WR's Business Development Units achieve new milestones

Western Railway has taken best possible efforts to increase its revenue and continued to maintain the momentum. It performed exceptionally well in freight traffic in comparison to last year, inspite of the COVID – 19 pandemic situation. Due to sustained efforts, WR has achieved a revenue of approx. Rs. 4633 cr in the current financial year which is almost 22% higher as compared to the corresponding period last year.

Moving forward with this motivation, Western Railway's Ahmedabad Division has also now commenced the operation of Kisan Rail for the benefit of the local farmers, with the first Kisan Rail operated recently from Himmatnagar to Bapudham Motihari in Bihar.

According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur- Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, Ahmedabad Division ran its first Kisan Rail loaded with consignment of approx. 248 tonnes of food items like foodgrains and potatoes etc. earning revenue of Rs. 10.85 lakhs, on which 50% subsidy amounting to Rs. 5.42 lakhs have been provided by the Railways. During the period from 1st April to 12th September, 2021, Western Railway has run 82 Kisan Rails from various divisions carrying a load of more than 21000 tonnes. Kisan Rail is a unique initiative undertaken by Indian Railways to help the farmers to transport their perishable agricultural products to new markets and also for its economical and fast transportation to the inter-state markets.

In yet another major development, Ratlam Division of Western Railway has also bagged the contract of Automobile loading for the first time. John Deere Automobile Company has entered into an agreement with the Railways for the transportation of its tractors and under this the first consignment was dispatched from Dewas station to Badhgarh (Orissa) recently. 160 tractors were loaded in 25 NMGs in the first batch fetching a revenue of about Rs.11.35 lakh. Further, Railways will be receiving demand for 2-3 rakes per month for tractor loading from this company. It is a big achievement for Ratlam division as it is for the first-time railway has got new customer for automobile loading.

Thakur further informed that the paradigm shift in policies, aggressive marketing efforts have lead to revenue of Rs. 4632.75 crores from freight loading during this financial year upto 12th September, 2021. With an aim for enhancing freight traffic, the motto of 'Hungry for Cargo' has been adopted wherein all efforts are being taken to increase the rail share over other modes of transportation. Railways is reaching out to potential customers with customized solutions with a view to add more new commodities in its ambit for transportation.

During the period from 1st April 2021 to till date, Western Railway has transported commodities weighing more than 1.27 lakh tonnes through its 326 parcel special trains, which included agricultural produce, medicines, medical equipment, fish, milk. The revenue generated through this transportation, has been approx Rs. 44.15 crores. 83 Milk Special trains were run by Western Rly, with a load of more than 58 thousand tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons. Similarly, 98 COVID-19 special parcel trains with a load of approx. 18,200 tonnes were also run to transport essential commodities. In addition to this, 63 indented rakes carrying about 29,800 tonnes were also run with 100% utilization.

Thakur also stated that, during the period from 1st April, 2021 to 12th September total 17,251 rakes of goods trains have been run by WR and carried 37.50 million tonnes of essential commodities as compared to 30.57 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year. 35907 freight trains were interchanged with other zonal railways, of which 17986 trains were handed over and 17921 trains were taken over at different interchange points. It is worth mentioning that despite the hardships of the pandemic, Western Railway's Kisan Rails along with goods & parcel special trains have been continuously traversing across the country to keep the supply of essential commodities moving.