The Mysuru Division of the South Western Railway (SWR) has emerged the third best division in the country in terms of punctuality of its train services.
The punctuality, as judged by the timely arrival and departures of the trains, was as high as 97.58% for mail and express trains and 98.64% for passenger services.
This was announced during the Railway Week celebrations early this week when the Mysuru Division felicitated some of its employees for their outstanding contribution to the organisation. In all, 109 employees were felicitated and there were 13 group awards as well.
Atul Gupta, Divisional Railway Manager, Mysuru Division, who briefed about the performance of the division for 2016–17 recently, said the division also won efficiency shields for ‘Medical and Safety’ while Kadur station was given the best railway station award (minor category).
The Railway Week is held across the country to mark the inaugural run of the railway train in India on April 16, 1853 from Bori Bunder to Thane.
Mr. Gupta said four officers and 22 other employees of the division were also recognised and felicitated for their services at the zonal level in the celebrations held at the South Western Railway head quarters in Hubballi.
However, the division’s freight operations were marginally affected and despite efforts to boost freight traffic by conducting marketing meetings at various levels, the division could achieve overall loading of 4.815 million tonnes during 2016–17 as against 5.038 million tonnes in 2015–16.
The originating earnings registered marginal increase of 0.03% and was ₹608.97 crore during 2016–17 as against ₹608.79 crore earned in 2015–16, said Mr. Gupta. On the safety front, the thrust was on closing unmanned level-crossings and 35 level-crossings were eliminated by way of construction of subways or creating diversions.
He said 2016–17 saw a slew of amenities being introduced for the benefit of passengers.
These included the inauguration of escalators on platform no. 1 and no. 6 at Mysuru, subways connecting all platforms at Mysuru, lifts between platform no. 2 and 3 and 4 and 5, high-speed Wi-Fi at Mysuru, provision of VIP lounge at Shivamogga, development of Kabakaputtur as an Adarsh Station, and extension of shelters and platforms at several stations, among others.
