WR Press Release No 2020/11Mumbai, 1st Nov, 2020
WR ACHIEVED BEST EVER LOADING OF 8.14 MILLION TONNES IN OCTOBER, 2020
PHOTO CAPTION: Loading activities in progress at Rajkot station of Western Rly.
Western Railway is fully committed to get the best results inMission loading, and is making all efforts to surpass its previous best figures and create new benchmarks. Under the able guidance of Shri Alok Kansal - General Manager of Western Railway, for the first time WR crossed monthly loading of 8 Million Tonnes in October 2020, by achieving its best ever loading of 8.14 Million Tonnes. This was made possible due to the energetic leadership of Shri Kansal and the dynamic team of Officers and staff who have put in a lot of effort to achieve this commendable goal.
According to a press release issued by Shri Sumit Thakur- Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Rly, the loading of 8.14 Million Tonnes for the month of October 2020, not just crossed last year’s loading of 6.81 million tonnes in Oct 2019, but also the previous best loading of 7.96 Million Tonnes, achieved in January 2015. This new benchmark has been achieved after almost six years. In the month of October 2020 , WR achieved average loading of 5029 wagons per day, improving previous best loading of 4673 wagons in September 2020. It is thus evident that the teams at WR are leaving no stone unturned to give their optimum to the organization and the country. This milestone could be achieved inspite of the labour constraints arisen due toCovid-19. It is worth mentioning that a number of concessions/ discounts are also being given by Indian Railways to make Railways Freight movement very attractive. Business Development Units set up at Zonal & Divisional levels also having regular meetings with existing freight transporters, as well as prospective clients to attract them towards transport by rails. The various incentives and customer friendly initiatives that are being offered, are also highlighted to attract business. Another factor contributing to sustainable growth momentum is that the speed of freight trains have also been increased.
Shri Thakur further added that since 23rd March to 31st Oct, 2020, commodities weighing more than 1.63 lakh tonnes have been transported by Western Rly through its 645 parcel special trains, which mainly included agricultural produce, medicines, fish, milk etc. The revenue generated through this transportation, has been about Rs 55.37 crore. During this period, 112 milk special trains were run by Western Rly, with a load of more than 85 thousand tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons. Similarly, 474 Covid-19 special parcel trains with a load of more than 52 thousand tonnes were also run to transport various essential commodities. In addition to this, 59indented rakes carrying about 26 thousand tonnes were also run with almost 100% utilization. During the period from 22nd March till 31st Oct, 2020, total20,045rakes of goods trains have been used by WR to supply essential commodities amounting to 42.98 million tonnes. 39,124 freight trains have been interchanged with other zonal railways, in which 19,518 trains were handed over and 19,606trains taken over at different interchange points. on 1st Nov, 2020, three Parcel Special trains, including a milk rake left from various stations of WR viz. Okha to Guwahati and Dewas to Nagpur. A milk special left from Palanpur to Hind Terminal.
LOSS OF PASSENGER REVENUE DUE TO LOCKDOWN
The total loss of revenue over Western Railway on account of Corona Virus, has been more thanRs 3137 crore, which includes aboutRs 486 crore for suburban section and approx. Rs 2651 crore for non -suburban. Inspite of this, resulting to cancellation of tickets since 1st March,2020 to31stOct, 2020, Western Railway has ensured to return refund amount ofRs. 467.50 crore. It's worth mentioning that in this refund amount, Mumbai division alone, has ensured refund ofapprox. Rs 228 crore. Till now, 72.73 lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets over entire Western Railway & have received their refund amount accordingly.
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