Title - KARNATAKA : Hubli division SWR records 19.7 per cent growth

Divisional Railway Manager of Hubli division of South Western Railway Rahul Jain has said that the freight earnings had increased by 19.7 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.

Speaking at the Independence Day celebrations here on Wednesday, he said the division registered an increase of 1.2 per cent in freight loading and 0.9 per cent in terms of passenger traffic.

By carrying 141.06 lakh passengers till July, the division earned Rs. 71.57 crore, registering a growth of 4.9 per cent.

He said that regular monitoring of the running of trains had improved the overall punctuality of mail/express and passenger trains to 98 per cent.

Mr. Jain said that the long-pending demand of the public for introducing a Mysore-Sainagar-Shirdi weekly express and continuation of Yeshwantpur-Bijapur-Yeshwantpur special had been met, and the Jan Shatabdi Express and Yeshwantpur-Solapur-Yeshwantpur Gol Gumbaz Express had been made daily trains. Mr. Jain said that to improve safety, 14 level-crossings had been manned, four limited height subways had been constructed, and sliding booms had been provided at four level-crossing gates in addition to 15 provided earlier to avoid detention of trains during lifting barrier damage.

Elaborating on the special initiatives taken by the division for the welfare of railwaymen and their families, Mr. Jain said 85 Compassionate Ground Appointments (CGA) were offered up to July, 2012, and 181 wards of railwaymen were given appointment under Liberalised Active Retirement Scheme for Guaranteed Employment for Safety Staff (LARSGESS). He said that security had been identified as priority at all railway stations. The Independence Day celebrations on DRM office premises concluded with cultural programmes by children of railway schools and Bharat Scouts and Guides. Later, Mr. Jain presented cash prizes to employees of various departments for their outstanding services.