Shri Shivendra Mohan, DRM, Vijayawada holds Press Conference on Divisional Annual Performance

Shri Shivendra Mohan, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada Division presided over Press Conference and briefed the Print/ Electronic Media personnel regarding Vijayawada Division Annual Performance in FY- 2022-23, today i.e.,06^th April, 2023 at Divisional Conference Hall, DRM Office, Vijayawada. Shri D.  Srinivasa Rao, ADRM, Infrastructure, Shri M. Srikanth, ADRM, Operations and Branch oficers took part in the Press Conference.

At the outset, Shri Shivendra Mohan, DRM, Vijayawada Division welcomed the Media fraternity and lauded them for their kind support and cooperation towards Railways in particular. Shri Shivendra Mohan said that Indian Railways is a proud National Carrier which caters to the all sections of society by providing seamless access and connectivity to every nook and corner in India.  Speaking on Annual Performance, he said that Divisional performance in 2022-23 is path breaking in the history of the Division, and exceeded the set targets and on all major fronts.

DRM congratulated the Railway Staff and Officers for clocking in the highest Gross revenue of Rs. 5306.58 Crore and highest Passenger revenue of Rs. 1246.82 in FY 2022-23. He said that during FY 2022-23 Division also achieved second highest incremental loading of 12.125 Tonnes in Indian Railway by carrying a total of 33.568 Million Tonnes of freight. DRM also discussed regarding the major infrastructural projects and redevelopment of Stations to be undertaken in this financial year. After the briefing, DRM answered all the queries of the media personnel in detail and thanked them for the support rendered to the Division.

Around 40 Media personnel from English and Telugu regional press attended the meeting along with representatives of All India Radio and Doordarshan. Shri V Rambabu, Sr.DCM, Shri E Santharam, Sr. DEN, co-ord., Shri Valleswara Thokala, Sr.DSC and Dr. Ch Pradeep, DOM, Coaching and Ms Nusrat M Mandrupkar, PRO attended the meeting. The Divisional Annual performance highlights is attached.

Vijayawada Division Annuals Highlights

Earnings

• The gross earnings of Vijayawada Division during the year 2022-23 is Rs.5306.58 Cr which is 66.06 % higher compared to 2021-22. This is the highest ever gross earnings achieved in the history of Vijayawada Division. The previous best earnings is Rs.5136.44 Cr during the year 2018-19.
• Contribution  from different segments include 74% from Freight business, 23% from Passenger business, 1.7% from Other Coaching and 1.3% from Sundries.
• Division achieved Passenger revenue of Rs. 1246.82 Cr during 2022-23, 69.80% more than 2021-22 Passenger revenue of 730.15 Cr. This is the highest passenger revenue achieved ever.
• Division recorded a total of 61.518 million originating passengers in 2022-23 against the annual target of 62.84 million passengers. No. of originating passengers during 2022-23 is 109% more than last year, which is 29.39 million

Freight& Parcel Performance

• Vijayawada division loaded 33.57 MT of cargo in 2022-23 which is 56.6% above the last year.
• The Goods earnings of Vijayawada Division in 2022-2023 is Rs. 3912.15 Cr. which is 66.77% higher as compared to 2022-23. This is the 2nd highest ever freight earnings achieved.  The highest freight earning is Rs. 3968 Cr during 2018-19.
• Krishnapatanam Port loaded record 13.76 MT of Coal in 2022-23. Total 4749 Rakes were dealt at Krishnapatnam Port during 2022-23. The earnings of Krishnpatnam port is Rs. 1986.74 Cr.
• Kakinada Port recorded highest ever freight earnings of Rs. 1213.54 Cr in this fiscal, since its inception.
• Division achieved the 2^nd highest ever Parcel Revenue of Rs. 22.42 Cr, for the year 2022-23
• Vijayawada Division stood first in SCR zone to award the contract for development of new Green field Gati-Shakti Cargo Terminal entirely on Railway land at Bikkavolu.
• As a result of consistent Business Development Units efforts, new streams of traffic including Iron Ore, Timber Waste, Maize, Laterite, Fly Ash Bricks, Wheat, Fish Feed, Edible Oil etc. have been captured for the first time or recaptured the traffic lost to road this year
• New traffic of various commodities were loaded in 1102 rakes with a tonnage of 3.894 Million Tonnes generating the revenue to the tune of 558.24 Cr.
• Niduguntapalem Goods Shed was re-opened in the KRCL line between Krishnapatnam and Obulavaripalli and the first rake loaded on 20th Sept, 22.

Other Earnings

• During 2022-23 record Ticket Checking Earnings of Rs. 58.90 Crore was realized. The previous best was Rs. 50.74 in 2019-20
• Catering Earnings for the year is  Rs.14.10 Cr against the target of Rs.8.14 Cr and the previous best was Rs.13.75 Cr during 2018-19
• Other Coaching Earnings are Rs. 88.09 Crore.

New Lines, Doubling and Electrification

• During the month of March, 2023, 61.91 kms of new 3rd line was commissioned in Vijayawada- Gudur section of the Division. The new lines commissioned are  29.37 kms of new line between Manubolu-Nellore Sations; 10.68 kms of 3rd line between Ulavapadu- Singarayakonda stations; 21.86 kms of new 3rd line between Chinaganjam & Chirala stations 
• During the year, record 146.336 kms of new 3rd line/double line were commissioned across the Vijayawada Division.
• The remaining portion of 129.92 Kms tripling between Krishna Canal Jn to Gudur will be completed by 2024.
• The lines commissioned are as follows:- 100.675 km in Vijayawada-Gudur section (Tripling);  11.308 km in Vijayawada-Kondapalli section (tripling) and 34.353 km in Bhimavaram-Aravalli section (Branch line Doubling).
• Total 147.037 Track Km across the Division is successfully electrified during the year 2022-23. Barring a minor stretch between Kotipalli and Kakinada the entire Vijayawada Division is 100% electrified.

Infrastructure  & Amenities

• During the year, 3 longer loop lines have been commissioned in Division at Elamanchili yard (1 No.) and Ammanabrolu yard (2 No’s). So far, Division has commissioned 6 longer loop lines at 5 stations at Navabpalem, Bikkavolu, Bittragunta, Elamanchili & Ammanabrolu (2 Nos) station yards.
• New Block Stations Brahmanapalle and Vellikallu were commissioned during this year.
• At Machilipatnam, yard remodeling was accomplished, duly providing additional platforms
• Including the above, a total of 25 yards of various stations between Gudur – Vijayawada, Vijayawada – Kondapalli, Branch line sections were modified
• Total 22 LCs were eliminated in Division up to March 2023. In lieu of 22 LC Gates, 22 RuBs were constructed during 2022-23
• 6 New Foot Over Bridge has been constructed at Bapatla, Tenali, Chinaganjam, Ammanabrolu, Uppugunduru and Ulavapadu stations with gangway width of 6m
• Goods siding platform at Bikkavolu yard has been improved by laying of sleepers. Sleeper matting has been provided for a length of 550m and width is 15mAt Durgada Gate, Rail level platform has been constructed on PF 2 for a length of 200m and width 4m. This station falls under HG3 category.
• At Dwarapudi, New goods shed office has been constructed towards east side of goods loading side. Drinking water facility and bath rooms and toilets were provided for Hamalies
• Sewage Treatment Plant at Railway Stadium: On occasion of world environment day i.e. 5th June 2022, 300 KLD (Kilo Litre per Day) Sewage Treatment Plant was inaugurated by DRM along with Branch officers. The cost of the STP is Rs.1.20 crore. It was designed on concept of Activated Sludge Process and will be used for treating the sewage water from Vijayawada Railway station and Railway Hospital. Earlier, sewage discharge from station, colonies and hospital which is untreated used to drain into Eluru Canal. Now with the commissioning of new STP, water in the canal would not get contaminated.
• Two non inter locked gates are converted into Inter locked gates
• Manubolu, Venkatachalam, Kommarapudi and Vetapalem are commissioned with Electronic Interlocking working w.r.t third line works
• 47 Lifts and 20 Escalators are currently present in Vijayawada Division
• Provision of water coolers: 03Nos. of 150Ltrs water coolers sponsored by local representatives provided near main entrance at Machilipatnam station and 02Nos. at Gudur in addition to the existing on platforms to supply cool drinking water to the passengers.
• 2 Escalators, worth Rs. 1 Cr each are already erected on P.F No 4&5 and 8&9 at Vijayawada Station and are ready for commissioning

Mobility

• Rising of sectional speed: Sectional speed of 110 kmph in Kondapalli-Vijayawada-Gudur section has been raised to 130 kmph. Recently the sectional speed in Vijayawada- Duvvada section is also enhanced to 130kmph. Speed has been raised to 90 kmph in Bhimavaram-Narsapur & Aravalli-Nidadavolu sections from 80 kmph.
• Relaxation of Permanent Speed Restriction (PSR): During the year, a total of 14 PSRs have been removed/ relaxed. Relaxation of PSR’s facilitates faster movements of trains in the section without detentions.
• 63 Long haul trains have been run in Feb-23 which is the highest ever in a month so far for a period of 10 years. Total of 550 Long hauls have been run this year from April to November.
• Train No.20833/20834 Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam-Secunderabad Vande Bharat was introduced from 15 January, 2023
• 790 originating Special trains were run by the Division in 2022-23
• 37 Coaches are permanently augmented to Express trains

Safety

• All unmanned Level Crossings in Vijayawada Division have been eliminated
• A short film on the importance of road users to be patient at level crossings and the consequences of not adhering to the rules was also prepared for educating the road users. This Safety Short Film –ఆగండి,  ఆలోచించండి- [ Wait and think],  educating road users and public at LC gates was released.
• Four Mega safety drives were conducted in the year 2022-23 as per Railway Board orders.
• 175.65 kms of rails were renewed. 74.00 kms of CTR(Complete Track Renewal) works were completed in the year.
• Water Level monitoring systems was installed at three main bridges in 2022-23.
• Fire preventive checks are being conducted regularly along with RPF/Commercial staff in trains, stations, parcel offices, goods sheds and counseling the hamalies to avoid smoking during loading/Unloading parcels in trains
• Fire Detection alarm was commissioned at RRI, Vijayawada
• Mock drill was conducted on 08.07.2022 at Sarpavaram to see the alertness of staff
• 18 safety seminars were conducted for the staff during 2022-23
• Intensive Night inspections are being conducted in the division involving all the Officers and Sr. Supervisors
• Safety Public Awareness Campaigns are being conducted especially near LC Gates to inculcate safety habits while passing unmanned level crossings and prevention of fire accidents in trains. Short films are shown in these programme and pamphlets are being distributed.
• Vijayawada Division has observed 14th International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD) -2022 on 09.06.2022 led by the Safety Department. Officers and   Supervisors at field levels with the support of all stake holders had taken-up   a Safety campaign. Through   this   campaign  road  users   at  LC  gates  have   been   counseled   by   way of    sending bulk SMSs,  not  to  force  the   gateman  to  open  the  gate  in  the  face  of  an   approaching  train.

Security

• 198 Run away children were rescued by the RPF and safely handed over to their parents during the year.
• 287.875 Kgs of ganja was seized by RPF and 28 Offenders were apprehended.
• 3 Liquor Carriers were apprehended and liquor worth Rs 32360 was seized
• 43 cases were booked under Railway property ( Unlawful Possession) Act and property worth Rs. 6,29,116 was recovered.
• 91 Touts were arrested and 819 IRCTC accounts were blocked with seizure of live tickets value Rs.8,12,606 by the RPF for the year 2022-2023
• 118 ToPB (Theft of passenger Belonging) Offenders were apprehended and the property recovered is Rs 1.32 Crore
• 6089 cases were booked under tobacco and Littering act and a penalty of Rs. 1164200 was realized during the year.

Green Initiatives

• The Division is equipped with solar plants capacity of 854 KWp. This is resulting in savings of 7.74 Lakh units and Rs. 70 Lakhs financial savings annually.
• Madhura Nagar is recently converted as energy neutral station. Other three energy neutral stations are Sarpavaram, Dwarapudi and Kadiyam.
• Vijayawada Division received two Energy Conservation Merit Awards in Railway Stations category for Tenali, Rajahmundry and another certificate of  merit in the Buildings category for Electric Traction Training Centre (ETTC) at National energy Conservation Awards.
• Vijayawada Division bagged Gold Award for Divisional Railway Hospital, Vijayawada in Hospital buildings Category and Silver Award for Electric Traction Centre, Vijayawada  in Office buildings Category  at Andhra Pradesh State Energy Conservation Awards - 2022” (APSEC Awards).
• GreenCo Certification for Diesel Loco shed, Vijayawada:  According to the innovations/ modifications carried out in Diesel Loco Shed Vijayawada for reducing carbon foot prints GreenCo rating evaluated and awarded Silver rating to DLS, Vijayawada and Certificate validates up to 12.01.2025
• Vijayawada Division is the first among SCR to achieve CFO certification from AP State Pollution Control Board for all the goods sheds (100%) over division.

Innovations

• Solar panel cleaning system by using sprinklers: Water sprinklers system is provided for cleaning of solar panels by running water pipelines in between panels for auto cleaning without involvement of staff and to improve the efficiency of solar system at Kondaplli Running Room
• Automation of Coach watering lights: Automatic switching ON/OFF of coach watering lights is done on OFF side for Platforms No.5&6 and PF No.7 using Photo Electric diffuser sensor and Off delay timer to operate the lights as per the occupation of Platforms by Trains. This is not only an Energy conservation measure but also avoided manual intervention. Energy saving of 2,044 units per annum and energy cost savings of Rs.15,636/- will be achieved per annum. Payback period is 9 months approximately.
• Remote Monitoring system for CLS Panels: Remote Monitoring system for CLS panel is developed departmentally at Kondapalli which sends text messages and make calls for 05 registered mobile numbers in case of any incoming power interruption to CLS panel “AT UP/AT DN/LOCAL”, which helps in immediate failure attention.
• Implementation of SLAM (Software for Loco Asset Management): The SLAM project is initiated by Railway board for management of Electric Locomotive maintenance, operation, schedules planning & their execution, monitoring. As a part of roll out to SLAM, works related to Implementation of SLAM at Electric Loco Shed(ELS), Vijayawada has been completed successfully. From 11-09-2022 SLAM was implemented at ELS and being utilized continuously in job cards maintenances.

Miscellaneous

• Vijayawada Division had successfully implemented E-auction system in commercial contracts in true letter and spirit. Division had awarded 87 contracts, worth 31.62 Cr under various categories.
• Dedicated efforts in registering new players in E-Auction resulted in increasing competition for e-Auction of Assets. Contracts which garnered poor response earlier were mobilized and awarded judiciously through E- auction. E auction system helps in eliminating cartel formation and promoting transparency in participation without any geographical barriers.
• Vijayawada Division had successfully awarded innovative/unconventional contracts such as “Vending of Misc. items (excluding food items) in trains running over the division”, “Rail Coach Restaurant at Vijayawada & Rajahmundry railway stations”, thereby enabling the Division to earn Rs 4.88 crores in revenue
• Division has disposed scrap worth Rs. 69. Cr in the year, 32 % more than previous year.
• As part of Azaadi Ki Rail Gaadi aur Stations, Vijayawada Station was selected one among the 75 stations across India
• 1st edition of Rozgar Mela was conducted at Vijayawada & Har Ghar Tiranga was celebrated in a befitting manner across Vijayawada Division