South-Western Rly earnings hit

The South Western Railway (SWR) has recorded passenger earnings of Rs 957.12 crore during 2009-2010 as against Rs 898.85 crore in 2008-2009. However, the freight earnings during 2009-2010 has declined 16.89 per cent due to the impact of the global economic slowdown, said SWR general manager Kuldip Chaturvedi.

Inaugurating the Railway Week celebration organised by SWR at Hubli, he said the SWR carried 154.6 million passengers during 2009-2010 registering a growth of 13.33 per cent over the previous year.

The SWR ran 3,934 special trains and attached 6,815 extra coaches to clear the extra rush during the festival season and holidays in 2009-2010. He said, the Railways had introduced all the trains announced in the Railway Budget-2009 and had loaded 8,031 parcel vans.

Kuldip informed that medical treatment facility would be provided on the Duronto that runs between Howrah and Bangalore, shortly. Expressing his satisfaction over the performance of Hubli and Mysore workshops, he said the performance efficiency index was one of the best.

Stating that passenger amenities were being improved, Kuldip said extension of platforms, foot overbridges, installation of modern lighting arrangements at platforms were being taken up. Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) has been commissioned at 178 stations. He said, the issue of tickets through mobile vans would be introduced at Bangalore city soon. Similarly, plans are afoot to upgrade Bangalore City and Byappanahalli railway stations to international standards, he added.