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Sawantwadi, January 7, 2026 – In a major escalation of the long-standing demand for a fully functional railway terminus at Sawantwadi, 67-year-old Surendra Nemlekar, a Mumbai-based Konkani senior citizen, has announced a fast unto death. The protest, aimed at securing the rights of the “Chakarmani” (Peoples from the Konkan region working in Mumbai), is set to begin later this month.
The Maharashtra Railway Pravasi Mahasangh, representing Mumbai-based Konkani passengers, has officially served a notice of the hunger strike to the Konkan Railway Corporation.
While most people his age look forward to a peaceful retired life with their grandchildren, Mr. Nemlekar has chosen a different path. Driven by a selfless desire to ensure a smooth and comfortable travel experience for the youth of Konkan and the lakhs of people who travel between Mumbai and the coast, he has decided to take this extreme step.
“This fight is not for me; it is for the comfortable travel of the peoples of my Konkan,” Nemlekar stated emotionally.
The long-standing demand for a Complete Railway Terminus and Coaching Depot at Sawantwadi has evolved from a local infrastructure request into a critical necessity for the Konkan region. Despite years of persistent advocacy and official assurances, the project remains in a state of administrative limbo, leaving the local community to grapple with the fallout of stalled progress. Without a dedicated terminus, commuters are forced to endure significant travel delays and logistical inefficiencies that hinder daily life.
The absence of a coaching depot—essential for the maintenance and origination of trains—means that Sawantwadi cannot effectively serve as a transit hub, stifling its economic growth and preventing it from alleviating the pressure on neighboring stations. This continued inaction not only inconveniences thousands of passengers but also prevents the town from fulfilling its geographic potential as a gateway for tourism and commerce.
In a significant move to address long-standing infrastructure grievances, a protest has been organized at Konkan Bhavan in Belapur, Navi Mumbai, scheduled for January 26, 2026. Aimed at the Konkan Railway Corporation and the Central Government, the movement calls upon the youth, the local people of Konkan to assemble starting at 9:00 AM on Republic Day.
The primary objective of this demonstration is to secure the immediate completion of the Sawantwadi Railway Terminus and ensure it becomes fully operational to its total capacity. Protesters are demanding enhanced connectivity to provide a hassle-free and comfortable journey for the vital Mumbai-Konkan commuter base. By choosing this symbolic date, organizers hope to highlight these long-ignored regional issues and force a definitive timeline for the terminus’s completion.
