HYDERABAD: The freight loading of South Central Railway (SCR) in Hyderabad division has shown significant improvement during the current financial year by loading 1.06 MTs, which is nearly 60% more than the freight loading during the same period of the previous financial year.
Also, for the third consecutive month, the zone has recorded freight loading of 9.3 MTs during the month of November 2020 compared to the loading of 8.9 MT recorded during November 2019.
According to the officials, turmeric was loaded from Nizamabad to Bangladesh this year for the first time. The new traffic started this year also includes iron ore and quartz chips from Veldurti station, maize from Nizamabad station and boiled rice from Kaukuntla. In total, about 0.847 MTs of foodgrains were transported this year, which is almost double during the same period last year. Last year, SCR transported 0.435 MTs of foodgrains by November.
“SCR has taken special interest and monitored the zonal freight loading and conducted regular review meetings with all the departments for better coordination in maintaining the growth in the freight segment. The movement of freight trains has also been given due importance and regularly monitored at all levels,” said SCR general manager Gajanan Mallya. The average speed of freight trains in November was around 50 kmph, which is an improvement of 85% when compared to 27 kmph registered in the same month last year. This apart, the Hyderabad division facilitated freight customers for loading in mini rakes — 20 wagons instead of full rake of 40 wagons— which further enhanced the loading in transportation of maize, iron ore and stone chips to major destinations.