Title - South-West Rly arrests down trend in freight earnings

Inspite of restrictions on mining and the ban on iron ore in Karnataka, South Western Railway (SWR) has managed to arrest the downward trend in freight earnings.“SWR has managed to cater to the other sectors and has ferried alternate traffic by loading coal, cement and steel,” Ashok K. Mital, General Manager, South Western Railway, told Business Line.“As a result of switch in freight loadings, we have carried 22.16 million tonnes of freight during the first-eight months of this financial year, against 20.64 mt carried during the corresponding period of previous year, registering an increase of freight loading by 7.3 per cent,” he added.SWR has also seen higher originating gross earnings up to November 2012. According to Mital, “SWR’s originating gross earnings is up by 17.14 per cent at Rs 2,717.32 crore as against previous year’s earnings of Rs 2,319.70 crore.”Mital said the number of passengers carried by SWR has increased by 5.11 per cent to 130.93 million till the end of November from 124.57 million in the previous year.The originating passenger earnings upto November this year, however has increased from Rs 752.52 crore to Rs 808.64 crore, an increase of 7.46 per cent to the corresponding period of last year.“It is our endeavour to provide comfortable rail travel to passengers. In order to achieve this objective, SWR has taken various measures to improve safety, security, passenger amenities, cleanliness and punctuality,” said Mital.As for the punctuality of running of mail/express trains and passenger trains have been maintained 95 per cent and 98 per cent respectively up to November.

Mital addressing the SWR’s 14th Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) Meeting, said that out of nine new trains for SWR as announced in the Budget 2012, up to November 2012, out of which six trains were introduced. Besides, three pairs of passengers trains were also introduced and three trains extended.

Mital further said during the current financial year 2012-13 (up to November), this railway has run 3,227 Special trains and attached 3,513 extra coaches to clear the wait list passengers.

The work of Adarsh stations at Chamrajanagar, Londa, Hubli, Vasco and Nanjangud Town has been completed. For Adarsh stations works at Bagalkot, Gokak Road, Devanhalli Hindupur, Doddaballapur, Gauribidanur and Yelhanka are various stages in progress.

SWR has sent the proposals for Haveri, Almatti, Badami, Kabakaputtur and Hosur for inclusion in Adarsh Stations list to the Railway Board in 2012-13 Budget.