Now in its 13th year, the initiative continues to support thousands of Konkan residents returning home for the much-celebrated festival. “This year, we are doubling the joy with two special trains to ensure more devotees can celebrate Ganeshotsav in their hometowns. We are committed to making this journey seamless and memorable,” said Rane, encouraging residents to make use of the service.
On August 23, the special train will make stops at Ratnagiri and Kudal, concluding its journey at Sawantwadi. The following day (August 24) , the second service will halt at Vaibhavwadi and Kankavali before terminating at Sawantwadi. Both trains will depart from Platform 14 at Dadar Station.
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Ticket distribution for the special services begins on August 18, 2025. Devotees are required to register their names with their local mandal presidents to receive tickets.
BJP’s Rane highlighted the initiative as a gesture of appreciation towards Hindus of Konkan for their support for the party and the during elections.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has asked Ganesh mandals not to pay fines for digging up roads to set up pandals for Ganesh Chaturthi festival until the time the Maharashtra government fills potholes on the Mumbai-Goa Highway.
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The former CM suggested that a fine should be imposed on the BJP-led government for every pothole found on the 470-km highway. Addressing Ganesh mandals’ (organising committees) which have functionaries and sympathisers of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Thackeray targeted the Mahayuti government over the prevailing uncertainty on the use of Plaster of Paris (PoP) for making idols of Ganesh idols.
In June, the Bombay High Court allowed manufacturing of PoP Ganpati idols, but with a caveat that they cannot be immersed in natural water bodies without permission, a ruling coming as a relief for thousands of artisans in Maharashtra.
With the ruling, the HC has modified its January 2025 order which had imposed a complete ban on manufacturing and sale of PoP Ganpati idols. Plaster of Paris is environmentally harmful. Nonetheless, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hiked the fine for digging up roads while building Ganesh pandals to ₹15,000 per hole from ₹2,000. Although Mumbai suburban district guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha assured he will talk to the BMC to bring down the fine amount to ₹2,000, there was no official word on this by the civic body.
“I am declaring that there should be a fine on the government for every pothole on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. Till the time those potholes are filled, we will not pay fine for the digging holes for Ganesh pandals. I am declaring this and go and tell the chief minister,” Thackeray asserted. This year, Ganesh festival will begin on August 27.
Thackeray also took a dig at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, his arch rival, after some Ganesh mandals associated with the Shiv Sena (UBT) switched sides to the ruling coalition ally Shiv Sena, headed by Shinde.
