WR Press Release No. 2020/09Mumbai, 10thSept, 2020
WESTERN RAILWAY TRANSPORTED 1.20 LAKH TONNES OF ESSENTIALS THROUGH ITS 529 PARCEL SPECIAL TRAINS
During the crisis arisen due to COVID-19 Western Railway is ensuring its best possible efforts that there is no break in supply of essential commodities. Hence WR's parcel special trains are traversing across the country to keep the supply moving. In continuation to this, on 10th Sept, 2020,one parcel special train and a milk rake left from WR. These included a parcel special from Bandra Terminus to Jammu Tawi and a milk special rake from Palanpur to Hind Terminal.
According to a press release issued by Shri Sumit Thakur - Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Rly, transportation of goods by tapping new avenues are also being explored.It is a matter of great achievement that transportation of coal has found a new destination. Western Railway's Business Development Unit of Vadodara division has started loading of coal from Dahej to Bharuch for the first time. The coal is loaded from M/s Adani Petronet Port (Dahej) Pvt Ltd (MAPD) in Gujarat to a new destination i.e M/s Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizer and Chemicals Ltd (GNFC) at Bharuch. The revenue earned through this transportation is Rs 15.84 lakh. The loading for this transportation was done recently and it will benefit the industries located in this region.
Shri Thakur further added that, since 23rd March to 9th Sep, 2020, commodities weighing about 1.20 lakh tonnes have been transported by Western Rly through its 529 parcel special trains, which mainly included agricultural produce, medicines, fish, milk etc. The revenue generated through this transportation, has been approx. Rs 39.77 crore. During this period, 86 milk special trains were run by Western Rly, with a load of more than 65 thousand tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons. Similarly, 408 Covid-19 special parcel trains with a load of above 39 thousandtonnes were also run to transport various essential commodities. In addition to this, 35 indented rakes carrying more than 15 thousand tonnes were also run with almost 100% utilization. During the lockdown period from 22nd March till 9th Sept, 2020, total 14,411 rakes of goods trains have been used by WR to supply essential commodities amounting to 30.13 million tonnes. 28,317 freight trains have been interchanged with other zonal railways, in which 14,162trains were handed over and 14,155trains taken over at different interchange points. The revenue generated through these goods trains is approx. Rs 3800 crore.
LOSS OF PASSENGER REVENUE DUE TO LOCKDOWN
The total loss of revenue over Western Railway on account of Corona Virus, has been approx. Rs 2498 crore, which includes about Rs 378 crore for suburban section and approx. Rs 2120 crore for non-suburban. Inspite of this, resulting to cancellation of tickets since 1st March, 2020 to 9thSept, 2020, Western Railway has ensured to return refund amount of Rs. 426 crore. It's worth mentioning that in this refund amount, Mumbai division alone, has ensured refund of Rs 205.76 crore. Till now, 65.95 lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets over entire Western Railway & have received their refund amount accordingly.
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