SCR handles 70 million tonne freight this fiscal

The South Central Railway (SCR) handled 70 million tonne freight during the current financial year, an all-time high and ten million tonne more than last year. Gross earnings increased 9.1 per cent with an incremental revenue of Rs 511.4 crore during the year.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, SCR general manager MS Jayanth said despite recessionary trends, the zone carried about 10 million additional passengers during the year with a growth rate of 4.04 per cent. It, however, lost revenues to the tune Rs 50 crore due to the recent agitations in the state.

He said development of new lines, gauge conversion, doubling, building road over and under bridges were hit due to resource crunch. Some of the projects, which were sanctioned as early as 1993-94, would require about Rs 4,593.28 crore during 2010-11. With the current year’s allotment of Rs 554.14 crore, it would take ten years to complete these works.

Besides, a number of development projects had been delayed for want of land. Though surplus funds were available for replacing railway level crossings with ROBs, the finalisation of general agreements between railways and state governments was taking more than two years, he pointed out.

“There is a need for railways and state governments to plan innovative schemes and special purpose utility vehicles to speed up the development works, especially new lines,” he said. The Centre is giving priority to projects in which the state governments were willing to share the cost on a 50-50 basis.

He said coach shortage was expected to ease once the Raebareli coach factory becomes operational this year.

SCR today introduced automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs) for second class travel. The fare needs to be paid through a smart card. Initially, they would be available at Secunderabad, Begumpet and Hitec City stations in the city. The zone plans to add 75 more ATVMs.

It also launched an SMS-based complaint and suggestion system (81212-81212).