The Hindu Business Line : Wagons underutilised at East Coast Rly's Waltair division

Kolkata April 16 Bhubaneswar-headquartered East Coast Railway (ECoR), serving Orissa largely and Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh partly, is currently experiencing under-utilisation of wagon stock in its Waltair division, the average daily loading in the division dropping by an estimated 25 per cent to around 3,800 wagons from the normal 5,000.

The average daily loading in ECoR's two other divisions, namely Khurda Road and Sambalpur, however, remains unaffected.

The sources point out that an estimated 50,000 tonnes of imported fertilisers and another 50,000 tonnes of imported wheat are lying accumulated within the premises of Visakhapatnam port and there is no move on the part of the importers, i.e. fertiliser companies as well as the Food Corporation of India, to clear the stocks.

"We have drawn the attention of the Fertiliser Ministry as well as FCI to initiate steps for an early clearance of the stocks, more so because the fertilisers have to reach the farmers before the onset of the season and there is no dearth of wagons," the sources observe.

Coal concern

The virtual absence of any ground stock of imported coal at Visakhapatnam port too has been a matter of concern. On an average, eight rakes of imported coal on steel plants are loaded at the port every day but the average daily loading has now dropped to four.

"This morning, we had no indent for wagons for coal loading and we're virtually going about with a begging bowl," the sources observe. Reports say the Coal Ministry is believed to be upset at the large-scale imports of coal by the steel plants and has therefore taken up the matter at the top level to prevail upon the plant authorities for larger use of the domestic coal.

The average daily loading of iron ore at Bacheli on the Kirandul-Kottavalasa line too has declined due to breakdown of the equipment at some of the loading points. "We're geared to load 16 rakes a day but the daily loading has dropped to around 10/12 rakes," the sources add. "We've taken up the matter with National Mineral Development Corporation".