Vijayawada Division of South Central Railway makes rapid strides

Vijayawada Division of South Central Railway set new benchmarks ofperformance in 2011-12 in all spheres of activity.Freight earnings posted a remarkable growth of 16.95% by clocking Rs.1706.45 cr. in 2011-12.The originating freight loading of the Division peaked to 24.8 million tons, up by 17.3%.The growth was driven by the twin ports viz. Krishnapatnam and Kakinada, importing coal and fertilizer in a big way, to be rail-transported to steel, cement and power plants in the hinterland.Gross earnings of the Division registered fabulous growth of 14.34% to peak to Rs. 2291.19 cr.The performance efficiency index, a measure of expenditure over income touched the iconic 51% i.e. for every Rs.100 earned, only 51 is spent on administrative expenditure and the balance adds to internal generation of resources.The passenger earnings of the Division registered a growth of 6.67% to touch Rs. 501 cr.The Division handled 98.40 million passengers, registering a growth of 4.23%.Ticket checking earnings grew to Rs. 20.39 cr, up by 9.9%.To cater to the summer rush and festival rush, as many as 685 special trains were run to the satisfaction of the travelling public.Punctuality of passenger carrying trains was maintained at 96%.Coming to passenger amenities, Rs. 23.8 cr. was spent to upgrade passenger friendly amenities – waiting rooms, circulating areas, extended cover over platforms, coach/train indication boards, battery operated cart for the aged and the disabled and to cap it all ten passenger lifts were commissioned at important stations viz. Nellore, Chirala, Tenali, Kakinada Town and Bhimavaram.Besides, 340 air circulators were affixed at various locations for better air circulation.Vijayawada Division is the first in Indian Railways to have finalized the development of a multi-function complex at Rajahmundry on public-private-partnership basis.The multi-function complex is a business model aimed at providing premium services from a mini space mall to a budget hotel for the benefit of citizens of Rajahmundry.Vijayawada station yard is being remodeled at a cost of Rs. 52.86 cr. so as to put the reception and dispatch of trains on a fast track.Security of passengers on board is of paramount importance.Several cameras have been installed at critical locations at various stations.Both Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force escort parties are being deployed in various passenger carrying trains during night hours.The (vestibule) passage between every two air-conditioned coaches is blocked during 10 P.M. to 6 A.M.A system of tagging every piece of luggage in a passenger compartment has been in vogue.This has given very encouraging results.Besides, several other innovative measures are being tried and tested so as to provide safe, secure and comfortable train travel to passengers.Vijayawada Division conserved one million energy units in 2011-12.The Division is proud of its sporting talents who brought laurels to us in 2011-12. ShriJayaramudu secured gold medal in mixed doubles at senior national athlete championship. Shri Tirumalai Kumar from Indian disabled team won gold medal in shotput. Shri A. Amareshwar won Silver Medal at Indian Railways body building championship.The Division’sperformance was recognized and rewarded with as many as 13 Efficiency Shields at 57th Railway Week Celebrations including best maintained rake of Amaravathi Exp, Energy Conservation and the best school shield to Railway High School (EM), Vijayawada.