MARGAO: Konkan Railway Corporation’s RORO service that was launched on January 26, 1999 has today emerged very successful having transported over five lakhs trucks earning the Corporation Rs. 518.54 crore.
Plying on only three routes namely Kolad-Verna, Kolad-Surathkal and Ankola-Surathkal during the last financial year, RORO service earned an amount of Rs. 56.63 crores by transporting 42,873 trucks which is a far cry from the Rs. 39 lakhs earned in 1999 when it transported only 522 trucks.
Incidentally the earning last year and the trucks transported are lower than the figures for the financial years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16.
The RORO service has earned the distinction of reducing expenditure on diesel, wear and tear of tyres, maintenance of trucks and also improving the turnaround of trucks besides guarantee on time and intact delivery of goods without any tension of accidents. The service has also helped conserve fuel besides decongesting national highways.
That it has improved the turnaround of trucks can be seen in the fact that the 417 kms distance between Kolad and Verna is covered in 8 to 10 hours, the 721 kms distance between Kolad and Surathkal is covered within 21 to 24 hours and the distance of 205 kms between Ankola and Surathkal is covered in three to five hours.
The benefit of RORO service to the truckers is that there is no risk of accidents, reduction in cost of maintenance due to reduction in wear and tear of tyres and oil usage besides improvement in turn around all of which translates into higher profit margins.
For the railways there is no further investment as it only has to use the existing infrastructure of rails and trucks are available for both to and fro journeys. Besides there is no need of any goods shed as the trucks directly drive on or off the specially designed wagons.
RORO service has also proved to be a blessing for the country as it has reduced the risk of accidents on roads. More significant is the fuel consumption saved by carrying 40 trucks. It is estimated that 10 litres of diesel that would have been used by the trucks, has been saved.
