RailEnquiry

Freight business is key to East Coast Railway (ECoR’s) growth and any vision of the zone must start with freight, General Manager Indra Ghosh said here on Monday.

While the high profile passenger business is important in terms of services and facilities to the region in general and to passengers in particular, it is the less glamorous freight business which earns ECoR’s bread and butter.

“Unless we are able to generate adequate financial resources, funds will not be available either for providing or for improving passenger services and amenities,” he said while addressing a seminar hosted to mark the first decade of ECoR.

The seminar was attended by former general managers and key members of Public Sector Undertakings and corporates.

Ghosh said the high growth has been possible due to proper planning and implementation that led to surpassing of the Railway Board’s target.

ECoR has given the highest incremental loading to Indian Railways as compared to other zones and has occupied a place of pride by becoming the second largest freight loader in the country.

Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Nalco Ansuman Das said Nalco and Railways have been partners in progress and contributed immensely to each other’s growth.

Former GM of South Eastern Railway A Ramji said the current growth of East Coast Railway will make it No.1 zone in Indian Railways very shortly.

S R Choudhury, former GM and known as the architect of East Coast Railway, highlighted the achievements of ECoR.

GD Brahma, Chief Operations Manager, ECoR and Senior Deputy General Manager and Chief Vigilance Officer Subrat Tripathy also spoke.