Você está na página 1de 6

PACHORA-JAMNER (Narrow Gauge) SECTION.

: A CASE STUDY
(2004-05)

Indian Railway is having a number of Branch Lines which are financially


unviable. The problems of all such lines are similar. Here an effort has been made
through this case study to assess the cost benefit of the Pachora-Jamner branch line
of the Bhusawal division on Central Railway and also examine the possibility of off-
loading the commercial function/other functions to trade in order to make the line
economically viable.

General Information: This is a narrow gauge (2'—6") line with a length of. 34.62 mile ,a
branch line of Igatpuri-Bhusawal main line. The stations on this line (with their distance
from Pachora) are: Varkhedi 7, Pimpaleaon 13. Shendurni 18. Pahur 25. Bhagdara 30 and
Jamner 35( Jamner is 29 km away from the world-famous Ajanta and Ellora caves). The
Pachora-Jamner railway line was constructed by Messrs Shapoorji Godbole and Co. of
Bombay. On termination of the contracts with the former Great Indian Peninsula Railway
Company, the line was brought under direct State management with effect from 1st July
1925.

Survey for Pachora-Jamner gauge conversion was completed in the


year 2000-01. As per the survey report, the cost of Pachora-Jamner
gauge conversion with extension upto Ajanta Caves 104 km long line
was assessed as Rs. 126 crore with a rate of return of (-) 3.66%.
This is a non- irrigated area where mainly cotton , pulses oranges and bananas are grown.
Some part of area is very poor with tribal population only.( An anecdote would tell
everything. While inspecting this area we found that large number of very poor looking
people were taking firewood in the train and they were without ticket. The DRM Mr.
H.C. Joshi instructed the RPF to detrain then in the next station. But after a close look he
was so pained that he advised RPF to just forget them).The other details are as
followed:

1 Approximate Total length of the track 34 Kms. Single line ,4 ZE Diesel


Engines
2 Age of structures Opened in 1918
3 Stations in route. 6 Nos.
4 Road Crossing gates 9 Manned Gates.
5 Type of track Rails on Wooden sleepers
directly laid on earth work
beneath
6 Nos. & Type of Locomotive. Cummins Diesel Driven [ 1+1],
with speed limit of 45 Kms/Hr.
7 Nos. & Type of Bogies [Passenger] 4 Nos. One Guard cum parcel van.
8 Nos. & Type of Bogies [Goods] Nil
9 Land Plans and uses Track/station Bldg. Quarters, turn
table & loco shed at Pachora, one
loop line at Jamner
10 Frequency of Trains as on Jan.2005 Daily four trips of passenger train
between Pachora and Jamner
11 Name & approx. population of Pachora (80,000)( Pachora is an
neighbouring villages in 2005. island between two branches of the
river Hivara), Varkhedi
(10,000),Pimpalgaon (5000),
Shedurni (10,000), Pahur
(10,000),Bagdara (5000),Jamner
(45,000).
12 Present Status As on date, the whole set up
except ticketing for intermediate
stations, is being run by Bhusawal
division staff. For Ticket collection,
a contract is given for intermediate
stations on 15% commission basis.
This is further subject to minimum
of Rs. 500/- and maximum of Rs.
3000/- per month on gross
earnings for each station.
13 Revenue means Passenger fares and Parcel
14 Train Fair/Concession. Maximum Fair is Rs. 13/- only for
Jamner-Pachora with 100%
concession to students as per rule.

STATEMENT OF EARNING & EXPENDITURE OF PACHORA – JAMNER SECTION


(NG) IN THE YEAR 2001-02.

REVENUE :

Passengers. :

No. of pass. = 368398


Earnings. = Rs.22.99 lacs.
Parcel :

No. of Pkgs. = 817


Earnings. = Rs.00.38 lacs.
-----------------------
Total earnings = Rs. 23.37 lac.

Expenditure:(Rs. In Lac)

Direct Cost - Staff Salary.

Civil = Rs.04.32
Electrical = Rs.01.82
Mechanical = Rs.11.33
S&T = Rs. –
Traffic = Rs.10.51
----------------
Total = Rs.27.98

Indirect Cost -

Fuel = Rs.20.05
Rolling Stock = Rs.00.63
Building/ = Rs.00.81
Quarters
S&T = Rs.01.16
Electrical = Rs.00.54
------------------
Total = Rs.23.19
Grand Total = Rs.51.17 lac.
Total Loss. = Rs.27.80 lac (Rs.23.37 – 51.17)

NOTE : 1) At Pachora – tickets are sold by Booking Clerk both for BG & NG.
2) At Jamner – One Booking Clerk is posted for sale of tickets.
3) 3) The intermediate stations for which contractors are appointed for
sale of tickets are : Varkhedi, Pimpalgaon, Shendurni, Pahur & Bhagara.

SALE OF TICKETS AND EARNINGS ON A PEAK DAY – 01/08/2002.

A team of inspectors was deputed to assess the actual earnings and


number of passengers on a peak traffic day, i.e. Mela Day. This was basically
meant to see whether there is ticket-less travel or any other leakage. The number
of passenger was arrived by head count and revenue was assessed by counting
the cash collected at each station. The figure as obtained pertaining to four trips
in a day are given below :

Station 621 623


No. of Amount in No. of Amount in Rs
passengers. Rs. Passengers.
.
PC 77 520 79 884
VRKD 49 424 74 506
PNGN 19 122 8 51
SDRN 35 195 15 120
PHU 34 77 2 14
BGR 357 895 13 65
TOTAL 571 2233 191 1640

Station 622 624


Coach No.of No. of
Passengers. Passengers
Amount in Rs. Amount in Rs.
JMNR 75 797 451 1685
BGR 9 60 6 57
PHU 18 168 37 330
SDRN 25 166 53 252
PNGN 40 212 20 88
VRKD 1 6 2 6
Total 168 1409 569 2418

Thus, the total number of passengers boarding the train on 01/08/2002


and the amount earned was 1499 and Rs 7,700/- respectively and this included
the students. It was further revealed that the traffic was less on other days.
There were five bogies in operation on PC-JMNR Section and 7 ticket- less
passengers found in each trip, i.e. total 28 ticket-less passengers per day and
most of them were beggars.

From the above, it can be fairly concluded that the findings of the team are
very close to the earning figures available with us.

As per the data available, we are spending more than double the cost of
what we are earning. The earning of a peak transport day is also less than
average expenditure for one day

STEPS TAKEN TOWARDS VIABILITY.

As per policy direction, the following steps have been taken to explore the
possibilities of making the line economically viable.

1. Concessioning of lines to private operators :

A proposal for exploring the possibility of off-loading the commercial


activities including Catering,Canteen,Advertisement and Parcel was put forward by
the division to transporters for preliminary assessment of revenue potential.
However, reaction was not encouraging. In the opinion of transporters, as
communicated vide their letter dated 04/08/2002, this is a loss making section
due to scanty habitation in the area and also being a non-irrigated agricultural
zone. According to them there is a limited demand for transportation and other
associated business in the vicinity of this section.

2. Introduction of Rail Bus by replacing the loco hauled trains – Effort was
made to introduce the Rail Bus in some other uneconomic branch line i.e. MZR –
Achalpur section. However, considering the number of passengers now being carried
in the train, trial has been found to be unsuccessful.

3. Increasing the frequency of services – Due to less speed of the train and
the length of the section. It is not found possible to introduce any additional
services in the section considering the operational constraints such as lack of
crossing facilities, speed of the train etc. Also, there is no demand for any
additional service.

4. Adjustment of the train timings – Some train timings now have to be


adjusted due to introduction of travelling gateman. The proposals have been
formulated by the division.
5. Sale of tickets in the Bus itself, dispense with station booking staff –
There is no separate booking staff anywhere on the NG system for ticket sales..
The ticket sale is done by the Guard Contractor ASMs or Contractors.

6. Introduction of travelling Gateman , Removal of stationary gateman –


This has been found feasible in Pachora – Jamner section except for one gate which
is close to the bridge.Accordingly it will be possible to surrender 8 gatemen out of 9.
However, it will require change in train timings. A proposal is being developed by the
division for the same.

7. Review of maintenance staff -


This has been done and no further reduction is feasible.

Thus the future possibilities for the Brach line are limited. Maintenance of the
N.G. route is going to be more difficult in future. Therefore, either the line needs
to be converted into broad gauge and made part of larger linkages or this may
be dismantled altogether, though the latter is politically not viable as in the past
local public representatives have opposed similar moves.

Thus, it is felt that in the prevailing circumstances there is hardly any


option left but to continue with the existing system till some major decision is
taken

Hira Ballabh, IRAS


Sr. Divisional Finance Manager/BSL/CR

Você também pode gostar