MANGALURU: Loading of coal from New Mangalore Port (NMP) has helped Palakkad division of Southern Railway register improved loading. The division transported 3.65 million tonnes (MT) of coal during the period. The freight earnings of Rs 385 crore (up to end of January 2019) is 37% more than the corresponding period last year. The division is moving ahead of target in freight loading, said Pratap Singh Shami, divisional railway manager.During this financial year 2018-19 from April to January, the division loaded 5.03 MT of freight against target of 4.76 MT, an increase of 5.8% against the target. Earnings from the commercial sundry too registered a growth during the period and the division earned Rs 16.23 crore up to end of January 2019 from parking and catering and commercial publicity. The growth in the head is 30 % more than the corresponding period last year.Highlighting other achievements of the division during this fiscal, he said two express trains were introduced. They are 16355/16356 Kochuveli–Mangaluru Junction Antyodaya express introduced on June 14 and 19423/19424 Gandhidham–Tirunelveli (Humsafar Express) introduced on July 16. The division operated 874 special trains during April 2018 to January 2019. Mobile UTS usage in the division increased to 5% with intensive campaigningAdditional parking area was created at Palakkad and Shoranur junctions, Tirur, Vadakara, Payyannur and Charvathur, fetching total revenue of Rs 4 crore up to the end of January. The station beautification with paintings of local art and culture was completed at Palakkad and Shoranur junctions, Kozhikode, Kannur, Nilambur Road and Mangaluru Central. A total 25 ATMs were installed at major stations and 174 toilets have been renovated, he said.In a related development, R K Kulshrestha, GM, Southern Railway, who undertook annual inspection of railway facilities of the division on Tuesday, said track doubling of Mangaluru Central to Nethravathi cabin will be completed by December this year. The zonal railway has changed the mode of completing this project to avoid the issue of land acquisition which will now enable the zonal railway authorities to execute the project by December.Southern Railway will also complete work on doubling the 8.5-km railway track between Jokatte and Kulshekar by March. Noting that tunnel work on this stretch is pending, Kulshrestha said zonal railway has directed the divisional railway to take up the work on the additional platform at Mangaluru Central. The additional platform will enable the divisional and zonal railway start additional trains from Mangaluru Central, rail user’s forum noted.During the inspection, railway authorities undertook speed trial of operating the train at 120 kmph between Uppala and Nethravathi Bridge. The zonal railway is planning to increase the speed across the division to 120 kmph from the existing 110 kmph. Track renewal works are being undertaken in this regard, he said. The speed limit will be increased on approval from the commissioner for railway safety, Bengaluru, who accompanied the GM and his team.

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