Date:25/04/2009 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/04/25/stories/2009042550801700.htm

Back S. Rly exceeds cargo handling target

Clocks 12.2% increase in 2008-09.

T.E. Raja Simhan

Chennai, April 24 Cargo loading at Southern Railway (originating at SR) showed a 12.2 per cent increase in 2008-09 to 33.70 million tonnes (mt) as against 30.03 mt handled in the previous year. SR also exceeded the target set by the Railway Ministry by 4 per cent for the fiscal, according to the latest data.

“Recession did not affect us. There was only a slowdown in cargo handling in the last quarter. But, this did not affect the annual performance,” according to Ms Neenu Ittyerah, Chief Public Relations Officer, Southern Railway.

More quantities of all major commodities, except petroleum products and limestone, were handled in 2008-09. Limestone handling dropped due to reduced demand for the cargo from steel plants. Petroleum products loaded from Kochi and Chennai dropped on account of refinery shutdown, she said.

Coal movement to thermal plant and steel plants was unaffected. Similarly, import of raw fertiliser to the southern cluster was unaffected.

Cement movement from manufacturing centres in the South saw a good increase, she said.