Title - Northeastern Railway plans to speed up projects

VARANASI: Encouraged with increased revenue from passenger fare along with penalty recovered from passengers travelling without tickets in the last financial year, the North Eastern Railway (NER), Varanasi division is looking forward to stepping up the pace for various projects in the current year.

While the extension of facilities for passengers is at the top of priority list, giving momentum to other infrastructural projects is also attracting the attention of division this year.

According to divisional railway manager (DRM), NER (Varanasi), Lalit Kapoor, while the last year would be remembered for expedited work of gauge conversion that witnessed completion of 99 km Captanganj and Thave section, the current year would be known for intensified work to extend and enhance passenger facilities at the stations under the division. "As many as 35 stations out of 120 stations under the division have already witnessed start of computerised reservation system facility while 20 other stations have witnessed start of UTS cum PRS facilities. The UTS facility would be extended to all remaining stations with the help of VSAT in the current financial year (2012-13)," he added.

It may be mentioned here that with the start of Jan Sadharan ticket booking system, a number of passengers in east UP region along with parts of neighbouring Bihar falling under the division have been benefitted. It includes stations like Deoria, Azamgarh, Balia, Suremanpur, Mairwa and Manduadih besides Chapra and Siwan in Bihar. In addition, with completion of Standard-III panel interlocking in Captanganj-Thave section and gauge conversion, the NER (Varanasi) is also looking to increase revenue from passenger fare and freight charges this year.

As per reports of the DRM office, the Varanasi division has registered an increase of 6.30% revenue from initial passenger fare, realizing Rs 368 cr in the last financial year. Similarly, it registered collection of Rs 8.36 cr from penalty of passengers travelling without tickets, an increase of whopping 34% when compared to past year.