SCR's traffic volume rises significantly

South Central Railway (SCR) has registered a significant growth in the traffic volume, both in freight and passenger segments, in the first quarter of the current financial year ending June 2012, as compared to the corresponding period last year.

According to an SCR press release, the gross originating earnings have grown 28.5 per cent to Rs 2,478 crore from Rs 1928 crore. The freight movement stood at 27.4 million tonne (Mt), an 11 per cent rise, as compared to a loading of 24.4 Mt in the first quarter of last year.

Coal accounted for the largest chunk of freight loading on SCR with 15.13 Mt during the quarter followed by cement at 7.25 Mt. Food grains, fertilisers, containers and petro products accounted for the remaining portion of the freight segment.

SCR stated that the growth in freight loading was mainly aided by the spurt in loading at Krishnapatnam and Kakinada sea ports. During the quarter, the loading at Krishnapatnam and Kakinada ports was 2.45 Mt and 1.22 Mt respectively.

Passenger earnings also posted a growth of 6.5 per cent netting Rs 524 crore, as compared to Rs.492 crore in the first quarter of last year. SCR handled around 99.3 million originating passengers on its system with a growth rate of 4 per cent in this period.