The Roll-on, Roll-off (Ro-Ro) service, unique to Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., (KRCL) where trucks ride piggy-back on specially-designed Railway rakes from one place to another, has brought Rs. 67.2 crore revenue to the corporation in the last fiscal.
Having transported more than 55,000 trucks during 2013-14, KRCL claimed it is the highest-ever revenue earned so far from the service.
It had transported 48,000 trucks during the previous fiscal and anticipates at least 20 per cent increase in the numbers this fiscal. It had earned Rs. 50.9 crore from Ro-Ro in 2012-13, Rs. 35.64 crore in 2011-12 and Rs. 25.85 crore in 2010-11.
Ro-Ro was first introduced between Kolad (near Mumbai) and Verna in Goa on January 26, 1999 and later was extended till Surathkal (off Mangalore) from June 15, 2004.
Starting with one rake, KRCL augmented the services with six rakes subsequently. The Ro-Ro service is also available between Ankola (Uttara Kannada in Karnataka) and Surathkal for trucks to and from Hubli region.
'Hassle-free'Interacting with presspersons here recently, KRCL’s Chief Public Relations Officer Vaishali Patange said the service is becoming popular among freight operators since it offers hassle-free transportation of trucks devoid of many disadvantages of transportation through road.
Besides saving considerable amount of fuel, the service also offers speedier journey, she said. Ms. Patange said the demand is higher for service between Mumbai and Mangalore.
Operating surplusMs. Patange also said the corporation posted an operating surplus of Rs. 218 crore during the last fiscal with a turnover of Rs. 1,221 crore. The operational efficiency too improved from 95 paisa expenditure per rupee to 87 paisa, she said.
With available limited resources, the corporation is planning to strengthen its route network and double the lines in patches.
Initially, lines between Roha and Karanjadi in Maharashtra and Thokur (near Surathkal) and Byndoor in Karnataka were being targeted and estimates were being prepared, Ms. Patange said.
