Railway projects: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said merging Konkan Railway with Indian Railways requires approval from Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala chief ministers. Mangaluru: Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said that efforts are underway to merge the Konkan Railway with Indian Railways, though the exact timeline remains uncertain as the decision ultimately rests with the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala.