Western Railway’s Multi- disciplinary Business Development Units are constantly exploring new avenues to tap the freight traffic. In continuation to this, BDU of Vadodara Division recently transported Galvanized boxes as well as mixed general goods to Patna and New Guwahati respectively.
According to a press release issued by Shri Sumit Thakur- Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Rly, inspite of time lost under Covid lockdown, Ministry of Railways is focusing on surpassing last year’s freight figures. The freight trains are being operated 24X7 across the country. Multi-disciplinary Business Development Units have also been set up for tapping potential traffic and providing customized facilities in transporting the freight. Further in this direction, two new types of parcel traffic has been clinched recently by the Business Development Unit of Vadodara Division. Galvanized boxes was transported from Miyagam Karjan to Patna, a distance of 1595 kms. This traffic earned revenue of approx. Rs 1.10 lakh. Another traffic of mixed general goods was transported from Ranoli to New Guwahati Goods Shed, a distance of almost 2450 kms. The earnings generated through this traffic was about Rs 1.35 lakh. Shri Thakur further added that with a thrust on freight, CONCOR India inducted scheduled round trip of double stack container trains between Mundra Port – Khatuwas and Pipavav Port – Khatuwas on daily basis. The distance covered is 996 kms & 1085 Kms respectively, with target speed of 55 kms per hour. The first such train called Girnar departed from Pipavav port to Khatuwas on 17th September, 2020. These are additional time tabled container train services on scheduled path on specified streams.
Shri Thakur stated that, since 23rd March to 19th Sep, 2020, commodities weighing more than 1.29 lakh tonnes have been transported by Western Rly through its 552 parcel special trains, which mainly included agricultural produce, medicines, fish, milk etc. The revenue generated through this transportation, has been about Rs 43.35 crore. During this period, 91 milk special trains were run by Western Rly, with a load of above 69 thousand tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons. Similarly, 419 Covid-19 special parcel trains with a load of more than 41 thousandtonnes were also run to transport various essential commodities. In addition to this, 42 indented rakes carrying almost 19 thousand tonnes were also run with almost 100% utilization. During the lockdown period from 22nd March till 19th Sept, 2020, total15,415rakes of goods trains have been used by WR to supply essential commodities amounting to 32.43 million tonnes. 30,279 freight trains have been interchanged with other zonal railways, in which 15,127trains were handed over and 15,152trains taken over at different interchange points.On 20th Sept, 2020, three Parcel Special trains left from various stations of WR.These included, a milk special train from Palanpur to Hind Terminal and 2 parcel special trains, one fromBandra Terminus to Jammu Tawi and the other from Okha to New Guwahati.
LOSS OF PASSENGER REVENUE DUE TO LOCKDOWN
The total loss of revenue over Western Railway on account of Corona Virus, has been approx. Rs 2633 crore, which includes about Rs 400 crore for suburban section and approx. Rs 2233 crore for non -suburban. Inspite of this, resulting to cancellation of tickets since 1st March, 2020 to 19thSept, 2020, Western Railway has ensured to return refund amount of Rs. 431.77 crore. It’s worth mentioning that in this refund amount, Mumbai division alone, has ensured refund of more than Rs 208 crore. Till now, 66.96 lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets over entire Western Railway & have received their refund amount accordingly.
