ECoR originating income up 29%

Business Standard, April 19, 2013
Loads 133.4 mn tonnes of freight last fiscal, 10.46% higher than 120.77 mn tonne achieved during 2011-12
East Coast Railway (ECoR) has logged 28.81 per cent growth in its total originating earnings at Rs 11,612 crore in 2012-13, as against Rs 9,015 crore in 2011-12.

In freight business, ECoR loaded 133.4 million tonnes of freight in last fiscal, 10.46 per cent higher than 120.77 million tonne achieved during 2011-12. The zonal railway surpassed its freight target of 130 million tonnes assigned to it for 2012-13.

On the passenger front, EcoR carried 88.58 million passengers in the last fiscal, an increase of 2.58 million travelers compared to the previous year.

"In spite of operational constraints in single line, adverse climatic conditions and threats on security, 2012-13 has yielded spectacular performance," said Indra Ghosh, general manager, ECoR at the 58th Railway Week celebration here.

He said, ECoR has completed introduction of all new trains and extension of one train service to different destinations.

The operating ratio of ECoR stood at 44.85 per cent, lowest in Indian Railways.

During 2012-13, the zonal railway augmented 20 coaches on permanent basis and 1,893 coaches on a temporary basis in 186 pairs of trains to clear extra rush on day-to-day basis. ECoR has completed the broad gauge line from Lanjigarh to Bhawanipatna, third line between Bhubaneswar and Khurda, fourth line between Kottavalasa and Simachalam North and electrification of 30 level crossing gates.

The Railways have also commissioned a scrap depot at Mancheswar, passenger reservation system at seven stations, unreserved ticketing system at 25 locations, retiring rooms at four stations and touch screen terminals at five locations during the last fiscal. "The Railways will shortly be in a position to open Lanjigarh-Junagarh new line and Khurda Road-Begunia section of Khurda Road-Bolangir new line," said an ECoR release.

About 232 railway staff and officers were felicitated on the occasion and the overall efficiency shield was awarded to Waltair division for its best all-round performance.

Subrat Tripathy, senior deputy general manager cum chief vigilance officer and Susant Kumar Purohit, deputy general manager, ECoR also spoke on the occasion.