Press Release No 2020/08Mumbai, 7th August, 2020
WR's onE MORE UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENT AS 1st EVER PARCEL SPECIAL TRAIN FOR BANGLADESH, DECIDED TO RUN FROM GUJARAT
After departure of 1st ever goods train with loaded wagons of onions for Bangladesh from Bhavnagaron 4th August, 2020,Western Rly has achieved one more unique breakthrough to decide 1st ever Parcel special train for Bangladesh from Ahmedabad division in Gujarat. Loading in this train will be started on 8th August, 2020 at Kankariya Goods shed of Ahmedabad division of Western Rly & the train is likely to depart by evening on same day, after completion of loading. Under the dynamic leadership & able guidance of Shri Alok Kansal- General Manager of Western Rly & Shri Shailendra Kumar - Principal Chief Operations Manager of WR, this unique achievement of newly created Business Development Unit of Ahmedabad division will prove to be a mile stone in Parcel business over Indian Railways.
According to a press release issued by Shri Sumit Thakur- Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Rly, an indent of 20 VPUs+1 SLR was done for loading of VPUs rake at Ahmedabad Parcel office for Benapole station of Bangladesh recently. The stacking permission has been granted upto 8th August, 2020. The commodity to be loaded in this rake is denim cloth in 15 VPUs and Colours and Dyes in 5 VPUs. This traffic is offered for the first time in Ahmedabad Division and this is likely to generate an approximate revenue of about Rs. 31 lakh. This is the first ever parcel special train of Ahmedabad division for Bangladesh, which will be traversing 2110 kmto reach Benapole in Bangladesh.
Shri Thakur further added that, since 23rd March to 6thAug, 2020, commodities weighing above 92 thousand tonnes have been transported by Western Rly through its 448 parcel special trains, which mainly includedagricultural produce, medicines, fish, milk etc. The revenue generated through this transportation, has been above Rs 29 crore. During this period, 69 milk special trains were run by Western Rly, with a load of more than 52 thousand tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons, generating revenue of approx Rs 9 crore. Similarly, 361 Covid-19 special parcel trains with a load of almost 32 thousandtonnes were also run to transport various essential commodities, for which the revenue earned was Rs 16.31 crore. In addition to this, 18 indented rakes carrying 7858 tonnes were also run with almost 100% utilization generating revenue of more than Rs 4.09 crore. on 7th August, 2020, four parcel special trains left from various stations of WR, which included Bandra Terminus- Jammu Tawi &Porbandar- Shalimar parcel special trains, alongwith one indented train from Karambeli to New Guwahati and a milk rake from Palanpur to Hind Terminal. During the lockdown period from 22nd March till 6th August, 2020, total11,342rakes of goods trains have been used by WR to supply essential commodities amounting to 23.27 million tonnes. 22,155 freight trains have been interchanged with other zonal railways, in which 11,059trains were handed over and 11,096trains taken over at different interchange points.
LOSS OF PASSENGER REVENUE DUE TO LOCKDOWN
The total loss of passengerrevenue over Western Railway on account of Corona Virus, has been approx. Rs 2040 crore, which includes aboutRs 304 crore for suburban section and approx. Rs 1736 crore for non -suburban. Inspite of this, resulting to cancellation of tickets since 1st March, 2020 to 6thAug, 2020, Western Railway has ensured to return refund amount of Rs. 410.64 crore. It's worth mentioning that in this refund amount, Mumbai division alone, has ensured refund ofRs 197.22 crore. Till now, 63.22 lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets over entire Western Railway & have received their refund amount accordingly.
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