The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has generated earning of Rs11,672.3 crore by December 31, 2015, recording a 17.8-per cent growth over Rs9,909.24 crore earned during the corresponding period of the last year.
ECoR General Manager Rajiv Vishnoi revealed this in his speech greeting the ECoR zone members on the eve of the Republic Day on Monday.
He too informed that the ECoR continued to achieve the tag of the highest loading zone for the second successive year, registering loading growth of 7.6 per cent. The zone loaded a total of 127.81 million tonnes by December 31, 2015 during the current year.
Similarly, the Operating Ratio, a key pointer of financial health, stood at 52.99 per cent, which is one of the best among all 17 zonal railways, he said.
In passenger carrying segment, the zone has recorded 4.6 per cent growth with 70.03 million passengers carried during the period.
Highlighting about other achievements, he said a stretch of 41.5 km of the under-construction Khordha Road-Bolangir New BG line has been commissioned. Two new passenger trains from Khurda Road to Rajsunakhala were introduced during the current financial year.
Similarly, capacity enhancement projects like doubling of Cuttack-Barang, Sakhigopal-Puri, Sukinda Road-Tomka, Handapa-Boinda and lapanga-Brundamal sections and 3rd line between Almanda-Korukonda and Korukonda-Vizainagaram were completed during the period.
Electrification work between Anugul-Kerejanga and Garudabilli-Parvatipuram were also commissioned during this period. Similarly, two new platforms at Puri station, two additional platforms at Bhubaneswar, one additional platform with 2nd entry and circulating area at Brahmapur station and new station building at Maltipatpur were commissioned during this period.
The ECoR has run 977 special trains and augmented trains by adding 2294 coaches ruing the period. lakhs of pilgrims were carried during the world famous Nabakalebar Festival and Godavari Mahapuskaram this year.
Besides, Station Ticket Booking Sevak (STBS) scheme was introduced in 13 stations and Postal Passenger Reservation System was extended to Khariar Road and Dhamagarh in Sambalpur Division during the year. New PRS counters have been set up at Sambalpur City, Junagarh Road and Muribahal
stat. Additional Foot over bridges have been provided at four stations, namely Haridaspur, Bhubaneswar, Budhapank and Rahenbata.
He stated that the Macheswar Carriage workshop has the rare distinction of being the only workshop in Indian Railways having 3 ISO certificates and has shown commendable initiatives to undertake maintenance of lHB coaches to make East Coast Railway self reliant in POH and IOH of lHB coaches.
Stating that the ECoR has always emphasized on safety and security, the General Manager said 37 unmanned level crossings were closed, 35 such level crossings were manned and 30 limited height subways in lieu of level crossings have been constructed.
lady RPF personnel are being deployed in trains and stations to prevent harassment and crime against women, he said.
Speaking on sports achievement, Vishnoi said the ECOR successfully hosted a mega event like Vinoo Mankad Cricket Trophy (U-19) and 2nd All-India Neelachal Express Football Tournament.
Srabani Nanda and Purnima Hembram represented India in the 21st Asian Athletic Championship held in June at Wuhan, China and secured Bronze medal in 200-metre race and Heptathlon, respectively. Besides they achieved many other successes during the year.
Vishnoi thanked all ECoR employees for the achievement and urged them to keep up hard work in coming days.