Chennai: Southern Railway has a reason to rejoice. About 422 million passengers have travelled so far during the current financial year up to September, a 3.8 per cent higher than the previous year 2017-18.
Briefing about the performance by the railway division until September, 2018, Southern Railway General Manager R K Kulshrestha in a release said they have earned Rs 4,434 crore, about 14.94 per cent higher than the previous year.
Increase in freight loading
There has been an increase in the freight loading by 34 per cent when compared to previous year. Southern Railway has achieved an originating loading of about 17. 735 million tonnes this year.
945 special trains operated
Another data by the Southern Railway revealed about the steps taken to ease traffic congestion. They have operated about 945 reserved special trains and 1,961 unreserved special trains up to September 2018 to clear wait listed passengers. A total of 2,559 coaches were added by various trains and creating an additional 1,09 lakh berths.
New EMU introduced
Following the accident at St Thomas Mount which claimed the lives of six passengers in July, the fast local trains were withdrawn from service. However, a new passenger special EMU was introduced from Kanchipuram to Chennai Beach at 6.10 am as a measure to curb the difficulties faced by the public.
Similarly, Chennai Beach to Chengalpattu EMU services departing at 6.40 pm has been extended up to Kanchipuram. Likewise, Puduchery to Chennai Egmore pairing trains have been augmented with three additional coaches to take care of the passenger traffic with additional stoppage at Guindy and Mambalam stations.
Solar plants at stations
Railway source also highlighted about the efforts taken by Southern Railway to reduce its energy consumption. As a result, they have planned to provide 4 MW capacity solar plants in the roof of station buildings and platforms in 25 railway stations.
The railway source further added that the solar plants will soon be commissioned at 48 stations, so that the existing load can be managed. Five wind mills totalling 10.5 MW wind plant will be commissioned by January 2019.
In this context, the Southern Railway has also installed power saving LED lights at some stations. Recently, the Chennai Central became the first station in Southern Railway to get the prestigious Green Building Certification.
On clean mission
The Southern Railway has also recently conducted a cleanliness drive, the Swachatha Hi Seva Pakwara that focused on intensive cleaning of station premises in all stations over Southern Railway Division. As many as 504 officers were deputed for monitoring the cleanliness drives at stations.
A total of 48 officers conducted on-board inspections and surprise checks to ensure the desired level of cleanliness in trains. A total of 329 cleanliness drives were conducted involving NGOs, it said.