The Guntur division of the South Central Railway (SCR) is poised to meet its revenue target of Rs. 382 crore for 2011-12 and handle 3.08 million tons of goods traffic which is 0.13 million tons higher than the target of 2.95 million tons.
The doubling of Guntur-Tenali line is set to make movement of passengers and goods faster and generate additional income. More than 95 per cent of the trains are running on time, particularly in the Guntur-Nandyal section. Adequate focus has been laid on safety at level crossings and passenger safety in general, according to Additional Divisional Railway Manager Medikonda Papi Reddy.
Addressing a press conference at the DRM office here on Tuesday, Mr. Papi Reddy said eight new stations were opened in the last four to five years and passenger amenities improved at Piduguralla and Nadikudi stations.
Gajjelakonda, Gundlakamma, Kurichedu, Savalyapuram, and Somadevapalli stations now have three lines compared to two each earlier. Track renewal works were done in the Guntur and Nadikudi section measuring a distance of 55 km. “To check accidents at level crossings, 21 LCs are now manned and five diverted to nearby gates. Joint inspections are being done by the railway officials and State Road Transport Department at LCs. Retro-reflective warning boards are set up at all LCs,” he said.
Latest technology
Advanced technologies like ‘mobile flash-butt welding' and ‘railway grinding' were being done for enhancing the durability of tracks.
A team of safety personnel was constantly on the move under the leadership of a Senior Divisional Safety Officer to ensure that safety aspects were not compromised.
Two coaches each were added to the Palnadu Express and Guntur-Secunderabad Inter-City Express trains recently. The second pit line work at Guntur costing nearly Rs. 7 crore would be taken up in a few months, Mr. Reddy said.
