KRCL goes all out to encourage transporters to use RoRo services

MANGALURU: Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) is making all out efforts to woo transporters from this part to use its Roll-on-Roll-Off (RoRo) services by encouraging them to utilize the fixed schedule.
This will make it attractive for transporters to ensure their trucks reach the starting point at Surathkal accordingly. KRCLs efforts to operate scheduled RoRo services between Kolad and Surathkal have yielded good results with regular patronage.
Sanjay Gupta, chairman and managing director, KRCL said efforts are being made to encourage transporters in Mangaluru region to utilise the scheduled service for it benefits both KRCL and transporters alike.
When transporters are assured of fixed departure and arrival of RoRo service, it will encourage them to utilise the service more. Introduced on January 26, 1999, RoRo is a unique service where trucks are carried piggy-back on specially designed flatcars.
A reflection of its popularity can be gauged from the fact that against an average of 1.43 trucks per day in 1988-89, KRCL carried a maximum of 153.20 trucks per day in 2014-15 and 109.72 trucks per day up to November in 2016-17. KRCL incidentally made 81 trips carrying 522 trucks in 1988-89 earning a revenue of Rs 0.39 crore. KRCL earned its maximum revenue of Rs 73.18 crore in 2014-15 when the service made 1206 trips carrying 55,919 trucks, he noted.
A scheduled service will offer assured pick-up and delivery of trucks within specified timeframe and a maximum of 25 hours, he said adding the facility will benefit regular freight movement between Mumbai and Mangaluru region along the Konkan Railway route. The success of this service can also be gauged from the fact that even Indian Railways has made use of the concept developed by KRCL and introduced it in other parts of the country, he said.
Benefits of RoRo is social as well as economic in nature. With as many trucks being transported on train, it leads to decongesting the busy national highway, reduction in number of accidents and also giving much needed breather to drivers from the strain of continuous driving. The other benefit to transporter is reduced wear and tear of their trucks and substantial savings in terms of fuel, he surmised, adding transporters could get in touch with KRCL offices for details.