Going Off track

Guwahati, April 16: The operating ratio of NF Railway has reduced in the past few years, but the zone is still not out of the woods, at least financially.

“The operating ratio was Rs 200 a few years ago and is now Rs 167, but it is still not making money,” chief public relations officer, NF Railway, S. Hajong, told The Telegraph.

Operating ratio, or operating cost, is the amount spent to earn Rs 100.

“There are a number of national projects, are mainly taken up for social considerations, where it is difficult to make money,” the official said.

A NF Railway communiqué issued today said in spite of severe disruptions to train movements owing to natural calamities like massive landslides, militancy and civil agitation, the earnings of NF Railways from April 1, 2011, to March 21 this year was Rs 2,808.28 crore as against Rs 2,616.06 crore during the same period last financial year, registering an increase of Rs 192.22 crore (7.34 per cent higher).

The total goods earnings have also gone up.

The total passenger revenue earnings during the financial year 2011-12 were Rs 648.67 crore, compared to Rs 586.75 crore during the same period last fiscal, registering an increase of Rs 61.92 crore (10.55 per cent higher).

The revenue earnings from other coaching amounted to Rs 105.56 crore during April 2011 to March this year, compared to Rs 104.69 crore during the same period last financial year.

The total originating loading was 13.035 million tonnes showing an improvement of 9.81 per cent over previous year.

In fact, it is the highest loading during the last five years. In March 2012, loading was 1.473 million tonnes, which is the highest ever loading in a particular month.

“This remarkable achievement could be attained as a result of several actions taken like freight incentives on empty flow direction, regular interaction with trades, close monitoring on supply of wagons, quick release of wagons, improvement in loading/unloading terminals,” the communiqué said.

On April 3 this year, NF Railway achieved 100 per cent punctuality performance of mail/express trains.

This is a unique feat achieved by NF Railway ever since the introduction of Integrated Coaching Management System, a computerised system) January 2009.

This could be achieved mainly because of a number of steps taken for train operation.

It has been ensured the right time start of all mail/express trains from originating points, mainly from Guwahati, Kamakhya and Dibrugarh, which are the main coaching terminals of NF Railway.

All drivers and guards have been trained and instructed to run mail/express trains at maximum permissible speed at 100km per hour, even if trains are on time.

“This was achieved in spite of single line train operation, persistent security threat over Assam area requiring piloting of mail/express trains, frequent bandhs called by different organisation/associations and adverse climatic conditions. The increase is a very healthy trend and NFR is hopeful of maintaining this performance in the time to come,” the communiqué said.