Title - Mysore railway division registers 19 per cent growth in earnings

It earned Rs. 375.53 crore during April-November
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Registering an impressive recovery in its performance after a slowdown last fiscal year, the Mysore Division of the South Western Railway (SWR) has accrued a 19 per cent growth in its overall earnings between April and November.As against Rs. 315.72 crore earned during April–November last financial year, the division clocked Rs. 375.53 crore during the same period in 2012-13. The bulk of its earnings has come from freight transportation through which the division has earned Rs. 257.17 crore between April and November against Rs. 203.97 crore in the same period last year.Anup Dayanand Sadhu, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Mysore Division of SWR, told The Hindu the bulk of the freight comprised iron, foodgrains and cement — most of which originates from Chitradurga and ferried to Jindal Steel Plant — apart from sundry items. Though the ban on iron ore exports hit the Railways’ performance last year, the division made good the loss through domestic movement consequent to commencement of mining at a few places, he added.

Passenger handling

Passenger transportation was the second largest revenue contributor and the division earned Rs. 101.75 crore till November-end in the current financial year against Rs. 96.8 crore during the corresponding period last year. This is a marginal jump of 5 per cent over the previous year’s earnings. Mr. Sadhu opined that the growth could have been more substantial if not for the Cauvery agitation which resulted in disruption of train services and less patronisation by commuters during the agitation period, especially on the Mysore-Bangalore section.

Not withstanding the minor disruption during the agitation period, the division registered a slight increase in the number of passengers handled. As against 34.98 million passengers carried during April-November last year, the division handled 35.69 million passengers during the same period this year.

Track-doubling

Expressing confidence of registering impressive growth in revenue generation through passenger traffic, Mr. Sadhu pointed out that the completion of track-doubling between Birur and Arsikere had not only helped decongest the track but was also expected to generate additional passenger traffic and revenue as more trains could be run in future.

The division netted Rs. 6.46 crore under ‘Other Coaching Earnings’ and a drive against ticketless travelling added Rs. 2.27 crore to the revenue from April to November against Rs. 1.67 crore earned during the same period last year. Likewise, sundry earnings, including publicity, catering and operating special trains, helped accrue Rs. 10.15 crore by way of revenue against Rs. 8.76 crore last year.

The thrust on publicity to augment revenue led the railway authorities to tap the current trends in marketing and they introduced vinyl wrapping of the coaches to promote commercial products for a fee. The rakes of the Chamundi Express are vinyl wrapped to advertise products instead of its conventional livery. “In all, 63 coaches comprising the rakes of important trains originating from Mysore will be vinyl wrapped as tenders have been finalised. The revenue earned will be reflected during the last quarter,” Mr. Sadhu said.

The division earned Rs. 375.53 crore during April–November

The division handled 35.69 million passengers during the period against 34.98 million last year