Passenger Revenue Earning of SWR Touches Rs1929 Cr in FY 2016-17

Hubballi: The passenger revenue earning of South Western Railway (SWR) in financial year 2016-17 has reached Rs.1929 crore, which is nearly 2% higher than previous year’s earning, said SWR General Manager AK Gupta, speaking at the 18^th Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) Meeting of SWR was held at Railway Officers Club, Hubballi on April 18.    

 Addressing the meeting, AK Gupta said, “SWR has carried more than 193 million passengers during the financial year 2016-17, with about 2 % increase over last year. Considering the volume of our passenger traffic, this is a significant growth.  Punctuality achieved by SWR was 97 % (average) which is third best on Indian Railways. Mysuru division was noted to be third best division in IR in regard to punctuality”.

“As many as12 pairs of new trains were introduced during the financial year as against one introduced in 2015-16.  Further, 3238 special trains were run and 2235 extra coaches attached from time to time during peak periods in the last financial year.  On the freight sector SWR has achieved loading of 44.2 million tonnes which was 5% more than that of last year.   This is the best ever originating freight loading in the last 10 years Hubballi division, the major freight loading division of South Western Railway ranks 7 on Indian Railways today. SWR commissioned 201km of new lines commissioned last year which is the highest in the history of SWR” general manager added.

“The new line commissioned includes 111 km. between Shravanabelagola-Nelamangala, 63 km between Rayadurga-Kadiridevarapalli and 27 km between Ginigera-Chikkabenakal. An amount of Rs.1900 cr. has been has been incurred in upgrading infrastructure this year which is the highest so far. All over IR, record 953 kms of new line commissioned.  This is the highest everIn the history of Railways.  The contribution of SWR to this figure is nearly 21 % (201 km of 953 km) which is extraordinary achievement”, he said.    

He informed that, the doubling has been commissioned in 59 km over SWR during last year. The doubling works completed by SWR include 13 km of Doubling between Yelahanka – Chennasandra, 7 km of doubling between Yesvantpur –Yelahanka, 40 km in Hosapete-Tinaighat section. Another highlight of the year is the commissioning of 257 KM of electrification. SWR has almost doubled its electrified track.   SWR has taken action to eliminate a large number of level crossings for enhancing safety of train operations.  During 2016-17, as many as 72 level crossing gates were eliminated after constructing limited height subways/ROB/RUBs.

In the meeting, Karadi Sanganna, MP advised to speed up doubling works and sought the detail progress report on the matter.  Replying to the query, GM AK Gupta said that work has been completed in Hubballi-Hebsur, Dharwad-Kambarganvi-Alnawar,Harlapur-Sompur-Bannikoppa-Bhanapur  and Shivthan-Londa-Tinaighat Sections. The entire Hubballi-Hosapete Line doubling will be completed by 2019-20.   .

The ZRUCC Members Agreed to the Following Three Proposals
—Cancellation of train number 11423/11424 Solapur-Hubballi-Solapur Intercity Express, so that, path can be utilized for extension of train number 22139/22140 Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai – Solapur – Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai Express up to Gadag.

–Diversion of train number 16515/16516 Yesvantpur-Karwar-Yesvantpur tri-weekly express via Yesvantpur-Hassan new line instead of running in existing route via Tumakuru- Arsikere, diversion of train number16517/16518 KSR Bengaluru-Kannur- KSR Bengaluru.

—Train number 16523/16524 KSR Bengaluru –  Karwar – KSR Bengaluru overnight express via Yesvantpur-Hassan new line instead of running on the existing route via Mandya – Mysuru.