, you can find a railway police station with willing police officers at your service. If you are hungry and bored, there are many stalls which provide books, lip smacking snacks and chilled drinks. Also, you can find famous Goan delicacies like Bebinca and Dodol at these stalls along with different varieties of Cashew. Even outside the station there are small food stalls offering you delicious Chinese food as well as lip smacking Vada Pav, Kapa, Mirchi Vada and local snacks. In case, if you are way past your lunch or dinner time, there is a food stall managed by Konkan Railways or there are many restaurants near the station like Madgaon Central where you can have veg or non veg food. In case if your train is delayed by hours and you forget to do shopping, the New Market and Gandhi Market is just some distance away for last minute shoppers. 

A Nestle Kiosk at the Station

Outside the station you can find a number of porters or Koolis as they are called in Hindi who are ready to carry your luggage out of the station or inside the train in the station. If you prefer the other exit i.e from Aquem Side, there is a escalator to climb the footbridge to make your way out of the station. There are 2 Big Digital Boards giving updates on arrival and departure of the train on both the exit/entrance of the station. There are Taxis and Rickshaws outside the station whose drivers charge very high prices for even small distance. Local Buses are also preferable and cheap but it is crowded and your luggage may also be misplaced. There are prepaid taxi services too but they are way too expensive.

View of Railway Footbridge from Platform Number 2