SECR’s Ngp Division surpasses loading target; posts 113% growth in revenue amid pandemic

 

 

 

While outbreak of the pandemic has disrupted services across the nation and posed a new set of challenges for many, for Indian Railways, however, it was business as usual. South East Central Railway's (SECR) Nagpur Division posted impressive results during 2020-21 financial year, wherein they scored over last year, registering a growth of 113 per cent in earnings from goods loading. In monetary terms, the growth is of Rs 280.80 crore in earnings compared to previous year. Considering numerous difficulties that emerged when the country witnessed unprecedented three months total lockdown, the division not only met the target given by Zonal Headquarters but also surpassed it. While edging past the target, Nagpur Division set a new benchmark as it expanded its portfolio of goods transported to various parts of the country. A cursory look at the loading figures shows that maximum variation has been in iron ore, foodgrains and most in fly ash.

 

While the first two heads showed increase in three figures that of fly ash registered highest ever growth indicating emergence of new commodity that may in coming days bring in more revenue than other conventional goods. Of course same depends upon the demand from cement industry wherein fly ash is used in manufacturing of Portland cement. Though Coal was the highest ever commodity transported by division, in terms of wagons loaded, but ironically it did not bring in maximum returns, they were from carrying foodgrains. From Coal transportation the division earned Rs 100.71 crore but foodgrains provided revenue of Rs 206.70 crore. While Coal belt is spread over the division’s 700 km plus area but as the distance travelled by goods rake is less the revenue realisation is often lost out in ratio of loading. The earnings from haulage of foodgrains is indicative of good monsoon that resulted in bumper crop production.

 

So maximising the gains become quite easier for the railways as it rolled out extra facilities to mop up wheat and other commodities that are grown in Madhya Pradesh region of division. Even though number of wagons loaded were less compared to coal, the grains were transported over long distance the fare maximised providing handsome returns. For example during last year about 818 rakes (28,657 wagons) were loaded and earnings clocked was Rs 206.70 crore. Coal however still remains the single largest commodity that was loaded in division but returns wise it was in second position. The increase in number of rakes is about 238 and in terms of wagons the difference is quite significant, it being 13,873. The originating earnings under Coal head was 100.71 crores. The impressive performance was possible due to excellent co-ordination that railways had with various industry players, said Anurag Kumar Singh, Divisional Operations Manager (DOM) as well as Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) at Nagpur Division. He said now that a policy about disposal of fly ash is in place, railway roped in cement industries and tied them with NTPC that has plant at Mauda and thus ensured benefit for both industries. As to sterling performance in transportation of foodgrains was possible due to opening of new goods shed at Garha, Gaurighat and at Nainpur. Further the decision of Railway Board to allowed loading of Mini Rakes ensured that smaller players too can benefit.

 

The establishment of Business Development Unit (BDU) helped in roping in new traffic, that of iron ore that is new development at division. The division surpassed cumulative annual loading of 4694 metric tonnes, this was of previous financial year, in mid November 2020 only. The Railway Board target of 5.74 MT was crossed on December 26, 2020, when division registered cumulative loading of 5.78 MT. During the month of December 2020 the division recorded 293.8 wagons/day loading, the highest ever in its history, but on February 2021 the same was erased with loading of 436.8 wagons/day. The highest ever loading of 662 wagons on single day was achieved on March 31, 2021, as against previous best of 650 wagons in February 19, 2021.