South Western Railway has ordered the permanent closure of parcel bookings – both inbound and outbound – from 45 stations in Mysore Division with immediate effect. Sources in the Mysore Division told The Hindu that hardly any revenue was being generated from the service at certain stations.
“It costs the Railways Rs. 7,000 in fuel consumption for each pair of trains to stop and start again from a station, whereas the parcel revenue would be a few hundred rupees,” said the source. The authorities could not keep permanent staff at the stations for booking a few parcels. Hence station masters were trained to book and receive parcels, besides discharging their duty of train operations. The delay in loading and unloading parcels also added to the running time of trains.
The authorities conducted an audit of parcel bookings done in different stations before taking the decision to shut down services. The move has come at a time when Mysore Divisional Railway Manager Rajkumar Lal has been urging traders and businessmen in the region to opt for the service. Mr. Lal cited its convenience and during an interaction with members of the Confederation of Indian Industry last week.
Stations from where parcel bookings can no longer be made are as follows:
Ashokapuram, Belagoa, Sagarkatte, Hosa Agrahara, Akkihebbalu, Mandagere, Habhanaghatta, Baghesapura, Mavinkere, Bantawala, Narimogaru, Yedamangala, Shirivagilu, Yedakumeri, Donigal, Neralakatte, Ballekere, Devanur, Adihalli, Honnavalli Road, Kardi, Sampige Road, Mallasandra, Talaguppa, Sagara Jambugaru, Anandapra, Kums, Masarahalli, Sivapura, Nagavangala, Ajjampura, Shivani, Hosadurga, Ramagiri, Holalakere, Tolahunse, Kodagnur, Mayakonda, Sasalu, Balenahalli, Tahaluku, Devaragudda and Karjigi.
