5 Trains from (RJPB)RJNDR NGR BIHAR to (JAT)JAMMU TAWI

WR Press Release No 2021/01Mumbai, 6^th Jan, 2021

WR ACHIEVED 22 % INCREASE IN LOADING IN DECEMBER, 2020VIS A VIS CORRESPONDING PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

COMMENDABLE LOADING OF 8.05 MILLION TONNES IN DEC’20

Photo Caption : 1st pic is of loading activities being undertaken in the Porbandar – Howrah special train. 2^nd pic is of container loading at Pipavav port of Bhavnagar division.

Western Railway is continuously marching ahead o­n the path of growth in its freight loadings and revenue. This uptrend in loading has been possible due to continuous monitoring at various levels by Shri Alok Kansal - General Manager of Western Railway, who has personally taken interest to initiate effective steps including formation of Business Development Units & suitable implementation of freight incentives to attract new freight business.

According to a press release issued by Shri Sumit Thakur- Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Rly, loading for WR in the month of December 2020 has been 8.05 Million Tonnes. There has been a commendable increase of almost 22 percent in loading, as compared to corresponding period of last year’s loading of 6.61 Million Tonnes.It is a matter of great proud that WR has also crossed the loading target set by Railway Board of 7.17 Million Tonnes, with an increase of 12.3 percent. This growth has been possible inspite of various constraints & toughest challengesdue to the Covid 19 pandemic. WR has overcome all possible impediments to give the best, and increase its contribution to Indian Railways, in freight loading. In the month of December 2020, Western Railway’s loading of 8.05 Million Tonnes included, Container 2.13 MT, Fertilizer 1.79 MT, Cement 1.23 MT, POL 0.87, Coal 0.75 MT, Iron & Steel 0.17 MT, Food grain 0.10 MT and others 1.01 MT. There has been an increase of 100 percent loading of food grains as compared to last year’s corresponding period, followed by approx 89 percent increase in loading of Iron & Steel. Revenue from freight haulage were up at Rs 1025.07 crore. This represents an increase of Rs 243.95 crore i.e growth of 31.23 percent, compared to last year’s earning of Rs 781.12 crore for the same period.

Shri Thakur further added thatsince 23^rd March to 4^th Jan, 2021, commodities weighing more than 2.19 lakh tonnes have been transported by Western Rly through its 798 parcel special trains, which mainly included agricultural produce, medicines, fish, milk etc. The revenue generated through this transportation, has been about Rs 75.55 crore. During this period, 146 milk special trains were run by Western Rly, with a load of approx. 1.08 lakh tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons. Similarly, 553 Covid-19 special parcel trains with a load of more than 66 thousand tonnes were also run to transport various essential commodities. In addition to this, 87 indented rakes carrying about 39 thousand tonnes were also run with almost 100% utilization. 12 Kisan Rails have been run with load of 3200 tonnes. During the period from 22^nd March 2020 till 4^th Jan, 2021, total 26,954 rakes of goods trains have been used by WR to supply essential commodities amounting to 59.40 million tonnes. 54,913 freight trains have been interchanged with other zonal railways, in which 27,424 trains were handed over and 27,489 trains taken over at different interchange points. o­ne parcel special train left from Bandra Terminus to Jammu Tawi o­n 5^th January, 2021.

LOSS OF PASSENGER REVENUE DUE TO LOCKDOWN

The total loss of revenue over Western Railway o­n account of Corona Virus, has been approx. Rs 3702 crore, which includes aboutRs 596 crore for suburban section and approx. Rs 3106 crore for non -suburban. Inspite of this, resulting to cancellation of tickets since 1^st March, 2020 to4^th Jan, 2021, Western Railway has ensured to return refund amount ofRs. 564.81 crore. It's worth mentioning that in this refund amount, Mumbai division alone, has ensured refund ofmore than Rs 278 crore. Till now, 88.47 lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets over entire Western Railway & have received their refund amount accordingly.

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DIVERSION OF TRAINS DUE TO TRAFFIC BLOCK IN NORTHERN RAILWAY

Kolkata , December 31, 2020:

In connection withconstruction ofLimited Height Subway in Utraitia Jn. –Sultanpur-Zafarabad Section of Northern Railway, Traffic Block will be imposedin this section o­n 02.01.2021 . Consequently following ER originating trains will be diverted as under :

1)02331 Howrah – Jammu Tawi Festival Special commencing Journey o­n 01.01.2021 will be diverted via Faizabad .

2)00464 Amritsar – Howrah Parcel Express commencing Journey o­n 01.01.2021 will be diverted via Faizabad