A proposal to run some of the trains on the Howrah-Chennai route (now passing through only Duvvada) via Visakhapatnam railway station without changing the running time has been referred to the Railway Board, Divisional Railway Manager D. Kamilla said here on Tuesday.
The division had also sent proposals to run new trains from here to Mangalore, Varanasi and Jodhpur.
Waltair Division recorded a freight loading of 45.19 million tonnes during 2009-10, which was 16.34 per cent more than last year's performance and the gross revenue at Rs. 3,483 crores was 21 per cent higher. The division contributes to 50 per cent of gross revenue of the East Coast Railway and the revenue would increase in the coming years, Mr. Kamilla, who will be going to South Eastern Railway on transfer shortly, said at a press conference.
With Visakhapatnam port and the Kothavalasa-Kirandul line responsible for 75 per cent of the division's traffic, some measures like increasing the number of wagons on a goods train from 56 to 58 and running jumbo empty trains up to Kirandul to overcome the frequent interruptions caused by Maoists saw the average loading of rakes improving from 8-10 during 2008-09 to 12 during last year. New lines were being added to take the load and the Simhachalam-Kottavalasa fourth line and Kottavalasa-Vizianagaram third line were expected to be completed by February 2011 and March 2013 respectively.
Number of passengers originating from the division was 26.19 million during 2009-10, which was 9.72 per cent more than the previous year and the revenue from passengers went up by 11.7 per cent.
The division had spent Rs. 18 crores on passenger amenities, including Rs. 13 crores on Visakhapatnam station alone. Two lifts would be provided at the station. The new reservation complex would be ready in a couple of months. At the Duvvada station, more passenger amenities were being provided.
