By undertaking freight loading to the tune of 18.66 million tonnes (MT) in 40 days of financial year 2016-17, the South East Central Railway (SECR) has created a record and has become highest freight loading zone of Indian Railways.
SECR has carried out freight loading of 18.66 million tonnes between April 1 and May 10 (2016-17) which was 17.76 MT during same period during the last financial year, informed railway officials, elaborating that with growth of 0.90 million tonnes, SECR managed to become highest freight loading zone of Indian Railway.
With freight loading of 18.27 million tonnes, East Coast Railway (ECoR) achieved second place, added officials.
Officials further informed that SECR has set freight loading target of 177 million tonnes for financial year 2016-17 and with dedicated efforts of employee, the zone is heading towards its goal.
The Union Railway Budget 2016-17 presented in the Parliament in February this year had put Chhattisgarh on Centre’s high priority list among states for its ambitious dedicated freight corridor project implementation plans.
The Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in his budget speech had put high emphasis on ensuring structuring, award and implementation of freight corridor projects in a time-bound manner through innovative financing mechanisms including Public Private Partnership (PPP).
The Union Railway Minister in his budget speech had also put emphasis on rapid expansion of freight business to build more dedicated freight corridors for increased traffic with consequent benefits for the economy and environment with Chhattisgarh being the direct gainer from the initiative due to high coal and iron ore movement through the Railway network from the State.
Prabhu also stated that technological solutions for project management and monitoring will be taken up. The latest Drone and Geo Spatial based satellite technology will be used to monitor physical progress across major projects and also the progress on Dedicated Freight Corridor, he said.
Notably, on February 9, the Union Railway Minister had commented : ‘For development of the country, extension of rail network in resource-rich State like Chhattisgarh is necessary and the task of Rail network extension in the State will be carried out through a special joint venture company.”
He was speaking at a programme organized to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for three rail corridor project between Indian Railway and Chhattisgarh Government in New Delhi.