The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Rail freight, passenger traffic up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 13, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rail freight, passenger traffic up

Special Correspondent

Overall earnings increase by 13 per cent compared to the previous year

RECOGNITION: B.V. Chandrasekar of the Tiruchi Division receiving the Inter Divisional Overall Efficiency shield from General Manager Thomas Varghese in Chennai on Wednesday. — Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

CHENNAI: Southern Railway recorded an impressive performance both in freight and passenger traffic during 2005-06, which boosted its overall earnings by 13 per cent compared to the previous year.

Despite the increase in earnings, the operating ratio of 119 per cent continues to be on the higher side. As the revenue is less than the expenditure, Southern Railway is yet to turn the corner, said the General Manager Thomas Varghese at the 51st railway week celebrations here on Wednesday.

Mr. Varghese, however, was confident that Southern Railway would soon start earning profit as its earnings had been steadily on the rise compared to its expenditure.

During the last financial year, overall earnings had increased by 13 per cent, with goods earnings recording 25 per cent increase and passenger earnings up by 8 per cent compared to the previous financial year.

Safety record of the zone had been exceptionally good for the second year in succession. Out of nine accidents, five were beyond the control of administration — four level-crossing accidents and one case of self-immolation inside a compartment.

It was to the credit of Southern Railway there was no casualty of a passenger due to accidents.

The General Manager was happy to announce that the zone had won three out of 13 awards of the Railway Board this year, including in safety.

The administration decided to set up multi-disciplinary training centres in all divisional headquarters and this year the centre would be set up at Palghat.

Similarly, five stations would be selected in each division for converting them into model stations. In the current year, the Board had sanctioned Rs. 26 crore to the zone for passenger amenities as against Rs. 17 crore last year.

Conversion projects

In the current year, the Railway Board had sanctioned new gauge conversion projects for 300 km including Virudhunagar-Manamadurai, Dindigul-Pollachi-Palghat and Pollachi-Coimbatore sections. He was confident that the projects would be completed as per schedule.

Appeal to employees

Earlier, Additional General Manager R. Gopinathan Nair appealed to employees to rededicate themselves to provide safe, reliable and comfortable journey to passengers.

The General Manager distributed group awards and individual awards. Tiruchi division won the General Manager's inter-divisional overall efficiency shield.

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