In a bid to bolster its freight operations and enhance logistics partnerships, the Visakhapatnam Division of the South Coast Railway (SCoR) held its first Business Development Unit (BDU) meeting at the Divisional Office in Visakhapatnam.

Addressing the stakeholders in the recent internal meeting, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Lalit Bohra announced, “We have set an ambitious freight loading target of 55 million tonnes (MT) for the current financial year”.

Focus on efficiency

During the discussions, representatives addressed operational hurdles, including rake availability, placement efficiency, and transit times. Railway officials assured stakeholders of prompt resolutions to these concerns to ensure smoother logistics.

Principal Chief Operations Manager (PCOM) Vineet Kumar urged freight partners to leverage various railway incentive schemes designed to generate additional traffic.

“We are committed to a customer-centric approach to freight operations,” Mr. Kumar said, highlighting emphasising that close coordination between the railway administration and its business partners is vital to achieving the targets.

Shift to rail encouraged

Principal Chief Commercial Manager (PCCM) K. Sambasiva Rao encouraged customers to identify new potential traffic streams and actively promote a modal shift – moving freight from road to rail. He also reiterated the necessity of strict adherence to safety protocols during loading and unloading operations to prevent damage to rolling stock and ensure safe handling practices.

Speaking to The Hindu, a senior SCoR official, who doesn't want to be quoted, said that the newly formed Visakhapatnam Division’s 55MT figure differs significantly from the performance of the erstwhile Waltair Division due to territorial restructuring.

The previous Waltair Division was a vast, mineral-rich unit that consistently achieved higher volumes (up to 78 MT) by covering extensive networks, including inland mining corridors.

Following the bifurcation to create the new Rayagada Division, the Visakhapatnam Division’s jurisdiction is now truncated to roughly 463 km. Consequently, the 55 MT target reflects a more concentrated, port-and-industry-focused mandate, serving major stakeholders like RINL, HPCL, and local ports.

While the operational scope has narrowed, the division aims to leverage its strategic position within the new SCoR zone to enhance logistical efficiency, promote modal shifts from road to rail, and optimise customer-centric freight operations in the region, he concluded.