Hubli, Vasco to be developed as model stations

Hubli, Vasco to be developed as model stations
The Hindu.com
Staff Correspondent

Seven new trains to be introduced this year
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# Bijapur, Kolar and Chikmagalur stations to be computerised
# Unreserved ticketing system to be provided at 41 stations
# Tatkal scheme has been provided on all mail, express trains
# SWR loaded 7.10 million tonnes of freight till the end of May
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HUBLI: The South Western Railway will develop 22 stations, including Hubli, Vasco, Bijapur, Toranagal, Bangalore, Mysore and Shimoga, as model stations.

Addressing the Third Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committee meeting here on Thursday, SWR General Manager Trilok Nath Perti said that in addition to the 52 computerised passenger reservation centres, computerisation of Bijapur, Kolar and Chikmagalur stations had been sanctioned.

On the passenger amenities available, he said nine stations had been provided with self-printing ticketing machines. Six automatic coin-operated platform ticket vending machines in Bangalore division and four in Mysore division had been commissioned.

Unreserved ticketing system had been commissioned at 41 locations in the zone, of which 12 were in Hubli division, 17 in Bangalore division and 12 in Mysore division.

During 2006-07 it has been proposed to provide the facility in 41 more locations, Mr. Perti said.

Current reservation

Mr. Perti said a terminal had been provided at the customer facilitation counter in Bangalore for allotting vacant accommodation, if any, available after the preparation of the reservation chart for trains. The passenger needs to fill a requisition form to get instant accommodation, if available. Tatkal scheme had been provided on all mail/ express trains to the extent of 10 per cent of reserved accommodation, he said.

Punctuality

Mr. Perti said the SWR had done exceedingly well in freight and passenger business apart from maintaining 98.3 per cent punctuality in running trains during 2005-06.

In recognition of the consistent performance of the zone, the Railway Board had awarded the SWR Traffic Transportation Shield for the last three years for freight loading and Commercial Shield for passenger traffic for the last two years, he said.

Till the end of May, the SWR loaded 7.10 million tonnes of freight and had maintained a punctuality of 98.8 per cent for mail/ express trains and 99.2 per cent for passenger trains, Mr Perti said.

New trains

Mr. Perti said the SWR had introduced seven new trains, increased frequency of three trains and extended the services of three trains during the last year and proposed to introduce seven more trains during the current financial year.

Suresh Angadi, MP from Belgaum, D.R. Patil, MLA from Gadag district, and representatives of various associations from several districts gave suggestions regarding improvement of services.

Early completion of Gadag- Bagalkot gauge conversion work, upgradation of Gadag and Belgaum stations as model stations, better amenities at stations, additional coaches for certain trains, stoppages for express trains at certain trains and other issues were discussed in the meeting.

Senior railway officials S. Balakrishna, B.B. Modgil, Mahesh Kumar, P.N. Shukla, K.J.S. Naidu, Reena Ranjan, G.G. Phulpagar, K.D. Mainrai, V.P. Meshram, P.S. Bajwa, P.K. Thaware, A.V. Sivaprasad, C. Dhamotharan, S.P. Gupta, B.S. Dasarathi and others were present.