The Hindu Business Line : South-Western Rly to aim at 50 mt freight this year

The South-Western Railway (SWR) Zone, which achieved a loading of 38.05 million tonnes in 2005-06, has been given the target of achieving freight loading of 50 mt in 2006-07.

Speaking to Business Line on Thursday, Mr T.N. Perti, General Manager of SWR, said that though achieving the target is a gigantic task, the zone would do its best.

SWR achieved a loading of 38.05 million tonnes in 2005-06 against 31.74 million tonnes in 2004-05, clocking a jump of 20 per cent.

Freight earnings

He termed the increase of 57.36 per cent in freight earnings during the last fiscal as "unprecedented" (freight earnings increased to Rs 1,921.39 crore from Rs 1,221.03 crore).

Iron ore is a major originating freight from the zone. Export of iron ore stood at 81 per cent of the total cargo in 2005-06. SWR plans to set up a wagon maintenance depot at Hospet, which is a major contributor of iron ore to the zone.

On port connectivity, he said that the zone caters to two major ports - Mormugao and New Mangalore - under its jurisdiction.

The Railway connectivity to the New Mangalore Port was commissioned only on May 5. The SWR has jurisdiction up to Vasco da Gama in Goa and Kankanady in Mangalore.

Parcel service

Some major customers such as TVS Motors and Nestle have started using Railway parcel service at Goa and Bangalore areas, Mr Perti said.

Parcel earnings shot up to Rs 22.37 crore in 2005-06 from Rs 14.72 crore the previous fiscal, recording a growth of 52 per cent.

SWR also plans to provide better facilities for passengers in 30 stations under its jurisdiction.