Tiruchi Division handleS 13.94 million passengers, earnings up by 5.83 % from April to July

The Tiruchi Railway Division handled 13.94 million passengers generating ₹187.46 crore in revenue from April 1 to July 31, recording an increase of 5.83% in earnings as compared to the corresponding period in the previous year, Divisional Railway Manager Balak Ram Negi said on Friday. 

The division crossed five million tonnes in transportation of goods in a record 122 days from April 1 — the fastest in the history of the Tiruchi Division, Mr. Negi said speaking at the 79th Independence Day celebration organised at the railway stadium here. He hoisted the national flag and took the salute at the ceremonial parade by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel. 

Listing the achievements of the division, Mr. Negi said it had earned ₹318.94 crore through transportation of goods from April to July in the current fiscal, registering an increase of 31.60 % as compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. The division achieved 94.20% punctuality for express / passenger / TOD (Train on Demand) from April to July in the current fiscal. 

Mr. Negi said extension of platforms were in progress at Adirampattinam, Peravurani, Aranthangi, and Thanjavur railway stations. Fourteen lifts and 12 escalators were planned to be commissioned at various stations over the Tiruchi Division in the upcoming year.

As per the orders of the National Green Tribunal, seven railway stations in the division: Tiruchi Junction, Villupuram, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Puducherry, and Nagapattinam underwent an audit by an external certification body and were awarded the ISO 14001: 2015 Environmental Management System certification on April 8. This certification was valid for three years. 

As many as 939 wagons underwent sick repair attention thereby improving wagon availability and enabling the division to meet its loading targets.  Mr. Negi said penalty of ₹4.02 crore was collected from passengers travelling without tickets, with improper tickets or with excess luggage from April to July this financial year.  The celebration was marked by a display of bullet bike stunts by RPF personnel, cultural performances, and a dog show of the RPF Dog Squad, a press release from the division said.