W Railways to focus on freight business

After gaining more in the freight business, Western Railways will focus more on the ports of Gujarat.

With the help of its newly devised growth strategy, in the first quarter of the current fiscal, Western Railway is expected to achieve 30 per cent growth compared to 26 per cent of growth in corresponding period of previous year.

"In the last financial year, Western Railways' freight business posted a 26.2-per cent growth, from 28.3 million tonne in 2004-05 it has grown to around 35 million tonne in 2005-06," said Vivek Sahay, additional general manager, Western Railways.

Sahay further added, "Compared to previous years first quarter, this year's first quarter saw us 30 per cent ahead in the freight business,"

He also said that with the increase in the import-export trade in the country, container traffic too is increasing in India.

"After the Bharuch-Dahej project conversion from metre gauge to broad gauge is completed and the Surat-Hazira new railway line project is also done with, more business is expected from the region," said Sahay.

The Bharuch-Dahej line will be set up at cost of Rs 197 crore and is 62 kms long. The new railway line between Surat and Hazira is 36 kms long, the cost of which, is around Rs 120 crore.

"Both projects are expected to get over very soon," said Sahay.

He also said that in Gujarat, Western Railways has already covered all major ports including Mundra, Pipavav and others in which trade is continuously increasing.