CR Ngp Divn scripts history with 5 MT loading in March
| Date :10-Apr-2023 |
Staff Reporter
Cementing its position as a pivot player in cargo loading at Central Railway, Nagpur Division crafted history as it loaded 5 million tonnes of goods. Rewriting its record of highest-ever loading, the division's achievement is more laudable as the feat was achieved within a period of 30 days. So, the record in last month of 2022-23 means the division ended the year on a spectacular note. In back-to-back achievements, Nagpur Division loaded 4 million tonnes in February, and also recorded highest-ever cumulative loading of 44.39 million tonnes in the financial year. Although Nagpur is known for its primacy in loading in Central Railway, the logistics involved in chasing the target of 5 million tonnes was not without its challenges.
Explaining the strategy, Ashutosh Shrivastava, the Senior Divisional Operations Manager (Sr DoM) said, “The target was very steep owing to multiple problems. Looking back now, one realises the difficulties that lay in our path as from Day One, there was realisation that achieving the 5 million tonne figure was never going to be easy.” Having already done 4 million tonnes a month back, was that next one million so challenging? “It was indeed a task, as temperatures were soaring in the region. During February, we stitched together many long hauls that primarily helped achieve us cross 4 million tonnes of loading, but scaling it further by one million tonnes involved lot of logistics and everything got stretched to its limits,” Shrivastava explained. First, as it happens with rails, with rising temperatures they expand, so Engineering Department teams have to take blocks and undertake destressing works. Allotting a block means replanning the rakes movement and thus minute co-ordination work was needed as every action was needed to be in perfect symmetry to pull of the feat.
During February, a plan was chalked out find room to manoeuvre the loading ensuring that regular Mail/Express runs are not disturbed. But in March with addition of summer special, the free time to slip in goods rakes became every narrower. Therefore loading and hauling 5 million tonnes without any incident is quite an achievement, felt Shrivastava as he went about recalling the planning that went into the move for chasing on the stiffest target in division's history. The then officiating Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Saurabh Prasad had set target of 4 and 5 million tonnes loading for February and March and finalised strategy with division officials. As Shrivastava outlined, first we needed assured cargo to load, ensure availability of wagons and thereafter tracks should remain fit to carry the additional cargo.
So we revisited the strategy with new DRM Tushar Kant Pandey, some plans were further tweaked and further each of the department further tuned-up their plans. Most importantly the task was for Engineering Department to keep the tracks in fine shape as any slight deviation could have spelled multiple troubles. The coal loading was mainstay as for first time division loaded 1000 rakes during March that enabled meeting the target. The next challenge Shrivastava pointed out was it delivery and hence Commercial Department tied-up with MahaGenco as later were told to stock-up additional supplies as more rakes are being planned to run in the month of March.
Apart from coal, emphasis was given on running of rails, this time major thrust was laid on it, and this too played an important role. Similarly the hard work put in by Running Staff is also commendable. Also one officer was daily posted in Operations Control Room to take on spot decision in case of any trouble with the running of goods rakes. So close watch on every rake, ensuring giving clear path, patching-up the wagons supply were key to scripting history in loading.