‘Overall earnings of Madurai Railway Division in first four months of current year ₹490.16 cr.’

Madurai Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Om Prakash Meena hoisted the national flag on the occasion of 80th Independence Day on Saturday. Railway Protection Force personnel and Railway school students presented the guard of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, the DRM said the overall earnings of Madurai Railway Division in the first four months of the current year was ₹490.16 crore which is 8.28% higher than the corresponding period of last year.

He said passenger earnings during this period rose to ₹328.57 crore, exceeding the last year earnings by 13.34%. Goods earnings were ₹125.44 crore and sundry earnings were ₹11.64 crore. Other Coaching earnings were ₹24.5 crore with 23% growth over the last year.

Madurai division carried 17.12 million passengers. Madurai–Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express coach capacity was doubled from 8 to 16 coaches, substantially increasing the passenger carrying capacity and 47 Train-on-Demand special services were operated to cater to the additional demand on account of summer vacation and festivals.

In Madurai Division, 17 stations are being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with works worth ₹292.52 crore sanctioned and four ABSS stations namely Karaikudi, Sholavandan, Manapparai and Srivilliputtur have been commissioned on March 1 with enhanced passenger amenities, he said.

At Palani, Paramakudi and Ambasmudram stations, works were completed and ready for inauguration. Work is progressing at a faster pace at the remaining stations, he said.

He said Madurai Junction is undergoing major redevelopment at an estimated cost of ₹413 crore and the work is progressing steadily. Redevelopment of Rameswaram station at an estimated cost of ₹112 crore is progressing at an advanced stage and is nearing completion. Tirunelveli Station Redevelopment project has also been taken up at a cost of ₹100 crore. Madurai Division has recorded freight loading of 9.91 lakh tonnes.

He said 9 non-interlocked level crossing gates have been interlocked to enhance train and road user safety and work was in progress at 51 non-interlocked level crossings. CCTV systems were provided at 100 non-interlocked level crossing gates with the feed to Station Masters’ rooms so as to ensure that level crossing is closed before allowing a train to the block section which will improve the safety at level crossings and work as an additional layer of safety at level crossings.

Madurai Division is committed to providing quality healthcare to the railway employees, their families and the beneficiaries. The work on the new 115 bedded Divisional Railway Hospital building in Madurai was progressing well to provide modernized health care facilities, he said.

The RPF arrested 37 persons involved in the theft of railway material and secured its recovery. A total of 3,165 offenders were prosecuted under the Indian Railways Act, while 1,968 offenders were penalised under the Jan Vishwas Act.

The RPF rescued 49 run-away children and helped reunite them with their parents or safely handed over to Child Welfare Committees. In 140 cases, left-behind luggage worth ₹54.90 lakh was secured and returned to its rightful owners, he said.