Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 20, 2008
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Thursday, Mar 20, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
“We have quite a number of mega projects on hand” CHENNAI: Southern Railway is convening a meeting of chief executives of major construction companies in the country to showcase its ongoing projects before them. The aim is to elicit their views on how best the projects can be completed in time without sacrificing quality. “We have quite a number of mega projects on hand requiring big contractors, who have the wherewithal to execute the projects within a time frame,” said Southern Railway General Manager Rakesh Chopra. In an interview to The Hindu, Mr. Chopra said with the allocation of Rs.1,300 crore for various projects in 2008-09, the zone had to necessarily spend more than Rs.100 crore a month. “Unless big contractors are involved in the process, it will be difficult to utilise the allotted money. Early completion of the projects is imperative to meet the growing demand, both in passenger and freight traffic. As big contractors have professionally trained manpower and financial resources to bear the fluctuations in the market, the zone has decided to go in for big contractors.” Till a few years ago, Southern Railway was known as a passenger-oriented zone with its revenue coming mostly from passenger traffic. The situation changed in the last two years with freight operations on a roll. The zone, which was transporting 20 million tonnes till a few years ago, now handled more than 30 million tonnes. There was a 30 per cent increase in inward movement of wagons, from 3,000 a day to 6,000, despite the limited line capacity. The capacity could be increased by early completion of the ongoing projects. The General Manager said so far, freight movement was confined to inward traffic. Now the situation had changed as the zone was getting originating traffic too. Modernisation of major ports and formation of new minor ports in different parts of the zone were bound to bring in more traffic. “The zone is also planning to organise a meeting of freight customers as it wants to be sensitised to their problems. It needs their help and guidance to improve productivity,” said Mr. Chopra.” Admitting there were problems in goods terminals such as lack of roads and sheds, he said the zone was in the process of providing them. “We wanted to introduce 24-hour terminals and, with this in view, the zone has introduced two shifts. Our intention is to provide facilities for quick loading of consignments and to prevent use of goods yards as warehouses.” As far as performance was concerned, in the current financial year, the zone had done well in oil, cement, container and other goods movement and, to a moderate extent, in coal. But its performance in food grains and fertilizer was not satisfactory. On the passenger front too there had been a steady increase in traffic and to meet the demand, more special trains were being operated.
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