Western Railway with its commitment towards the nation and the people continues to work at large by ensuring that essential commodities are made available across the nation, during this difficult time.
It is a matter of honour, that WR is able to contribute its services to the nation by ensuring supply of not just essential commodities, but also medical equipment and medicines. The container loading of Indian Railways from 1st April to 16th April, 2020 is 1.94 Million Tonnes, out of which Western Railway has loaded 0.83 Million Tonnes, which is almost 43% of the total loading. This is the highest contribution as compared to other zones of Indian Railways.
According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, inspite of constraints due to the lockdown, WR is leaving no stone unturned to make optimum utilization of available resources. 652 rakes have been operated in the last 16 days from 1st April to 16th April, 2020, thus ensuring that there is a continuous supply of essential commodities as well as medical equipments.
Wide publicity of WR’s parcel special trains is being ensured by way of advertisements & news in newspapers as well as through social media and SMS, so that traders can book their parcels thereby ensuring that there is no dearth of essentials required by the people. Since 23rd March to 16th April, 2020, twelve milk specials were run, a load of more than 8000 tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons generating revenue of Rs 1.44 crore. Similarly, 4 indented rakes carrying 1864 tonnes were run with 100% utilization generating revenue of more than Rs 77 lakh.
In addition to this, 43 Covid 19 special parcel trains were also run during this period to transport essential commodities, for which the revenue earned was Rs 1.4 crore.
Shri Bhakar stated that four parcel special trains left from WR to various parts of the country on 17th April, 2020 viz Bandra Terminus – Ludhiana, Dadar – Bhuj, Surat – Bhagalpur and Ahmedabad – Guwahati. During the lockdown period from 22ndMarch to 16th April, 2020, total 1560 rakes of goods trains have been used to supply essential commodities amounting to 3.36 million tonnes. 3475 freight trains were interchanged with other railways, including 1760 trains handed over and 1715 trains taken over at different interchange points.
61 Millennium Parcel rakes of Parcel Vans/Railway Milk Tankers (RMTs) have been sent to different parts of the country to supply as per the demands of essential items such as milk powder, liquid milk and other general consumer goods. The total losses over Western Railway up to 16th April, 2020 have been estimated as Rs 442.63 Cr (inclusive of suburban + non-suburban).
Inspite of this, Western Railway has ensured to refund Rs. 199.55 crore for cancellation of tickets till now. It’s worth mentioning that in this refund amount, Mumbai Division itself, has ensured refund of Rs. 97.46 crore. Till now, 29.82 lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets over entire Western Railway & have received their refund amount accordingly.
