PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, March 4: South Eastern Railway (SER) has reached a new height in freight transportation with the record loading of 176.45 million tonnes during April to February of the current financial year.
SER has thus surpassed the last financial year’s total loading of 175.8 million tonnes 31 days before the closure of the current financial year.
Till February of the current financial year, overall growth of 12 % has been achieved in freight loading compared to last financial year’s loading of 157.58 million tonnes during the corresponding period.
SER has loaded 37.7 million tonnes of coal up to February 2022 and contributed to the uninterrupted supply of coal to the power plants.
A remarkable surge of 47 % has been achieved in coal loading compared to last year’s loading of 25.65 million tonnes for the same period.
The impact of increased price and diminished demand of iron-ore in the international market has caused a retreat in iron ore loading since August 2021, yet SER has given a steady performance with 97.6 million tonnes of iron ore loading which is 2.83 % higher than last year’s loading of 94.91 million tonnes.
SER has shown a remarkable growth of 13.04 % in steel loading with 17.51 million tonnes of steel loaded up to February 2022 whereas 15.49 million tonnes of steel was loaded up to February 2021 during the last financial year.
Around 9.38% growth has been achieved in cement loading over the last year. SER has successfully managed to transport 12 million tonnes of cement up to February 2022 which was 10.97 million tonnes for the corresponding period of last year.
Setting up of Business Development Unit (BDU) at headquarters and divisions has proved to be a major factor to boost up freight loading.
Customer-friendly steps like regular interaction with the customers, concession in freight rate and introduction of gainful incentive schemes have helped to bring in new traffic and increase the volume of existing traffic.
Infrastructure and facilities have been improved by developing the approach roads, proper lighting arrangements, restrooms for workers etc. to enhance efficiency and encourage loading.
SER has also ensured sufficient availability of wagons for freight loading with a faster turnaround of wagons.
