Railway Ministry decides to phase out 5,000 diesel locos

Chennai, Jan 25 (UNI) The Union Railway Ministry has decided to phase out the existing 5,000 diesel locos as the operational cost is very high as compared to electric locos (AC locos), Union Minister of State for Railways R Velu said today.

After laying the foundation stone for Rs 16 crore new electric loco shed at Royapuram here, the Minister pointed out that Indian railway was incurring the operational cost of Rs 1 per km with diesel locos, while it was only just 40 paise per km if operated with AC locos.

He said at present the railway was having 3,200 AC locos and it would be increased to 5,000 in the future.

He said both the Chennai Central and Egmore railway stations would be improved at an estimated cost of Rs one crore and six crore, respectively.

Of the total length of 63,000 km of the Indian railways net work, only 27 per cent were electrified so far. The goods trains occupied major share of 67 per cent of elecrified routes.

Speaking on the occasion, Administrative Officer Constructions Southern Railway V Somasundaram said the proposed AC loco shed would be ready by 2008 end.

Advisor Railway board Kul Bushan said once the proposed AC loco shed came into operation, Chennai would become the hub of AC locomotives.

Southern Railway General Manager Thomas Varghese in his address pointed out that the shed would be completed in a phased manner, and initially it would handle 50 AC locomotives.

Railway Board Member (Electrical) Ramesh Chandra said once the proposed AC loco shed came into operation, the Royapuram AC loco shed would handle the latest AC locomotives, besides making it the country's best AC loco shed.

He appreciated the efforts of the Southern railway for mooting out a proposal for establishing a AC loco shed here at the right time, when the railway was planning to add 1,800 AC locomotives in addition to the existing 3,200.

UNI