Higher wagon unloading compared to last year, improvement in automobile loading, and various infrastructure works undertaken by Southern Railway were the highlights of a recent media interaction by SR top officials.
Mr John Thomas, General Manager, Southern Railway (SR) addressed the press via a virtual meet this afternoon and presented some very interesting and encouraging facts:
- SR has unloaded more wagons this year for April to August (95,989) compared to the whole of last fiscal (70655), representing an increase of more than 30 per cent, more on an annualized basis
- Bulk loading was lower due to lower offtake of coal at power production units. Other bulks like steel, fertilizers, etc. showed improvement in numbers
- Loading of automobiles, sluggish till July, has picked up since. Vadipatti has seen an increase from just 5 loads whole of last fiscal to 26 for April to August 2020, while Melpakkam has shown a negative loading of about 33 per cent over the last fiscal.
- Business Development Units have been formed across all Divisions
- The average speed of freight trains is up to 46kmph, though this might be put down to the lockdown when no other significant traffic was on the rails
- Originated 614 parcel express trains and handled more than a thousand such trains, handling more than 33,000 tonnes of consignments
- Operated 500 plus Shramik Specials moving close to 7.5 lakh passengers
- Refunded more than Rs.70 crores towards refund on account of ticket cancellations
There were various project improvements that were accelerated during the lockdown. These include the CRS clearance for Madurai Usilampatti section of Gauge Conversion; doubling of Mecheri Road –Mettur Dam (12 kms) and Tambaram – Guduvancherry (11 kms), both ready for CRS inspection; remodelled yards at Milavittan and Mannargudi, the latter upgraded to handle goods traffic.
The Kerala Semi High Speed Rail DPR is with the Rail Ministry with Southern Railway’s comments and will see further movement after scrutiny and approval by the Ministry.
Doubling was completed and commissioned in the Kadambur – Tattaparai, Vanchi Maniyachi – Gangaikondan and Mangaluru Junction – Padil sections. Electrification commissioned in Cuddalore Port – Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur – Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur – Trichy and Thanjavur – Tiruvarur sections.
Detailed project reports for are being prepared and will be ready by March 2021 for the following sections – Shoranur to Ernakulam, Salem – Karur – Dindigul and Erode – Karur. For the Chennai Beach – Chennai Egmore section, the DPR should be ready by November 2020.
Adhering to Railway Board policies, tenders will be floated only after land acquisition is complete for Tirunnavaya – Guruvayur, Attipattu – Puttur, Tindivanam – Tiruvannamalai, Erode – Palani, Angamali -Sabarimala, and Chennai – Cuddalore (ECR route)
On the Mangaluru Thiruvananthapuram section, doubling is expected to be complete by March 2021, via Kottayam, with Tripunithura-Chingavanam doubling by December 2020. Another leftover section is Nethravati- MAQ section plus yard remodelling at MAQ to receive more trains as a result of an increase in the number of PFs.
Doubling of Ernakulam – Kayankulam via Alleppey by Dec 2024, Thiruvananthapuram -Kanniyakumari doubling by Dec 2024, making the entire Mangaluru Kanniyakumari line via Kayankulam double by December 2024.
The General Manager also showcased freight initiatives and measures taken by Southern Railway to enhance freight traffic. He elaborated on the various freight incentive schemes, concessions and discounts available for freight customers.
Also explained was the crucial role played by the zone’s Business Development Units as a one-stop solution for handling freight and parcel proposals from customers.
Photo: Lalam
