Kolkata, January 26, 2020:
Shri Suneet Sharma, General Manager, Eastern Railway hoisted the National Flag on the occasion of 71st Republic Day celebration at Eastern Railway’s Sports Complex, James Long Sarani, Behala, Kolkata on Sunday, 26th January, 2020. He also received the salute of RPF contingent and ER’s Civil Defence contingent on this occasion.
Addressing the Railwaymen & their family members, General Manager, Eastern Railway, Shri Suneet Sharma said that officers and employees of Eastern Railway are rendering all out efforts to achieve the best in all aspects to contribute towards making a stronger and more vibrant Nation. Shri Sharma said that ER has been playing a pivotal role in development of infrastructure particularly of Eastern Region and providing services to the passengers. With a view to carry more passengers with extensive amenities and for the convenience of the passengers, ER has introduced new trains, increased frequency, extended journey of trains and provided new stoppages.
In his address, Shri Sharma highlighted the milestones in performance of ER during first nine months (April to December) of the current fiscal viz. a) 1st position in Indian Railways for highest other coaching Earnings with increase of 12.95%(cumulative) over the same period of last year. b) 1st position in Indian Railways for highest number of passenger booking on Non-suburban Non PRS sections. The growth rate is 8.10%. c) 1st position in the month of December’2019 and 2nd position upto December’2019 (cumulative) in number of passengers booked on Suburban sections.
Shri Sharma further said that from April to December in the last financial year ER had earned ₹2073 crore by carrying 95 crores of passengers whereas in the current fiscal ER earned ₹2138 crore by carrying 96 crores of passengers which is 3.13% higher.
Moreover, ER has so far earned ₹207.42 crores from scrap sale for the year 2019-20, against a target of ₹182.00 crores.
Apart from traditional commodities like coal, cement and steel, in the field of freight loading ER paid special attention to the loading Foodgrains and fertilizers. Consequently, loading of these two commodities increased by 42.86% and 87.50% respectively over the corresponding period of previous year. Loading of steel has also been increased by 9.21%.
There has been a considerable growth in the total revenue of Eastern Railway as well. The total revenue of Eastern Railway has increased from ₹6389 crore earned during April to December 2018 to ₹6416 crores during the corresponding period of current fiscal.
In ER. The working expenses upto December’2019 is 0.54% less than proportionate target from the Board.
Punctual running of trains has been an item of high priority. Punctuality in Eastern Railway has been satisfactory inspite of prevalence of dense fog during the months of November – December. The punctuality in Eastern Railway has been 77.17% for Mail/Express trains and 85.7% for suburban trains.
Eastern Railway is also closely monitoring security of passengers on board and also at the Railway stations & premises. RPF of ER are escorting all important trains every day. During 2019, RPF arrested 242 persons for committing passenger related crimes, 54918 persons under various sections of Railway Act, by conducting successful drives including Operation Thunder, Operation Dignity and Operation Shashakt divyang. RPF also rescued 620 children from trains and stations of ER.
From April to December’2019, Eastern Railway introduced 4 Passenger & 28 EMU services, increased frequency of 8 passenger trains and extended 2 Express, 1 passenger & 13 EMU trains as well as augmentation to different trains were done by 2544 coaches on temporary basis and by 58 coaches on permanent basis. Moreover, during the last summer and festive seasons, ER ran a total of 1417 special trains for the benefit of the travelling public from Howrah, Sealdah, Kolkata, Asansol, Malda and Bhagalpur stations to different popular destinations.
In view of reaching out to more & more people with expansion of our network, Eastern Railway, from April to December’2019 has constructed 15.50 KM of new lines, 69.94 KM of doubling, 82 KM of electrification and 221.69 KM track renewals. In addition to that, works on a large number of other projects are continuing.
To provide better comfort with improved environment, Eastern Railway during the last nine months, has initiated a number of steps which include upgradation of the coaches of Howrah Rajdhani, Sealdah Rajdhani, Shatabdi Express to ‘SWARNA’ coaches. Moreover, ICF coaches of 39 trains have been upgraded to LHB coaches and 21 other trains are being run with Utkrisht coaches. Similarly, beautification, renovation at large number of stations with installation of 100 ft. high mast for the National Flag are special achievements.
For the benefit of the tourist passengers, ER has introduced Tourist Ticket on suburban sections. With this ticket, passengers can now travel from any station to any station, any number of times in a day.
ER has provided ‘Divyang friendly’ drinking water taps and toilets at all major stations. Moreover, 11 Lifts and 28 Escalators have been provided at different stations of Eastern Railway for the comfort of Divyang persons and senior citizens. ER has also provided ‘Health Kiosks’ at stations to bring access to healthcare at station premises.
Shri Sharma also mentioned that from April to December’2019 ER has conducted intensive ticket checking drives with much success. A total of 23,02,764 cases of travelling without ticket and unbooked luggage were detected during the drives and an amount of ₹56.60 crores were realized as fare & fine. This is 21.77% higher than the amount realised during the corresponding period of the last year.
He also added that, ‘Digital India’ initiative is being materialized to maximum extent in this Railway by introducing POS machines in different PRS & UTS Centres, the environment friendly Hand-Held Terminals (HHT) for the use of Ticket Checking staff of Rajdhani and Shatabdi Expresses to get real time reflection of berth available and allotment of those to passengers en-route, paperless UTS through smart phones using QR code etc.
Under HRMS, ER achieved preparation master data and e-SR entries of 88.93% of employees securing 1st position in Indian Railways. Through UMID Portal, registration of 1,03,592 serving employees and generation of 94,532 cards, completed by ER.
GM/ER informed that, special emphasis has been given for training of employees to update their knowledge and to strengthen the workplace skills. ER has successfully completed the Project ‘Saksham’ for all the employees. “Mission Satyanishtha” – programme on ethics in Public Governance for officers and employees are meticulously being observed at headquarters, division and workshops.
In the field of sports, ER’s achievement is commendable. ER is proud of its sportspersons for their achievements at National level & International level, he asserted.
Shri S.S.Gehlot, Additional General Manager, Principal Officers of Eastern Railway and large number of ER employees attended the celebration of 71st Republic Day.
Members of ERWWO also distributed fruits and sweets among the patients at ER’s B.R. Singh Hospital, Sealdah today.
