Vijayawada Division of South Central Railway set new benchmarks of performance in 2011-12 in all spheres of activity.
Freight earnings posted a remarkable growth of 16.95% by clocking Rs.1706.45 cr. in 2011-12.The originating freight loading of the Division peaked to 24.8 million tons, up by 17.3%.The growth was driven by the twin ports viz. Krishnapatnam and Kakinada, importing coal and fertilizer in a big way, to be rail-transported to steel, cement and power plants in the hinterland.
Gross earnings of the Division registered fabulous growth of 14.34% to peak to Rs. 2291.19 cr.The performance efficiency index, a measure of expenditure over income touched the iconic 51% i.e. for every Rs.100 earned, only 51 is spent on administrative expenditure and the balance adds to internal generation of resources.
The passenger earnings of the Division registered a growth of 6.67% to touch Rs. 501 cr.The Division handled 98.40 million passengers, registering a growth of 4.23%.Ticket checking earnings grew to Rs. 20.39 cr, up by 9.9%.To cater to the summer rush and festival rush, as many as 685 special trains were run to the satisfaction of the travelling public.
Punctuality of passenger carrying trains was maintained at 96%.
Coming to passenger amenities, Rs. 23.8 cr. was spent to upgrade passenger friendly amenities – waiting rooms, circulating areas, extended cover over platforms, coach/train indication boards, battery operated cart for the aged and the disabled and to cap it all ten passenger lifts were commissioned at important stations viz. Nellore, Chirala, Tenali, Kakinada Town and Bhimavaram. Besides, 340 air circulators were affixed at various locations for better air circulation.
Vijayawada Division is the first in Indian Railways to have finalized the development of a multi-function complex at Rajahmundry on public-private-partnership basis. The multi-function complex is a business model aimed at providing premium services from a mini space mall to a budget hotel for the benefit of citizens of Rajahmundry.