The Independence Day was celebrated at the headquarters of South-East-Central Railway and all the divisions with dignity and in a traditional way. The main programme was held on the premises of the general manager’s office at Bilaspur, in which chief mechanical engineer RS Kochak was the chief guest.
Chief guest Kochak, under the guidance of chief security commissioner SK Sinha, after unfurling the national flag, inspected the attractive parade organised jointly by Rail Security Force, Civil Defence, St John’s Ambulance, Scouts & Guides and NCC cadets.
While extending I-Day greetings to the gathering, including railway employees’ organisations and journalists, chief guest Kochak said that the Indian Railway, along with performing its important role in the economy of the country, fulfills its social responsibility also, in which the hard work and feeling of devotion of Railway employees were included.
He said that in the present socio-economic atmosphere responsibility of us all has been increased. “It is important that we have to make the financial condition of our organisation strong,” he added. The South-East-Central Railway (SECR), while giving special emphasis on passenger service and safe running of train, has continuously been making efforts for the development of passenger facilities and infrastructure.
During the financial year 2012-13 the SECR had carried out the safe transportation of 13.22 crore passengers, which was five per cent higher than that of the year 2011-12. Besides, the railways had transported total 151.6 million tonne goods. He said that the SECR has set a target of 156 million tonne in freight loading during the present financial year, out of which up to July about 50 million tonne goods have been transported.
Special attention is being given in the welfare of the railway employees and their families and as part of that swimming pools have be constructed at Bilaspur, Raipur, BMY and Nagpur with a cost of Rs 4 crore.