Chirag Gupta
Hajipur: General Manager of East Central Railway, Chhatrasal Singh, conducted a high-level review meeting on 4 December 2024 to assess the achievements and targets of the Commerce Department. The meeting, held at the Railway Headquarters in Hajipur, focused on the department’s performance from April to October 2024, discussing passenger services, freight loading, goods sheds, and the capacity enhancement of Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals.
The meeting reviewed East Central Railway’s target of achieving an initial revenue of Rs 33,624 crore for the year 2024-25. As of October 2024, the railway had generated Rs 18,439 crore, marking a 5.25% increase from the previous year. Passenger revenue amounted to Rs 2,767 crore, reflecting a 15.10% increase, while freight revenue reached Rs 15,304 crore, up by 3.41% compared to the previous year.
A major development discussed in the meeting was the operationalisation of the Passenger Reservation System Database Centre in Patna on 21 November 2024. This facility now handles all online activities related to passenger reservations, including train charting, changes in coaches, and cancellations. Furthermore, 40 new Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) were installed this year, bringing the total number of ATVMs to 167 across 57 stations, providing significant benefits to passengers.
During the meeting, Chhatrasal Singh also reviewed several other key services, with the participation of Additional General Manager Amarendra Kumar, Principal Chief Commercial Manager Shiv Kumar Prasad, and other officers from the Commerce Department. The discussions highlighted ongoing efforts to improve rail operations and passenger services.
