Mysore/Mysuru: Seamless operation of freight services by Indian Railways in the face of severe crisis brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic has been largely responsible for maintaining the supply chains across the country intact. Movement of essential commodities, medical supplies, perishables, etc.., round-the-clock has helped in stabilising the market situation to a considerable extent. In the process, Indian Railways have been able to click a higher freight revenue to meet the operational expenditure of running passenger services even with very lower occupancy. 

The Business Development Unit (BDU) devised in the South Western Railway (SWR) Mysuru Division to revitalise the freight segment in this critical situation is delivering admirably not only in bridging the deficit in revenue and to further enable ease of doing business .

With sustainable marketing efforts of the Business Development Unit of Mysuru Division, under the leadership of Rahul Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager and his team, the division has achieved a record loading in the month of April 2021. 

The division loaded 0.703 Million Tonnes (MT) of freight as against 0.094 million tonnes in the corresponding period of last year ­­— an increase of 648% amid the raging pandemic exerting enormous pressure in safe operations. The freight revenue of Rs.59.21 crore as against 5.90 crores last year — a growth of 903%. Similarly, the parcel revenue has also witnessed an upward trend with the division grossing  revenue Rs.0.47 crore for the month of April 2021 in comparison to Rs.0.03 crore in April 2020. 

The division loaded its traditional commodities like iron-ore, petroleum products, cement, food grains like maize and sugar, etc. from various stations like Nanjangud, Sasalu, Ranibennur, Amravati Colony, Ammasandra Siding, Minerals Enterprises Ltd (MMEC) siding.

Rahul Agarwal has called upon all Railway men and women to relentlessly strive for scaling newer heights in contributing to the efforts of the Government in providing succour to the needy. He reiterated that all necessary measures were in place for sustaining the pace in freight operations in the coming months, according to a press release from Dr. Manjunath Kanamadi,

Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, SWR Mysuru Division.