Shri Shivendra Mohan, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada holds Virtual Press Conference

Shri Shivendra Mohan, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada conducted Virtual Press Conference with Print & Electronic media through Cisco Webex application on 6th October, 2021.

At the outset, Shri Shivendra Mohan, DRM, Vijayawada was immensely happy to share the decision of Central Cabinet to approve PLB (Productivity Linked Bonus) for the railway employees for the financial year 2020-21. He discussed in detail through a PowerPoint presentation about the Annual performance of Vijayawada Division, Railway projects, Rail infrastructure and passenger amenities works taken up Division during the current year. DRM briefed regarding various initiatives undertaken by the Divisional BDU units to boost the freight traffic of the Division.   After the presentation, DRM answered all the queries of the media personnel in detail and thanked them for the support rendered to the Division 

Media personnel from English and Telugu regional press attended the meeting along with representatives of All India Radio and Doordarshan. Shri P Bhaskar Reddy, Sr.DCM attended the meeting through online. Ms. Nusrat Mandrupkar, PRO, Vijayawada Division coordinated the meeting and proposed vote of thanks to all the media personnel for their active participation.

Highlights of Virtual Press Meet

Earnings

• The total earnings for the current year upto September 2021 is Rs.1477.60 Crore
• Vijayawada division is currently handling 143 Express/Mail trains (92 Daily + 51 Non-dailys) per day. 99.3% trains restored to pre-covid levels
• Passenger revenue during the current year is Rs. 279.31 Crore. 
• Freight Friendly  Railways
• Goods earnings of Rs. 1144.19 Crore during the year compared to previous year earnings of Rs. 1066.5 Cr, 7.28% more than the previous year
• 51 Kisan rails were operated during 2021. 30 Rakes of onion from Tadepalligudem and 21 rakes of Mangoes from Nuzvid were transported.
• Division has captured many new streams of traffic due to the dedicated efforts of BDU Team such as Fly Ash, Soya Bean oil, Fish feed and many other new streams of traffic were achieved.

New Lines, Doubling and Electrification

• Gudur-Vijayawada third line -Commissioning of newly constructed 3rd line between Kavali and Ulavapadu stations for a length about 30 kms was commissioned on 27.02.21. 
• Vijayawada Division Commissioned Double Line with Electrification between Vijayawada – Uppaluru stations
• This is part of the Vijayawada – Gudivada – Bhimavaram – Narsapur, Gudivada – Machilipatnam & Narsapur– Nidadavolu Doubling and Electrification project (221 km) at an estimated cost of Rs.3,000 Crore, and is being executed by RVNL 
• It will boost the development of Coastal Andhra region. Out of the total 221 km, a total of 141 km has now been commissioned, and works in the remaining sections, i.e., between Nidadavolu – Narsapur for a distance of 70 Route km, are progressing at a fast pace and are nearing completion. 

Traffic Facility Works

• Commissioning of Longer Loop Line at Navabpalem Station to enhance train operations, ease congestion, and accommodate long-haul goods trains with additional wagons than the standard composition
• Located on the Grand trunk route of Vijayawada – Visakhapatnam section
• Constructed with a length of 750 meters which can accommodate a full-length goods train with multiple engines
• Construction of Longer Loops at six stations of Vijayawada Division viz., Bikkavolu, Navabpalem & Elamanchili in Vijayawada – Visakhapatnam section and Nidubrolu, Ammanabrolu & Bitragunta in Vijayawada – Chennai section. Out of these, now, two longer loops have been commissioned i.e., At Bikkavolu and Navabpalem stations. Works are in the fast progress at the remaining locations.
• Commissioning of new pitline at Narsapur: New pit line of length 545 m has been completed and commissioned by GM/SCR on 03.09.202

Green Initiatives 

• Vijayawada Division successfully obtains CFO (Consent for Operation) for all the 28 Good Sheds from State Pollution Control Board
• Developing the Good Sheds suiting to the existing needs of Freight Customers. Concrete cement loading platforms, merchants’ rooms, drinking water facilities, labour restrooms, lighting facilities to carry on round-the-clock operations, approach roads are being arranged
• Eluru, Dwarapudi Goods sheds were developed on similar lines with upgraded facilities
• Tenders are also being called for the development of Goods sheds through PPP mode

Major Safety Enhancement Works

• Raising of sectional speed in Moturu – Akividu (40 km) Section: Moturu and Akividu stations from 50 to 100 kmph
• Moturu-Kaikalur  stations from 75 to 100 kmph
• Akividu – Bhimavaram Town (17 km) from 70 to 100 kmph
• Gudur – Vijayawada – Kondapalli Section enhanced to 130 kmph

Level crossings

• 6 Level Crossings were eliminated during the year 2020-21 completing the target 
• 5 LC gates were interlocked during 2020-21 for enhanced safety
• 33 Emergency sliding booms have been provided at interlocked LC Gates

Passenger Amenities

• 9 Lifts and 2 escalators commissioned during the year2020-21, with this the Division has a total of 40 lifts and 20 Escalators
• Seating capacity at Vijayawada Railway station has been enhanced by 200  
• A total of 9 FOBs were commissioned during the year at various stations
• Provision of second entry at Gudur station
• New station Building at Kavali
• New Mega FOB with 6m gangway width and length is 185m at Vijayawada Station connecting PF No.1 to10
• Improvements to Vijayawada Station circulating area by relocating the existing assetsas part of redevelopment works
• Many Rail level platforms at Branch line stations were converted into high level platforms for the convenience of passengers
• European Style Passenger information system with 16 Nos. of 63” LED displays installed at Vijayawada station and 2 Nos. at Anakapalle

Security

• CCTVs have been installed at Ongole (20), Nellore (40), Vijayawada (11) and Tuni (28) during the year 2020-21
• Rescued 128 runaway children and handed over them to Child Help Line and Parents.
• Assisted Commercial department in detection of 8,735 ticketless travelers and an amount of Rs.39.18 lakhs was realized as fine in the year 2021, so far.
• In 2021, 55 offenders and one Railway Employee so far arrested under the provisions of Railway property (Unlawful Possession) Act for having committed theft of Railway Property with recovery of property worth Rs.2.64 lakh.
• 17 Ganja smugglers were apprehended while they were transporting 205 kgs Ganja, worth Rs.4.47 lakhs in 11 instances and handed over to Government Railway Police and Excise Department.

Digital Initiatives

• Vijayawada Division is always in the front in the area of innovations and software application
• Developed QR based Digital ID cards for catering vendors to avoid duplication and misuse
• QUAMS- Quarters Allotment Management Systems for the convenience of staff.
• Web conferences arranged for Railway staff for training and knowledge sharing sessions, resulting in to reduced expenditure and allowing attendance  from various locations.