Title - SCR reaches freight target and handles record passenger volume in the first Half (April to September

South Central Railway has registered significant growth in the traffic volume handled – both in freight and passenger segments in the first half of the current fiscal, i.e., April to September 2012, vis-à-vis last year. The performance in the traffic volume and earnings for the first half of the current financial year is detailed below :
Gross Originating Earnings (Freight & Passengers): The gross originating earnings o­n SCR has shown an impressive growth of 25% during the first half of the current financial year, i.e., April to September, 2012.The Zone has earned an incremental revenue of Rs.945 Cr. with aGross Originating Earnings of Rs. 4679 Cr. in this period, as compared to Rs. 3734 Cr. last year.
1)Freight Segment :
South Central Railway turned out commendable freight performance in the first half of the current financial year, i.e., April to September. 2012.As against the proportionate target of 53.2 million tonnes for the first half year,SCR actually moved 53.1 million tonnesduring this period almost achieving the target. It is up by 4.7 million tonnes (+9.7%) compared to the loading of 48.4 million tonnes during the corresponding period of last year. The major commodities moved by SCR maintained their upward surge in this period.
Coal: Coal accounts for the largest chunk of freight loading o­n SCR. There was a quantum jump in the originating coal loading from M/s Singareni Collieries Company Ltd, M/s.Western Coalfields Limited and imported coal from Krishnapatnam Port and Kakinada Sea Port.The loading was 29.4 million tonnes (approx.) during the first half of the current financial year as compared to 24.1 million tonnes loaded during the same period of last year, an improvement of 5.3 million tonnes (ie., +22%).It is 1.4 million tonnes higher (+5.2%) over the proportionate target of 28 million tonnes.
Cement : Cement loading has shown a significant increase from the Cement plants of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra falling in the jurisdiction of SCR.The loading has been 13.56 million tonnes (approx) during the first half of the current financial year as compared to 11.65 million tonnes loaded during the same period of last year, an improvement of 1.91 million tonnes (+16.4%). It is 0.96 million tonnes (+7.6%) higher over the proportionate target of 12.60 million tonnes.
Food grains, Fertilizers, Containers and Petro Products account for the remaining portion of freight segment. The growth in freight loading was mainly aided by the spurt in the loading at Krishnapatnam and Kakinada sea ports.
Railway Loading at Krishnapatnam Port : During this period, the rail freight loading at Krishnapatnam Port was 5.80 million tonnes as compared to 4.87 million tonnes loaded during the same period of last year, an improvement of 0.93 million tonnes (+19%).
Railway Loading at Kakinada Ports Limited : During the period, the rail freight loading at Kakinada Sea Ports Limitedwas 2.47 million tonnes as compared to 1.58 million tonnes loaded during the same period of last year, an improvement of 0.89 million tonnes (+56%).
Originating Freight Earnings : There was a significant increase of +33.6% in originating freight earnings during the first half of the current year. During this period,the originating freight earnings were Rs. 3395 Crores as against Rs. 2542 Crores achieved in the same period of last year.
2. Passenger Segment :
The Zone carried 194 millions of originating passengers during April to September, 2012, compared to 189 millions of passengers last year. The passenger volume registered a growth of +2.3%. At present, SCR carries around 10.75 lakhs of originating passengers o­n an average per day.
Passenger Earnings: The Passenger earnings have shown a robust growth of 8.4% with Rs.1071 Crores during April to September 2012, compared to Rs. 987 Crores last year.