Various achievements and good works done by SWR during Covid period: Read More

August 22, 2020 Rail News

Shri Arvind Malkhede, Divisional Railway Manager of Hubballi Division conducted a press conference o­n 18.08.2020 to brief about the various achievements and good works done by the Division during Covid period through video link. Smt. E. Vijaya, Deputy General Manager and Chief Public Relations Officer was also present in the press meet.

Highlights of the press conference:

  • Shri Arvind Malkhede said that during the lockdown, though passenger train services were cancelled, goods trains and parcel trains continued to run. 
  • Railway staff such as guards, loco pilots, maintenance staff, control staff and others contributed immensely in ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential commodities across the country during lockdown. 
  • Hubballi Division of SWR has distributed groceries to coolie porters, daily wage labourers and needy people during lockdown. 
  • It has also distributed more than 76 thousand meals to the needy during lock down. 
  • Hubballi Division has handled 188 rakes of fertilizers equal to 47 lakh quintals and  230 rakes of food grains equal to 57 lakh quintals during this period.
  • Hubballi Division has run 21 Shramik Specials carrying 30 thousand migrant workers and overall SWR has run 267 Shramik Specials enabling 3.9 lakh migrant people to reach their home.  
  • He said that the Division has manufactured 15,397 face masks and 6090 litres of hand sanitizers for the use of railway staff. 
  • Hubballi Division has converted 35 ICF coaches into Isolation coaches for Covid patients. 
  • Overall in SWR 320 coaches were converted as Isolation coaches, he said o­n a question from the media about utilization of these coaches for Covid patients. 
  • He said that the Covid care coaches will be provided upon request from the state government/district administration.
  • He said that the Business Development Unit has been set up in the Division to capture additional freight. 
  • The BDU has conducted 10 meetings through Video Conference and direct meetings so far. 
  • As a result the Division has been able to get a new stream of traffic viz., Bauxite, Metallurgical coke, fly ash, pig iron and rice. 
  • O­n the occasion, Shri Arvind Malkhede highlighted various incentive schemes offered by the Railways for freight customers. 
  • He said that for round trip freight loading, i.e. if a consignor commits to transport ‘A’ class goods in a particular direction, and ‘B’ class goods in the return direction, the consignor will be offered a discount. 
  • Similarly, concessions are also being given to short lead traffic, long lead traffic and traffic in traditional empty flow direction. 

Works completed during Covid period include:

  • Remodeling work of the Hosapete has been completed. Yard remodeling has enabled simultaneous reception/dispatch of trains from both directions. 
  • Kudgi Canal Crossing work of Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam Ltd. (KBJNL) completed by Hubballi Division. This has enabled in irrigating 1.66 Lakh hectares of land and benefitted a large number of farmers. 
  • Lachyan-Hotgi (33 Km) doubling with 670 m long Bhima Bridge has been completed during the period. 
  • 28 km new line between Gangavati and Karatagi has also been completed. 
  • Hubballi Division has taken up speed enhancement work over the division.  
  • Sectional speed between Majorda and Vasco Da Gama is increased from 75 KMPH to 100 KMPH. 
  • Permanent Speed Restrictions have been removed at six locations over Hubballi-Londa section by carrying out upgradation works.  
  • Speed between Ghataprabha and Chikkodi road station has been enhanced to 110 KMPH.
  • Electrification work between Kariganur-Harlapur is completed. 

Progress of other projects:

  • Doubling works are going o­n in full swing 16.39 km doubling between Unkal and Dharwad is expected to be completed by September 2020. 
  • Doubling work is going o­n in various sections. 
  • The doubling work of Gadag to Hole Alur is expected to be completed by January 2021. 
  • Doubling between Chikkodi Road-Kudachi is likely to be completed by December, 2020. 
  • The station redevelopment works are being taken up in the Hubballi Division.
  • Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Belagavi, Hosapete station buildings are being reconstructed. 
  • A new goods shed at Khajjidoni is being developed. 
  • New Goods Shed at Navanagar in Bagalkot, Aliyabad in Vijayapura are also being constructed. 

Source: South Western Railway-Press Release | Image Credit: South Western Railway