South Western Railway revenues from fines up 27%

Following strict vigil against ticketless travellers and frequent checking, the South Western Railway (SWR) earned revenues of over Rs 13.95 crore up to the end of January in the present financial year, an increase of 27.89 per cent over the corresponding period in previous year.

According to the SWR sources, the zone with its headquarters at Hubli has demonstrated a turnaround in its performance in the nine years of its existence both in physical and financial terms. The performance of the railway zone during the present financial year up to January-end, 2013 has been satisfactory as far as passenger traffic is concerned, said a senior official.

The number of passengers carried has gone up from 154.73 million to 163.45 million i.e. an increase of 5.64 per cent over the corresponding period of previous year. The originating passenger earnings up to January, 2013 have increased approximately 10.31 per cent to Rs 1,045.13 crore.

However, the performance on the freight side has not been too encouraging due to the ban on transport of iron ore for export by the Government of Karnataka. The SWR could carry 28.035 MTs of freight up to January, 2013 against 27.046 MTs, during the corresponding period of previous year, registering an increase of 3.7 per cent, the official informed.

The originating freight earnings up to January, 2013 in the present financial year is Rs 2,126.22 crore, which is 17.38 per cent more than the corresponding period of previous year earnings of Rs 1,811.40 crore.

The originating gross earnings of SWR up to the end of January, 2013 have increased from Rs 2,935. 29 crore to Rs 3,368.29 crore which is 14.75 per cent more than the corresponding period of previous year.

The most prolific indication of performance, the operating ratio is now at 109.05 per cent up to the end of January, 2013, compared to 110.82 per cent during the corresponding period of previous year.

Commercial publicity has fetched SWR a revenue of Rs 12.75 Crore which is 78.58 per cent higher than the earning of Rs 7.14 crore during 10 months of previous financial year.