Born just nine years ago, the South East Central Railway (SECR) with its headquarters in Chhattisgarh has created a niche for itself by recording highest freight loading over the years.
Since inception in 2003, the SECR’s freight loading had increased by more than 50 per cent. The rich mineral endowed to the state where the SECR has its headquarters in Bilaspur is one of the reasons for the spectacular performance of the new railway zone.
“The SECR is now also known as Blue Chip of Indian Railway (IR) while the zone has recorded highest loading among the 17 zones of the IR,” Santosh Kumar, a senior SECR official, told Business Standard. In all, 110 rakes that account to 5600 wagons are loaded every-day in the zone, he added.
In the financial year 2004-2005, the SECR freight loading was recorded at 92.49 Million Tonnes (MT). It increased to 140.62 MT in the financial year 2010-11—registering a growth of more than 50 per cent.
The SECR had set a target of 153.50 MT in the current fiscal 2011-12 while till November 2011, it had achieved 96.91 MT.
Coal remains the backbone of SECR loading and contributes about 74 per cent of the total loading. South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), which is the largest coal producing company in the country, has major mining operations in Chhattisgarh and in the areas that comes under the territory of the SECR.
The SECL has 92 Mines. Of which, 70 are under ground (UG) mines while 21 are open cast (OC) mines besides one mixed mine.
SECL has been awarded " Mini Ratna" Status by Govt of India in 2007 . In year 2010-11, total coal production by SECL was 112.71 million tonnes from open cast and underground mines, which was highest among all the eight subsidiaries of Coal India Ltd (CIL) and among all coal producing companies in India.
In the year 2010-11 out of total coal production of 431.32 million tonnes produced by Coal India Ltd., SECL produced 112.71 million tonnes. SECL has been making profits since its inception.The rich mineral available in the state of Chhattisgarh with so far known 28 varieties of minerals, including diamonds, the railways are ultimately gaining the benefits out of it in freight loading.
Chhattisgarh, has substantial coal deposits, which led to its 'power hub' strategy.
The tin ore which is a rare metal in India is found in Chhattisgarh. The best quality iron ore deposits in the world are found in the Bailadila mines of Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh.According to state’s mineral department officials, the total coal deposit in the state is about 41,442 MT while 2731 MT of iron ore is beneath Chhattisgarh’s land.
