Shri Suneet Sharma, General Manager, Eastern Railway in a virtual meeting with the Principal Heads of Departments and Divisional Railway Managers at ER Headquarters, Fairlie Place on 9.12.2020 laid special stress on freight loading for transportation of essential commodities and other industrial inputs in different parts of the country.
- The average speed of freight trains has already been increased, should be maintained and monitored so that the commodities may reach destinations fast.
- Therefore, all concerned should be vigilant on running of freight traffic constantly and in a sustained manner.
- Shri Sharma has given importance on the functioning of Business Development Units to increase present share of Railways in the traditional bulk commodity movement and to attract the new traffic from the local industries into Rail mode.
- It is mentioned that Business Development Units have been created both at the Headquarters level and at Divisional level for attracting new traffic and increasing Rail share in the existing stream of traffic.
- These units are constantly interacting with the industries to facilitate them for carrying consignments by Rail.
- Shri Sharma simultaneously has given importance on safety aspect in view of the resumption of EMU services and resumption of more long distance trains.
- He advised the concerned officers to conduct at regular intervals safety drive and safety inspections so that there will be no compromise with safety aspect.
- Side by side passengers comfort should be given top most priority.
- Shri Sharma advised that during foggy season, all concerned officers should be extra cautious and conduct regular inspections to maintain fitness of track.
- He also advised to sensitize the staff to run trains cautiously so that passengers’ safety is secured.
- He further laid stress on even better passenger amenities by commissioning of the planned escalators, lifts etc. and proper maintenance of different amenity items such as waiting rooms, waiting halls, water booths, lights, fans, sitting benches etc. so that passengers can feel at home in the station premises.
- With more inflow of passengers at different stations due to restoration of EMU services and resumption of long distance trains, Shri Sharma advised that passengers’ security should be kept in view properly.
- Security Department of Railway should continue to provide necessary guidance and assistance to the rail users and render help to the passengers in distress in addition to their task of providing security.
Recent Achievement:
Originating freight loading of Eastern Railway has made considerable increase during October & November 2020. During October 2020, originating freight loading from ER was 5.44 million tonnes which is 23.91% higher than the corresponding month of the last year.
During November 2020 (upto 20.11.2020) Eastern Railway has already loaded 3.77 million tonnes which is 6.5% more than the corresponding month of the last year.
- It is stated that Eastern Railway freight services are continuing on round the clock basis to ensure supply of essential commodities and other items in different parts of the country and thus maintain the back end supply chain.
- The Railway freight services are having certain unique benefits as these are safe & secure as well as economic way of transportation of commodities.
- The freight trains are transporting regularly foodgrains, sugar, edible oil, fertilizers, petroleum products, cement, steel, coal and minerals.
- The freight trains are running with enhanced speed to maintain strictly punctual services.
- The speed of freight trains has jumped from 16.67 kmph of last year to 56.12 kmph this year (from 1st April to 20th November 2020), thereby registering an increase of speed of 236.65%.
- The Business Development Units (BDUs) formed at Headquarters as well as at Divisional levels are continuously interacting with the freight customers for transporting freight traffic in different corners of the country and abroad.
- The BDUs are working hard for best possible customer relations, implementing feedback from the freight customers and acting as catalytic agents for freight business and to provide one stop solution to customers’ grievances.
- Everywhere Covid related health & hygiene protocol of the field workers have been given top priority.
Source: Eastern Railway-Press Release | Image Credit: Eastern Railway
