Rlys' Ferozepur Div earned Rs258 cr from freight in Nov

Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 29

Ferozepur Division of Northern Railway has made a history of sorts by loading 13.9 lakh metric tonnes cargo and earning a highest ever monthly revenue of Rs258 crore in November this year. The freight carried during last month was 184 per cent more than average monthly loading, said senior railway officials.

Officials of railway business development unit (BDU) said constant interaction with trade and industry in the region had yielded excellent results and the Railways had established a system in place to cater to varied needs of different kinds of trade and industry.

For the benefit of small traders, 99 wagons were loaded during last month on piece-meal basis with food item, paper and potatoes, said an official of the BDO.

Similarly, potatoes were loaded from Kapurthala station for carriage to different destinations in Assam and Nagaland, he added. From Jalandhar station, two farmers’ special trains loaded with potatoes were sent to Agartala in Tripura, he said.

Railway officials further stated that processed food items were sent from Sahnewal (Ludhiana), Moga and Phillaur to North-East and other states while an export consignment of tractors was loaded from Nasrala station for Bangladesh.

Significantly, 199 wagon-loads of tractors were transported during last month, which was 75 per cent more than average monthly loading.

Lauding concerted efforts of the staff and officials of the BDO and other employees deployed for loading/unloading, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Seema Sharma said of late several new kinds of goods other than traditional cargo, were being transported by Railways. At present, requirement of even a single wagon was also being met by Railways, DRM added.

“We are in touch with potato-growing farmers and their organisations in Ludhiana, Moga, Hoshiarpur and Amritsar to motivate them for availing piece-meal cargo service being provided by Railways so that they can get better price for their produce,” DRM said.