In spite of challenges due to Covid-19, wheels of freight trains on SWR move on for transportation of essential commodities and materials for energy and infrastructure.
During the lock down period, SWR has ensured that all essential commodities for sustaining the economy and provision of food and raw materials for the citizens were moved to meet the requirement.
From the period 27.03.2020 to 03.04.2020 SWR has moved rice, wheat, potatoes, paddy, coal for power generation, fertilizers, petroleum products, LPG, steel and also smaller quantities of coal for steel plant, cement clinker, dolomite etc. Approximately 4,82,540 Tonnes of freight were unloaded by 153 Rakes on freight trains by SWR during this period. Further, 2,15,877 Tonnes of freight were loaded on 69 rakes to different destination ofrom SWR.
In Bengaluru Division comprising districts of Bengaluru urban and rural, Ramnagar, Mandya, Chikaballapur, Kolar, Tumkur and parts of Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh, 92,500 Tonnes of freight comprising of 35 Rakes were unloaded during the period 27.03.2020 to 03.04.2020. Details are as below:
§ 10 Rakes (27,000 Tonnes) of rice at Whitefield, Krishnarajpuram FCI depots, Mandya and KDAG (Tumkur).
§ 3 Rakes of paddy (7800T) at Hosur and Dharmapuri in Tamilnadu.
§ 3 rakes of wheat (7800T) were handled at Whitefield and Mallur.
§ 10 rakes of Petroleum products and 3 rakes of LPG were handled at Devangonthi.
§ 2 rakes of fertilizers (6200T) at Mandya
§ 4 rakes of steel were in Bangalore area.
In Mysuru Division which comprises the districts of Mysore, Chamrajnagar, Chikamaglur, Shimogga, Chitradurga, Davangere, Haveri, Hassan etc almost all rakes that were received from various loading points carrying food grains fertilizer ,petroleum products, potatoes, were unloaded. 57,340 Tonnes of freight comprising of 20 Rakes were unloaded during the period 27.03.2020 to 03.04.2020. Details are as below:
§ 5 rakes of rice (12,340 T),
§ 2 rakes of wheat (6,200 T),
§ 4 rakes of potatoes (10,000 T),
§ 7 rakes of fertilizers (23,600 T) and
§ 2 rakes of petroleum products (5,200 T)
The goods sheds which handled these commodities include MNGT(Mysore New Goods Terminal), Amravati colony near Davangere, Hassan, Haveri, Chitradurga, Chamrajnagar, Chikamagalur, and Shivamogga Town.
In Hubballi Division which comprises of Dharwar, Koppal, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Bellari, Belgavi, Gadag, Chikkodi, Uttara Kanada districts of Karnataka and parts of Goa etc unloading of commodities which included rice, wheat, fertilizers, petroleum products, coal for thermal power generation, steel etc were undertaken. 3,32,700 Tonnes of freight comprising of 98 Rakes were unloaded during the period 27.03.2020 to 03.04.2020. Details are as below:
§ 6 rakes of rice (15,600 T)
§ 4 rakes of wheat (10,400 T)
§ 8 rakes of fertilizers (17,900 T)
§ 8 rakes of petroleum products (20,800 T)
§ 45 rakes of coal for power generation(180,000 T)
§ 5 rakes of export steel to Goa port &
§ 22 rakes of coal for steel plants (88,000 T).
During the period there was good coordination with State Government officials. Monitoring of unloading of all essential goods was being done round the clock by senior Railway officials who were assisted by concerned District officials. To ensure loading and unloading, permission have been given to Railway officials to issue passes for critical mass of staff and contractual labour that are essential for mobility and loading/unloading of goods at Railway stations. A high powered team of Principal Secretary, and Deputy Commissioners of districts have coordinated with Railways to ensure that all essential goods are unloaded without delay. General Manager SWR and senior officers of SWR are monitoring movement of freight trains and also loading and unloading of various essential commodities.
