From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Sep 4: Subsequent to the superannuation of Anurag Mishra on August 31, the Director (Operating & Commercial) of Konkan Railway – Shri Bhanu Prakash Tayal – will be looking after as the Managing Director of Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd from today.
Bhanu Tayal is working as Director (Operating & Commercial) in KRCL since May 2008. He has also been the Chief Operating Manager (COM) in KRCL for two and a half years before that. During this period, Tayal has strived to ease the train journey of passengers on Konkan Railway route. Since the time Tayal joined KRCL, 4 new Mail/Express trains have been started on KR route; frequency of 3 trains increased; one train extended; and additional coaches attached to 4 pairs of trains on permanent basis. Four new Mail/Exp trains and extension of one more train is also in the pipeline for 2009-10. Due to this, the total number of passengers travelling on KR route has increased from about 41 million in 2007-08 to 45.6 million in 2008-09. This year, Tayal has made extra efforts to run maximum number of Ganpati Special trains for the convenience of Ganesh devotees and a record 84 Ganpati Special trains are being run on KR route this year compared to only about 60 two years ago. At the same time, after a long time, devotees are rejoiced this year that Ganesh Special trains have been started from Bandra Terminus too.
Tayal been instrumental in bringing about phenomenal increase in traffic earnings over Konkan Railway and steered the Corporation on the path of financial turnaround. He has set record for freight revenues in Konkan Railway. It is during his tenure as COM and later as Director that KRCL has displayed splendid financial performance and the total earnings of KRCL have reached Rs.786 cr in 2008-09 compared to Rs.426 cr in 2004-05 before he joined KRCL. Tayal is also credited with the growth of Ro-Ro (Roll-on Roll-off) traffic on KR route; increase in Originating Loading of freight on KR; aggressive marketing of the railway route to industry with future interest of attracting traffic on KR route through new port connectivity along the railway line.
During his looking after tenure as MD of KRCL, his mission areas are further improving the finances of KRCL through strategic planning and austerity measures, and giving impetus to the innovative technologies of KRCL.