SER eyes doubling of rail lines

Kolkata: South Eastern Railway (SER) was looking at doubling of lines between Padapahar-Banaspani and Barbil-Barajamda at investment of Rs 129 crore and Rs 51 crore respectively, expected to boost loading from that area.

Doubling of the Adra-Joychandipahar line as well at a cost of Rs 18.19 crore would add to operational efficiency.

A new line was being constructed from Chhatna to Mukutmanipur at an investment of Rs 85.63 crore to boost tourism.

In april-december 2008, SER loaded 87.16 million ton of revenue earning freight, 8.4 per cent higher than april-December 2007.

In the passenger segment, both suburban and non-suburban earnings registered growth of over 9.3 per cent.

SER registered total originating earnings of more than Rs 6000 crore in april-december 2008.

SER ran several special trains to popular destinations like Puri, Yeshwantpur, Chennai and Mumbai and around 345 specials had already been run in the current fiscal. A K Jain, general manager of SER, said that to improve passenger facilties, SER would develop model stations two of which at Panskura and Balichak were inaugurated recently.

SER would be introducing other facilities like automatic ticket vending machines, computerised control charting and e-payment of freight charges.

In wake of recent public security requirements, SER would be augmenting security requirements at 11 major stations through measures like installation of CCTVs and surveillance cameras, use of hand held metal detectors and sniffer dogs and issue of bullet proof jackets to SER staff.