Sir Konkan is a perfect route, already capable of handling trains at 180 kmph. I was travelling in a loco, train was running at 90 kmph inside tunnel. When I asked loco pilot about the speed, he told he Rajdhani and JanShatabdi already runs at 120 kmph and if rules are relaxed, then this route is ready for 150 kmph action. Now coming to UBL - MRJ - PUNE doubling, it clearly doesn't deserve more funds than GTL - YNK doubling for 2 reasons: terrain is good and distance is very less. If at all it deserves doubling, the rate of return (calculated by IR) would not have been in negative value for this line as compared to the value of 8 for GTL - YNK line. As far as patronage is concerned, none of trains via GR, SUR on CST-MAS/HYB/SBC run empty as against some trains via UBL, MRJ. So...
more... the question of being more populous doesn't do justification for patronage. The matter of fact is, single line itself is not completely utilized. Many more trains can be run on existing PUNE - MRJ - UBL - SBC line.