The Salem Railway Division is aiming for ₹ 912 crore in earnings in the current financial year, 2019-20, from all its revenue sources, said Divisional Railway Manager U.Subba Rao.
Talking to presspersons on sidelines of the International Level Crossing Day celebrations, Mr. Subba Rao said, “our revenues have increased last year and we are aiming ₹912 crore of earnings in the current financial year, including ₹ 605 crore in passenger earnings and ₹225 crore in freight earnings.”
He said, “in 2018-19, our gross earnings was ₹750 crore which was 17.85% higher than the previous year and we have transported 1.44 million tonnes of freight during last financial year.”
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On improving safety features at level crossings and railway stations, Mr. Rao said that there were 233 level crossings under the division and all the unmanned gates were eliminated.
He added that 30 railway gates under the division lacked interlocking facilities and they were planning to solve the issue within this financial year itself. “Out of the 30 gates, we will be building subway at 10 locations of which we have got approval for seven from the respective District Collectors. We are also working towards interlocking the remaining 20 railway gates with nearest stations within this year,” he said.
Mr. Rao also advised the public to exercise care while they were at level crossings. “Though not rampant, gatekeepers are attacked for not opening the gates at night. Strict legal action will be taken against the attackers,” he said.
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He said that two lives were lost in accidents at level crossings in the division last year and advised the public not to climb over to trains to avoid accidents by scratching against overhead high tension electric lines. He added that as part of improving security, they would be installing CCTV cameras at Erode, Tiurppur and Salem junctions shortly.
On development works in the division, Mr. Rao said, “we are constructing foot-over bridges at 12 locations at ₹12 crore, high level platforms at 13 locations at ₹25 crore and expanding the length of platforms at 13 locations at ₹24 crore.”
He added that the Salem Railway Junction facade development was being done at ₹24 crore and they would be carrying out minor works at other stations at ₹ 20 crore. Regarding the construction of multi-level parking at the Coimbatore junction, Mr. Rao said 90% of the construction was completed and it would be commissioned in next two months.
He added that last year, trains under the division had a punctuality rate of 80% and they were trying to increase it by 85% this year.