MADURAI: The Madurai Railway Division has today celebrated the nation’s 74th Independence Day by following all COVID-19 norms given by the government. Mr. V.R.Lenin, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), hoisted the national flag and received the salute and inspected the guard of honour presented by the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Additional Divisional Railway Managers Mr. Lalit Kumar Mansukhani, Mr. O.P.Shaw and staff were present on the occasion here today on 15th August 2020.
Mr.V.J.P.Anbarasu, Divisional Security Commissioner of RPF, Madurai Division, organised the parade and Mr. Lenin, Divisional Railway Manager, read out the Independence Day message during the ceremony. He thanked the healthcare workers who are on the frontline battling the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). He hailed the medical community who are putting their lives at risk to keep people safe during this pandemic and also appreciated the Railway Protection Force for their dedicated service in operating Shramik Special trains and other security duties.Social distancing norms were enforced during the celebrations.
Highlights of the message:
The employees of Madurai division contributed Rs.95 lakhs for PMCARES fund in April 2020. This division has converted the first floor of the Railway Hospital, Madurai as a dedicated COVID-19 treatment facility centre with its existing infrastructure and manpower. The general ward has been converted into cubicles. One 4 bedded ICU exclusively for COVID patients has been created with 2 ventilators and 3 high flow nasal oxygen machines. So far, the RH has admitted 238 COVID positive patients and discharged 223 patients. 69 nos.of COVID suspects were admitted and 40 nos. have been discharged. The ground floor of the Railway Hospital is used to treat non-covid and emergency cases, a press release from the Southern Railway Madurai Division here today informed.
Performance during 2019-20
The Southern Railway Madurai division earned Rs.818.38 crores in 2019-20 as against Rs.790.78 crores in 2018-19 with a growth of 3.49%. This was the highest ever earnings of Madurai Division. The loading was 1.76 million ton in 2019-20 against the actual of 1.33 million ton in 2018-19 showing an improvement of 32.4%. This was the highest ever loading of Madurai Division. Passenger traffic was 47.62 million in 2019-20 against the actual of 50.3 million in 2018-19. Punctuality for 2019-20 was 91% against the actual of 91.3% in 2018-19. During 2019-20, the Division has eliminated 16 manned level crossing gates. In 2019-20, 42.69 kms of track renewal was completed against 37.135 kms.in 2018-19.
Performance during 2020-21:
Despite continuous freight operations during the lockdown, passenger revenue was under tremendous stress as passenger train services are cancelled. Total 1.52 lakh passengers have cancelled bookings and Rs.6.70 crore has been refunded upto July-2020.
The division has earned Rs.71.56 crore from goods traffic during this financial year 2019-20 against the last year’s actual of Rs.58.16 crores with a growth of 23.04 %. This was the highest ever goods earning of this period. The Madurai Division has loaded 0.5802 million tonnes as against the last year loading of 0.3660 million tonnes with growth of 58.5%. Also the Division has unloaded 0.9190 million tonnes against the last year’s actual of 0.8818 million tonnes (+4.2%). The sundry / other earnings also increased by 9.29 %. Apart from Shramik specials, the division has run 174 parcel and 112 special trains.
Totally, 12661 parcels were booked with a tonnage of 503.94 tns and it fetched parcel earnings of Rs.11.52 Lakhs during Apr-July. The average speed of goods trains upto July this year (2020-21) is 40.9 kmph against 24.4 kmph for 2019-20 showing an improvement of 67.6%.
Shramik Special Trains:
Madurai Division has operated Shramik Special trains to transport stranded migrant workers back to their home states. A total of 23 Shramik Special trains were operated and 35,618 passengers were transported by this division. The trains originated from Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Virudunagar, Dindigul and Ramanathapuram. The destinations were Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam regions. The Division has the earnings of Rs.3.23 crore from these trains. Also, 6 nos.of incoming trains and 6 nos.of passing through trains were also handled by the division.
The division coordinated with State authorities and accommodated the passengers brought and facilitated by the State Governments. Arrangements for food and water bottles were made for the benefit of migrant passengers. The guidelines and directives issued by Home Ministry, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that includes social distancing norms were enforced at railway stations. During the period from 08.04.2020 to 06.05.20 distribution of 32,940 no. of food packets arranged with the co-ordination with IRCTC(SZ) to the needy people of MDU City .
Infrastructure Development
During this period, several important works have been completed in the division taking advantage of the suspension of regular passenger rail service. A portion of the second line between Madurai and Tuticorin has been commissioned for a stretch of 44 kms. between Kadambur- Milavittan-Gangaikondan-Tattaparai on 15.07.2020 by the RVNL. Electrification also commissioned in Kadambur- Milavittan-Gangaikondan-Tattapara section and energised on 15.07.2020. Yard remodelling work at Milavittan for the connectivity of Milavittan- Melmarudur new line as a part of Madurai-Tuticorin via Aruppukottai new line was commissioned on 31.07.20.
Complete Track renewal work was completed in Tiruchchirappalli- Dindigul and Virudunagar- Vanchi Maniachchi section for a length of 12.89 km.
Through Formation Treatment by Moorum Blanketing work for 4.41 km and Through Weld Renewal work for 3.10 km in Tiruchchirappalli- Manamadurai section were completed.
Repair and strengthening of Br. 346 (Pamban), continuous health monitoring system in Pamban bridge (Br no: 346) by IITM/Chennai team was carried out. Box insertion work in subway in lieu of Level Crossing No. 37 in Tirunelveli- Tenkasi section was completed.
Removal of Permanent Speed Restriction in Samayanallur Yard due to an infringement of piers of the ROB (Br. 1450A) to the track was relaxed (from 30 kmph to 100 kmph) during this lockdown period by slewing. 43 coaches have been converted into Quarantine/Isolation coaches by the Mechanical department of Madurai division in a short period of time. Contactless ticket checking system was implemented in four stations.
Thermal camera for screening body temperature was installed at Dindigul station and work is in progress at Madurai, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli stations. Madurai Railway Station was awarded ISO 14001-2015 (Environmental Management System) Certification on 15th May 2020 with a validity for three years, the DRM has said in his Independence Day address here on 15th August 2020.
