BELAGAVI
South Western Railway (SWR) has achieved growth in the financial year 2023-24, turning out to be a preferred mode of transport for freight and parcel traffic.
SWR loaded 50.37 Million Tonnes of freight registering an increase of 7.9% over the last financial year. The commodities loaded include 22.02 million tonnes of iron ore, 9.97 million tonnes of coal, 8.79 million tonnes of steel, 0.08 million tonnes of foodgrains, 1.13 million tonnes of cement, etc. The freight revenue earned during 2023-24 stood at Rs 5,022.85 crore which is 8.94% more over the financial year 2022-23.
The parcel revenue of SWR during 2023-24 was Rs.157.69 crore. SWR has loaded 658 automobile rakes in the financial year 2023-24. The sundry earnings of SWR was Rs 333.46 crore and earned Rs 155.32 crore in revenue.
During 2023-24, 43 kms of doubling and 29 kms of new lines and 611 route kms of electrification have been completed.
The SWR achieved a freight loading of 50.37 MT, which is 3.69 MT over the previous best of 46.68 MT. Hubballi Division which also included Vasco, Margao and Sanvordem has loaded 36.551 MT during the FY 2023 -24 which is a highest loading after 7 years followed by Mysore Division (11.65 million tonnes) and Bengaluru Division (2.17 million tonnes).
SWR General Manager Arvind Srivastava said the Railways play a major role in maintaining the supply chain of essential commodities. “Railways enable quick, safe, economic transportation of bulk cargo, raw materials to industries as well as finished goods from industry to points of export/consumption,” said Srivastava.
