Vijayawada division of SR earns Rs 431 cr

Vijayawada Sep 15 (UNI) The Viajyawada Railway Divisional Manager Vasista Johari today said the division had earned a total earnings of Rs 431 crore ending August 31, 2008 , as against Rs 357 crore secured during the corresponding period of last year.

Addressing a press conference here, he said of the total earnings, the passenger earnings accounted to Rs 154 crore and the rest of Rs 276 crore was acheived through freight.

As much as 3.9 million tonnes of freight loading was operated by the division till the end of August this year compared to 3.6 million tonnes in the last year, an increase of Rs 3 lakh tonnes, he said.

The freight loading mainly comprises fertilisers transported in several rakes from Kakinada port to various places in the state and outside Andhra Pradesh, he said adding the division would get more revenue through freight once the loading operations commenced from Krishnapatnam port.

The road connectivity works from Vankatachalam station to Krishnapatnam port was under progess and proposals were sent to its headquarters for commencing electrification work from here to the port town of Machilipatnam, he said.

He said the running of new trains, Machilipatnam-Bangalor Express and Secunderabad-Vishakhapatnam Garib Rath Express announced by Union Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, would start in due course of time.

On passenger's amenities, he said the division would spend Rs 28 crore in this fiscal for re-modelling and renovation of stations and high-level platforms.

Specials trains would be operated from Kanada, Vishakhapanam and Vijayawada to Secunderabad in view of heavy rush of passengers during weekends and depending upon seasonal rush and waiting list of passengers, additional coaches would be added to the express trains bound for Bangalore, he said.

UNI CS AKM 1611