In terms of passenger rakes the Ghat was definitely underutilized. In terms of freights the traffic had definetly improved post covid including LHB parcel trains and of course Boxn rakes. Recently I saw SWR bring in some kind of minerals in tarpaulin covered rakes down the ghats to Goa too.
Utilisation of the route in terms of freights i think it's utilised to the full extent of the single line.
But regarding efficiency i doubt that this route is inefficient the claims of CEC are total batshit crazy as this is...
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one of the most profitable routes for SWR and not all freight rakes are brought to Goa empty and the locos are not moved down the ghats empty too. They are moved down the ghats with downhill trains and sometimes empty.
Regarding coal i agree in future we should definitely reduce our dependency on imported coal.
Also why don't the stupid CEC ask KR to run their trains all the way down till QLM and VSG if they think Goa is better off served with KR. And not all routes to Goa are better via KR. Routes from WB, Odisha, Telangana, AP, Karnataka, Chennai, and NE are shorter via Braganza Ghats only one SWR train runs via KR and even for running that there is huge politics played between KR and SWR. And National Highway bullshit. Rail connectivity always wins hands down over the buses in terms of safety and comfort. Looks too me like CEC is highly influenced by the bus lobby and some vested interests on how they say most of the things.

Also to our clueless milords.
Running trains at 30/40kph is inefficient then how efficient will be running Goa to HWH train via KR ??
Even that will have to pass another Ghat section in Maharashtra where similar graded Ghats exists.
Then they should even strike down Bhor Ghats and Kasara Ghats as inefficient too as they have same 1 in 37 ruling...
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gradient and need 5 locomotives too for moving freight trains.