Karnataka - Hubli-Dharwad   

SWR has many reasons to cheer

Staff Correspondent

Growth in freight, passenger traffic Growth in freight, passenger traffic and parcel earnings

LISTING ACHIEVEMENTS: South Western Railway general manager Trilok Nath Perti addressing the gathering during the 51st Railway Week celebrations in Hubli on Wednesday.

HUBLI: South Western Railway has recorded an all-time high of 38.05 million tonnes as originating freight during the financial year 2005-06, thus registering a growth of 19.8 per cent over the previous year.

At the 51st Railway Week Celebrations here on Wednesday, South Western Railway general manager Trilok Nath Perti said as a result, the total originating earnings of the zone increased by 42.23 per cent over the previous year, amounting to Rs. 2408.72 crores.

In passenger traffic, the zone registered an increase of 17.93 per cent. During 2005-06, there was passenger traffic of 968.88 lakhs compared to 825.55 lakhs the previous year, he said. In the parcel earnings also, SWR registered an increase of 52 per cent compared to the previous year and operating ratio for the year 2005-06 was expected to be well below the last year's performance.

Bags shields

Mr. Perti said because of the massive increase in freight, passenger traffic and earnings, SWR had bagged the Traffic Transportation Commercial and Accounts Shields.

SWR was the first to cover the A, B, and D Class railway stations and Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) was available at 39 locations in the zone, he said. An Integrated Call Centre for the convenience of the public was also functioning in Bangalore. A new facility of SMS alert for reservation and arrival/ departure of trains was started on an experimental basis in Bangalore, he said.

Punctuality

Mr. Perti said SWR had registered a significant improvement with regard to the punctuality of passenger trains, which had gone up to 99 per cent, well above the target of 95 per cent fixed by the Railway Board.

During the current year, six new express trains were introduced, services of three trains were extended and the frequency of one train was increased. It was also proposed to augment all long-distance express trains with 24 coaches. A total of 3,008 special trains were run during the current year and 5,150 extra coaches were attached to clear the seasonal rush till March 2006, he said.

Mr. Perti also listed out the various passenger amenities that were improved, performance of various divisions and also achievements in the sports field by employees of the zone. He said the Divisional Railway Hospital, which was now declared Central Hospital, would be upgraded. The plan for upgradation was approved. Mr. Perti asked employees not to be complacent and urged them to work hard to improve the performance.

Later, he along with other senior officials, distributed the awards and efficiency shields. Mastan Rao, senior personnel officer, SWR was present.

V. Pitchairaju, chief personnel officer, SWR welcomed the gathering. After the award distribution, cultural programmes were held.

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