Rs 100 crore works ayed for upgradation of goods shed

 

 By Sagar Mohod

 

Central Railway has drawn-up an ambitious plan for Nagpur Division eyeing originating loading of 90 million tonnes, as Indian Railways has drawn-up plan for reaching 3000 Metric Tonnes hauling capacity by next decade. At present the division is chasing target of 45 million tonnes for the year 2024-25 and to reach the magical figure as envisaged earlier, it would require a period of about 5 to 10-years at the most. The task is quite formidable as total loading over Zone with headquarters in Mumbai metropolis is 90 million tonnes and same is being eyed by railway officials from Nagpur Division alone. To achieve the same, a Rs 100 crore plan is being rolled out to upgrade facilities at the existing goods shed. The amount being invested in Nagpur Division is quite small as the annual earnings from goods total over Rs 800 crore.

 

The upgradation plan would go long way in addressing concerns of loaders, the agents, and also enthuse other to make use of vast railway network to transport their goods in bulk, stated Aman Mittal, Sr. Divisional Commercial Manager, Central Railway, Nagpur Division, while talking to The Hitavada. Mittal further said goods shed functioning since ages are now required to match the needs of current times, offer better perspective to customers, amenities for the private staff deputed by firms, proper rest room, drinking water arrangement and so on. Hence all the goods shed over division would undergo transformation through the sanctioned works programme. The first and foremost task is to improve the surface area, strengthen the infrastructure, provide for rest rooms and warehouse that would allow round the clock functioning at goods shed.

 

The opening of new route, Wardha to Yavatmal has provided division with another opportuntiy to expand its goods loading as new sheds are planned at Deoli and other places once the new line becomes functional. The addition third and fourth line on Grand Trunk route, Mumbai-Howrah would provide railways with dedicated goods line, enabling time tabled run of goods rake in near future. The mainstay of loading in division is off course rests on the mining operations of Western Coalfields Limited (WCL). Coal accounts for more than 75 per cent receipts of division. Off late however, iron ore to has emerged as a valuable commodity, though it loading is nowhere compared to coal. Iron ore mined in Gadchiroli is transported from Ballarshah yard to different parts, within the precincts of the State. Due to limitation on mining, the present loading of iron ore at Nagpur Division is confined to at the most two rakes per day. In comparison, coal rakes keeps chugging from different depots across the division, as WCL mines are located in various location, including one in Singroli in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh from where it is transported all the way to Punjab.

 

The coal mined in WCL mines is mostly cater to needs of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MSPGCL) thermal power plants dotted at various parts of the State and mostly in Vidarbha region, the power hub. Among the works that are going to be taken include one at Tadali at cost- of Rs 26.94 crore wherein a provision of additional line, it would mean fourth line, that would accommodate full rake. Located in Chandrapur district, the goods shed coming-up on platform no. 4 will have an area of 16,000 sq.mtr. At Khirsadoh shed project worth Rs 13.9 crone are earmarked that would see improvement in loading and unloading platform by concretising the surface. Most importantly the illumination at the goods shed would improve along with the approach road.

 

Thereafter at Maramjhiri shed works worth Rs 12.52 crore are sanctioned wherein existing half line would be extended to full line with provision of platform exclusively for goods shed. In Chandrapur shed Rs 8.92 crore would be utilised for improvement of platform that would be 14,000 sq.meter, and at Betul shed a provision of Rs 6.63 crore is earmarked for better lighting arrangement, improvement of platform surface and extending the spur line by 60 m at Itarsi end along with renovation of existing cover shed. Another important loading point is Parasia where a sum of Rs. 3.06 crore would be spent on improvement of concrete platform surface adjacent to Line 1. This goods shed accounts for loading of wheat and soyabean in bulk quantities.

 

Thereafter at Mukutban Goods Shed Rs 7.8 crore is provided for improvement of basic facilities. In Ballarshah, the division has set aside Rs 10.3 crore for upgradation of terminal with provision of additional full length goods shed line for dealing Goods shed traffic. Besides this some improvements are also planned at Ajni, Pandhurna, Pimpalkuti, Rajur, Wani, Chikni Road, Kayar, Ghughus, Multai and Kalmeshwar Goods shed. Apart from the works, FOIS equipment (TSS) at 28 locations are planned to replaced, further the would be provision of CCTV Camera at 21 Goods sheds to improve security. n