S Rly gross earnings registers growth

S Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @Svs037

Southern Railway’s gross earnings and passenger earnings improved by 2.59% and 8.27% respectively during the year 2019-20 (upto December 2019), said John Thomas, General Manager, Southern Railway. He was speaking during the 71st Republic Day celebrations of Southern Railway at Railway Stadium at Perambur in Chennai.
 
Freight transportation has also grown, with fertilizer showing an increase of 10% over last year, petroleum, oil and lubricants registering an increase of 14% and movement of automobile rakes has increased by 24%, he said.

Speaking further, he said, this year Southern Railway is planning to commission the third line between Guduvanchery- Singaperumal Koil (11 km.) and doubling of Mangaluru to Padil (1.93 km.), gauge conversion project of Madurai-Usilampatti (37 km.) by Jan.2020, doubling of Ambalapuzha-Haripad (18.13 km.) by February 2020 and fourth line of Attipattu Pudunagar to Attipattu (1.7 km.) by March 2020, and Usilampatti to Bodinaikanur by April 2020.

Also, electrification of Cuddalore-Mayiladuthurai (74 km.) which is being undertaken by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) and Thiruvarur to Karaikkal port (40 km.) by Railway Electrification Wing would also be commissioned by end of March, he said.

He also said development works are taking place at six stations namely Chennai Egmore, Madurai, Salem, Palakkad, Kottayam and Tiruchchirappalli at a total cost of Rs 109.55 crore.

John Thomas said that after eliminating Unmanned level crossings (LCs) totally on the Railway, the focus is now on elimination of Manned LCs. During April to December 2019, 77 manned level crossings were closed by constructing 14 road-over-bridges and 49 RUBs/LUSs.

Southern Railway completed interlocking of 64 level crossing gates, which is the highest among all zonal railways so far this year and we are targeting three divisions namely Chennai, Salem and Palakkad for 100% interlocking of LC gates, he said.

Southern Railway has become one of the few Zonal Railways to have fully eliminated the legacy of mechanical signalling system over its entire broad gauge network, he said.

Southern Railway operated 1995 special trains and 4014 extra coaches to clear extra rush during festival rush times creating 2,91,781 additional berths. Permanent augmentation of 70 trains with 113 coaches was also done to meet the demands on permanent basis, said General Manager.