In the fiscal year 2024-25, the Palakkad Division of the Southern Railway has marked a significant milestone with notable growth in freight loading and revenue, reinforcing its strategic role in facilitating industrial and agricultural activities across north Kerala, Dakshina Kannada, and Tamil Nadu. This essential division has emerged as a critical backbone for industries and infrastructure within the region, ensuring the smooth, efficient, and timely transportation of vital commodities.
The division has experienced an impressive uptick in freight loading, climbing from 5.90 million tonnes in the previous fiscal year to 6.41 million tonnes in 2024-25. This increase not only highlights the rising demand for railway freight services but also underscores the operational efficiency of the division. Correspondingly, freight revenue has soared by 36.5%, increasing from ₹427.64 crore to an impressive ₹583.37 crore within the same timeframe.
A central element of this success is the enhanced facilities at Ullal station, which has seen the installation of dedicated restrooms and toilets for workers involved in loading and unloading. These improvements have significantly enhanced operations, with better working conditions leading to more efficient handling of cargo, a benefit warmly recognized by freight customers.
Freight activity within the division predominantly involved the movement of coal and petroleum coke, vital for sustaining power plants and various industries in the area. The transportation of fertilizers has consistently supported farmers in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, ensuring the timely availability of essential agricultural inputs that bolster productivity. Moreover, the construction and infrastructure sectors have gained substantially from the steady supply of cement and ballast, crucial materials for progressing road and railway projects.
The division also maintains a robust handling of petroleum, meeting the energy and transportation demands of the region. Noteworthy progress includes the initiation of a new freight consignment involving laterite stone from Ullal station, generating approximately ₹37.5 lakh per rake and creating an additional revenue stream.
Arun Kumar Chaturvedi, Divisional Railway Manager of Palakkad, highlighted the division’s unwavering dedication to delivering cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally sustainable freight solutions. “The increased freight movement underscores the division’s pivotal role in strengthening industrial growth, supporting agriculture, and facilitating infrastructure development throughout the southern states,” he stated. Chaturvedi emphasized their commitment to providing reliable services, which continues to draw in new freight traffic and solidifies the division’s position as a crucial logistical center in the region.
As the Palakkad Division advances its operational capacity and expands its service offerings, it reinforces its status not only as a vital freight hub but also as a catalyst for regional growth and development. By blending efficiency with sustainability, the division stands poised to further bolster the economic infrastructure and resilience of the areas it serves.
Overall, the Palakkad Division is not only meeting but exceeding expectations, reflecting positively on its contribution to the broader Southern Railway network.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/palakkad-railway-division-registers-growth-in-freight-revenue/article69347860.ece
Category : Coimbatore
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Publish Date: 2025-03-19 19:30:00
