June 2014 - IRCTC NEWS I INDIAN RAILWAY NEWS

Monday, 30 June 2014

19:24

ONE Executive Chair car added in 12009/12010 Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad shatabdi Exp

Jun 30, 2014

ONE Executive Chair car added in 12009/12010 Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad shatabdi Exp

12009/12010 Mumbai Central – Ahmedabad shatabdi Exp

One Executive Chair car coach will be temporarily added in Train No 12009/12010 Mumbai central – Ahmedabad shatabdi Exp w.e.f ex Mumbai central from 01/07.14 to 30.09.14 (except Sunday) and ex Ahmedabad from 01/07/14 to 30/09/14 (except Sunday) . With this, the train will run with 17 coaches.

19:18

6 Summer Specials between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Jaynagar (Bihar) - Bookings for 05514 open from 1.7.2014

2014/6/22
30-06-2014

6 Summer Specials between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Jaynagar (Bihar) - Bookings for 05514 open from 1.7.2014

Central Railway has decided to run 6 summer special trains between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Jaynagar (Bihar) to clear the extra rush of passengers. The details are as under:

05514 special train will leave Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 14.20 hrs on 05.07.2014, 15.07.2014 and 19.07.2014 arrive Jaynagar at 03.00 hrs on third day.

05513 special train will leave Jaynagar at 18.00 hrs on 02.07.2014, 09.07.2014 and 16.07.2014 and arrive Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 06.05 hrs on third day.

Halts – Thane, Kalyan, Nasik Road, Manmad, Bhusaval, Khandwa, Itarsi, Pipariya, Jabalpur, Katni, Satna, Manikpur, Shankargarh, Chheoki, Mirzapur, Mughalsarai, Buxar, Ara, Patna, Barauni, Samastipur and Darbhanga.

Composition – one AC-2 Tier, Two AC-3 tier, 11 Sleeper Class, 5 General Second Class and 2 General Second Class cum guard’s brake vans

Reservation: Bookings for 05514 will be open on 01/07/2014.

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Date: June 30, 2014

This new comes to you from Public Relations Department, Central Railway, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai.

19:14

8 Premium Superfast Specail Trains between Pune and Patna

2014/6/21

30-06-2014

8 Premium Superfast Specail Trains between Pune and Patna

- Bookings open through INTERNET only

Central Railway will run eight premium special trains between Pune and Patna to clear the extra rush of passengers as per details given under: Train No. 02349 premium superfast special train will leave Patna at 12.45 hrs on 05.7.2014, 12.7.2014, 19.7.2014 & 26.7.2014 and arrive Pune at 19.20 hrs next day. Train No.02350 premium superfast special train will leave Pune at 06.00 hrs on 07.7.2014, 14.7.2014, 21.7.2014 & 28.7.2014 and will arrive Patna at 13.00 hrs next day. HALTS: Mughalsarai, Jabalpur, Itarsi, Bhusawal & Manmad. COMPOSITION: Two AC-2 tier cum AC-3 tier, Three AC-2 tier, Three AC-3 tier, 11 sleeper class. RESERVATION: Bookings will open THROUGH INTERNET for: 02350 of 07.7.2014 on 01.7.2014, 02350 of 14.7.2014 on 04.7.2014 02350 of 21.7.2014 on 11.7.2014 and. 02350 of 28.7.2014 on 18.7.2014 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -Date: June 30, 2014This news comes to you from the Public Relations Department, Central Railway, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai

19:06

Monsoon Time Table on Konkan Railway - Timings of Mumbai Area Trains from Konkan Railway

2014/6/19	30-06-2014
Monsoon Time Table on Konkan Railway - Timings of Mumbai Area Trains from Konkan Railway

Central Railway Press Release

MONSOON TIME TABLE on KOKAN RAILWAY

Railways have decided to implement Mansoon Time Table on Konkan Railway with effect from 1.7.2014 to 30.9.2014. Due to this implementation the departure timings of following trains will be postponed / preponed as mentioned from the origination station.

Train No.	Train Name	Departure timings from originating station
Train No.	Train Name	Existing	w.e.f. 1.7.2014
10104	Madgaon-Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mandovi Express	09.30	08.30
11004	Sawantwadi Dadar Rajya Rani Express	18.10	17.30
12052	Madgaon-Dadar Janshatabdi Express	14.30	12.10
12620	Manglore-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Matsyagandha Express	14.40	12.50
10112	Madgaon-Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Kokan Kanya Express	18.00	16.45
12134	Manglore Jn.-Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Express	13.55	16.45
50106	Sawantwadi – Diva Passenger	08.30	08.35
12224	Ernakulam – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Duronto Express	21.30	23.30

Passengers on this route are requested to please take note of these changes to avoid any inconveniences.

Date: June 27, 2014

This news comes to you from Public Relations Department, Central Railway, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai.

18:59

ARRANGMENTS FOR ASHADI FAIR AT PANDHARPUR

2014/6/18

30-06-2014

Central Railway Press Release

ARRANGMENTS FOR ASHADI FAIR AT PANDHARPUR

Ashadi Fair is being held at Pandharpur during the period from 3.7.2014 to 12.7.2014 with main day on 9.7.2014 i.e. Ashadi Ekadashi. It is anticipated that about 1.5 lakh to 2.0 lakh pilgrims will visit Pandharpur by railway during the fair period. Railways for the convenience of pilgrims are making the following arrangements.

* Provision of additional booking windows at important stations like Pandharpur, Latur, Kurduwadi and Miraj to issue tickets round the clock.

* Availability of drinking water with provision of additional taps round the clock.

* Availability of snacks, eatables especially milk based items round the clock at important stations.

* Running of additional special trains and also attaching extra coaches to scheduled trains.

* Provision of sheds for waiting of pilgrims.

* Provision of additional lighting arrangements.

* Provision of Public Address systems.

* Provision of temporary urinals and toilets.

* Deputing of additional safaiwalls at stations and on trains to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.

* Deputing additional security personnel to maintain bandobast etc.

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Date: June 30, 2014

This news comes to you from Public Relations Department, Central Railway, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai.

18:56

Eight Premium Weekly Special Trains Between Yesvantpur-Jaipur

186/2014-15
30-06-2014
Secunderabad

Eight Premium Weekly Special Trains Between Yesvantpur-Jaipur

In order to clear extra rush of passengers, Premium Weekly Special Trains between Yesvantpur - Jaipur will be run as detailed below:-

Train No. 02695 Yesvantpur - Jaipur Premium Weekly Special Train will depart Yesvantpur at 12:00 pm on 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th July, 2014 and arrive Jaipur at 06:35 am on Saturdays.

In the return direction, Train No.02696 Jaipur - Yesvantpur Premium Weekly Special Train will depart Jaipur at 10:15 pm on 5th, 12th, 19th and 26thJuly, 2014 Saturdays and arrive Yesvantpur at 05:30 pm on Mondays.

Enroute, these premium weekly special trains will stop at Tumkur, Bellary, Pune, Surat, Godhra and Ajmer stations in both the directions.

These trains will have 16 coaches viz, two AC II Tier, four AC III Tier, seven Sleeper Class, two pantry cars and two Luggage cum Generator cum Brake van coaches.

18:54

Special Trains between Santragachi and Chennai Central & Santragachi and Ernakulam

No.185/2014-15 30-06-2014 Secunderabad

Special Trains between Santragachi and Chennai Central & Santragachi and Ernakulam

In order to clear extra rush of passengers, special trains will be operated between Santragachi & Santragachi and Ernakulam as detailed below:-

I)Train No. 02807/02808 Santragachi-Chennai Central-Santragachi weekly S/F Special Train :- (10 services)

Train No. 02807 Santragachi-Chennai Central weekly superfast Express will depart Santragachi at 07:00 pm on 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st July (Thursdays) and arrive Chennai Central at 10:45 pm on the next day.

In the return direction, Train No. 02708 Chennai Central-Santragachi weekly Superfast Special Train will depart Chennai Central at 07:55 am on 5th, 12th, 19th& 26th July and 2nd August, 2014 (Saturdays) and arrive Santragachi at 10:25 am on the next day.

II)Train No. 02851/02852 Santragachi – Eranakulam - Santragachi weekly Special Train :- (08 services)

Train No. 02851 Santragachi - Ernakulam weekly Express will depart Santragachi at 04:05 pm on 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th July, 2014 (Saturdays) and arrive Eranakulam at 06:00 am on the second day.

In the return direction, Train No. 02852 Ernakulam-Santragachi weekly Special Train will depart Ernakulam at 08:50 am on 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th July 2014 (Tuesdays) and arrive Santragachi at 03:00 am on the second day.

18:49

SCR to run 26 Special Trains between Secunderabad-Hubli

No.184/2014-15 30-06-2014
Secunderabad

SCR to run 26 Special Trains between Secunderabad-Hubli

In order to clear extra rush of passengers, SCR will run 26 special trains between Secunderabad and Hubli between 1st July and 30th July, 2014 as per the following schedule:-

Train No. 07320 Secunderabad – Hubli Tri-Weekly special trainwill depart Secunderabad at 04:00 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 2nd July to 30th July 2014 and arrive Hubli at 07:50 am on the next day.

In the opposite direction, Train No. 07319 Hubli-Secunderabad Tri-Weekly special train will depart Hubli at 08:50 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 1st July to 29th July 2014 and arrive Secunderabad at 11:45am on the next day.

Enroute, these trains will stop at Begumpet, Lingampalli, Vikarabad, Tandur, Sedam, Chittapur, Wadi, Shahabad, Gulburga, Ganagapur, Hotgi, Indi Rd, Bijapur, Bagevadi Rd, Almatti, Bagalkot, Badami, Hole Alur, Gadag and Annigeri stations in both the directions.

These special trains will have 16 coaches viz., one AC II Tier, one AC III Tier,six Sleeper Class, six General Second Class and two Second Class Luggage Cum Brake van Coaches with accommodation for differently abled people.

18:44

Timely Special Measures taken by SCR for Smooth Handling of Huge Passenger Rush at Secunderabad Station on 29th and 30th June, 2014

No.183/2014-15 30-06-2014
Secunderabad

Timely Special Measures taken by SCR for Smooth Handling of Huge Passenger Rush at Secunderabad Station on 29th and 30th June, 2014

Thousands of Candidates arrived at Secunderabad/Hyderabad in the last two days from different parts of the Country, especially from Bihar, Odissa and West Bengal States etc., to attend an examination conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board, Secunderabad for the posts of Assistant Loco Pilot and Technicians on 29th June, 2014 at various examination centres in the Twin-Cities.

As many of these candidates, after completion of their exam on 29th June, 2014, tried to board express trains bound towards Patna and Howrah etc., some of these trains witnessed heavy rush in the coaches. Some of the un-reserved candidates even boarded reserved coaches causing inconvenience to the bonafide passengers. Senior officials, who were monitoring the situation 24x7, have immediately swung into action with the help of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) Personnel and cleared hundreds of unreserved passengers from the reserved coaches in Secunderabad-Howrah Falaknuma Express at Guntur and Vijayawada stations on 29th June, 2014.

For clearing this extra rush of passengers, South Central Railway took several measures such as attaching one General Second Class Coach each to Secunderabad – Bhubaneswar Visakha Express, Hyderabad – Hazrat Nizamuddin Dakshin Express on 29th June, 2014 and Hyderabad – Howrah East Coast Express on 30th June, 2014 etc.

Frequent announcements were made at stations, requesting the unreserved passengers not to board the reserved compartments and announcements were also made about running of special trains from Secunderabad to Patna.

SCR operated a special train from Secunderabad to Patna consisting of 10 coaches viz., four Sleeper Class, four General Second Class and two Second Class Luggage cum Brake van Coaches which departed Secunderabad at 10:30 pm on 29thJune, 2014, carrying around 2000 passengers. on noticing that a sizeable number of candidates were still available at stations, one more special train was run from Secunderabad to Patna, consisting of 14 coaches viz., five Sleeper Class, seven General Second Class and two Second Class Luggage cum Brake van Coaches, which departed Secunderabad at 09:10 am today i.e., (30th June, 2014), carrying around 2500 passengers.

Five extra general booking counters were opened and a large number of facilitators were made available at Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) at Secunderabad / Hyderabad Railway Stations to facilitate issue of tickets. Additional Security Personnel were deputed to escort the regular trains to ensure that the bonafide reserved passengers travel hassle-free.

All these special measures helped in minimising the inconvenience to the bonabide passengers and also clearing the huge rush of passengers from stations with out any unusual occurrence.

18:42

ARSS Infra bags work order worth INR 144.30 Crore

ARSS Infra bags work order worth INR 144.30 Crore

Bhubaneswar (BBS): Bhubaneswar based ARSS Infrastructure Projects has bags a work order of Rs 144.30 crore in railway sector in the state of Odisha. See the announcement link at: ARSS announcement

ARSS, as an industry leader in engineering construction, currently nurtures projects that span across such diverse segments as railway, real estate and highways and is one of the fastest growing construction companies of India, focusing on infrastructure construction segment including highways, buildings and railways. Incorporated in 17th May 2000 by a group of professionals, it has rapidly achieved a turnover of Rs.1013.00 crores. It has completed 80 projects across India, with aggregate contract value of over Rs.7000 million, for various clients all over India with its unique business model, with proven expertise in innovative thinking, project and cost management with a focus on delivering high quality work within budgeted time and costs, as evident in various accolades and repeat business. ARSS have also developed an appropriate blend of entrepreneurs and hands on professionals, constantly thinking & executing innovative and cost effective solutions to clients’ requirements. Today it is acknowledged as a company enabling to surge ahead in different core sectors.

09:38

DIVERSION OF TRAINS VIA COIMBATORE & PROVISION OF STOPPAGE AT COIMBATORE

54/2014-15 11-06-2014
CHENNAI

DIVERSION OF TRAINS VIA COIMBATORE & PROVISION OF STOPPAGE AT COIMBATORE

It was mentioned vide press release no.53/2014-15 dated 10.06.2014 that the stoppage at Podanur for Train No.16527/16528 Yesvantpur – Kannur – Yesvantpur express will be withdrawn with effect from 10.08.2014.

It is now stated that Train No.16527 Yesvantpur – Kannur express leaving Yesvantpur on and from 29.06.2014 and Train No.16528 Kannur – Yesvantpur express leaving Kannur on and from 30.06.2014 will not stop at Podanur.

09:34

Samiti wants Mangalore railway division, improved connectivity

Samiti wants Mangalore railway division, improved connectivity

‘The region has been receiving step-motherly treatment by Southern Railway’

The Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivriddhi Samiti has renewed its efforts to get its long-standing demands for the creation of the Mangalore railway division and improved connectivity fulfilled.

The samiti has been fighting for decades demanding that the coastal region gets its rightful share. According to it, the Mangalore region has been receiving step-motherly treatment by Southern Railway and the creation of a new railway division for Mangalore would solve this problem. The coastal region has been neglected whether pertaining to connectivity or employment, the samiti said.

Samiti president G. Hanumanth Kamath told The Hindu that representations were given to Nalin Kumar Kateel, Dakshina Kannada MP, and Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda to expedite the process and also introduce new trains.

The samiti has demanded the reintroduction of Mahalakshmi Express (Mangalore Central–Miraj Express via Hassan and Hubli), which was in operation before gauge conversion.

It also demanded introduction of seven new trains from Mangalore Central/ Subrahmanya Road to New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore City, Varanasi, Vasco-da-Gama, Mumbai (AC Express) and Rameswaram.

Mr. Kamath demanded that the Howrah–Vasco-da-Gama Amaravati Express and Kacheguda–Vasco-da-Gama Express be extended to Mangalore Central and that the Mangalore–Madgaon Intercity Express be extended to Hubli.

The Mangalore Central–Trivandrum Maveli Express should be extended to Kanyakumari and Hapa–Madgaon Express be extended to Mangalore Central.

The train between Yeshwanthpur and Karwar should be made a daily from the present tri-weekly and extended to Mysore, he added.

Samiti convener Anil Hegde said the Subrahmanya Road Station on the Mangalore–Hassan line had the potential to be made a terminal station. It could handle many long-distance trains on the Konkan Railway route, he said.

At the same time, the Railways should take up track doubling between Mangalore Central, Mangalore Junction and Thokur as the single railway track had been affecting operational efficiency. He demanded that Mangalore Central be upgraded to a world-class station.

09:29

Cattle Straying on Tracks Give SCR a Headache

Cattle Straying on Tracks Give SCR a Headache

HYDERABAD: The South Central Railway (SCR) is worried over the safety of the passengers as cattle owners and grazers are letting loose their cattle on the railway tracks, particularly during the night, causing several mishaps and derailments.

Dumping of garbage by people along railway tracks is also a cause of concern as it attracts cattle near the tracks. Despite patrolling by railway personnel in several identified spots, new areas of cattle trespassing are coming to the notice of railway officials.

SCR chief public relations officer K Sambasiva Rao told Express that till May 2014, as many as 43 incidents of cattle being run over were reported from the Secunderabad division. The number stood at 113 in 2013.

Recently, five cattle were run over near the Chandanagar railway station and a coach of a MMTS train derailed. In another recent incident, the Swarnajayanthi express hit cattle between Yelguru and Chintalpalli railway stations. The train was halted at the spot for over half an hour.

Several precautionary measures have been taken by the SCR to prevent the entry of cattle in railway lands including construction of boundary walls, digging of trenches, putting up of barricades and fencing at the identified spots.

Cattle grazers from nearby areas where such incidents occur are being counselled not to let their livestock for grazing near the tracks as they might be run over by trains.

The SCR will take stringent action against the violators, whose cattle stray on to the tracks as per the provisions of the Railway Act. The offenders are liable to be imprisoned for one year or six months under Sections 154 and 147 of the Act respectively.

In the Swarnajayanthi express case, the cattle owner was arrested and cases was registered against him under Section 147 and 154 of the Railways Act. In another case, a cattle owner was arrested for straying on to the tracks with his cattle between Lingampalli and Chandanagar and obstructing a goods train.

5 cattle run over by MMTS train recently near Chandanagar station

Swarnajayanti Express halted for half an hour after hitting livestock

43 such incidents reported so far under Secunderabad division

Number stood at 113 in 2013

09:26

Gowda to prune list of pending rail projects

Gowda to prune list of pending rail projects

Railways minister DV Sadananda Gowda wants to chop down the long list of non-remunerative pending projects that have been bleeding the railways and choking funds for urgently required infrastructure schemes. A total of406 projects for constructing 43,982 kilometres of tracks at a cost of `1,85, 221 crore have been pending —some for over three decades. The eastern states of West Bengal and Bihar are at the top of the pending list.

In her term as the railways minister, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee announced projects worth approximately`80,000 crore for West Bengal. Her predecessor and RJD leader Lalu Prasad had announced projects worth almost Rs. 50,000 crore for Bihar. “The populism of past railways ministers have wrecked havoc on finances,” an official said.

For a majority of such projects announced mostly in the era of ‘coalition politics’ in past decades, the Rate of Return (RoR) — indicator of the project’s commercial viability — is calculated as being in the negative.

For example, the RoR for the Etawah-Mainpuri line in Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh’s bastion in UttarPradesh is indicated at minus 27%. The Nagal Dam-Talwara project in Punjab envisaging construction of 83.74kilometres of new lines — sanctioned in 1981-82 — also has a negative RoR. In the 33 years of its sanction,less than half of the project’s cost has been used up.

“The railways minister had instructions sent out to the zonal railway managers, asking them to draw up a prioritylist on pending projects, while indicating certain projects that can be scrapped,” sources said.

09:21

For Metro commuters across country, Now a Helpline: 1511

For Metro commuters across country, Now a Helpline: 1511

Under the new initiative, the moment someone lodges a complaint at 1511, a police team will be rushed to the spot

New Delhi: Commuters travelling by Metro trains, wherever the service is available across the country, should memorise this four-digit number — 1511. If they face any problem while travelling in Metro trains or at the stations, they can call this number for police assistance.

An initiative of the Delhi Police, the helpline would be launched this week.

The Delhi Police felt the need for a separate helpline for Metro commuters in the face of growing incidents of harassment of passengers, molestation and theft inside trains and on platforms, as the tube service expands in the national capital and is launched in more cities across the country.

Police feel the new helpline number will ensure quicker response to complaints of crime by Metro passengers. A separate control room will be set up at Shastri Park to deal with the complaints, police said. Likewise, there will be separate control rooms to deal with complaints of Metro passengers in other cities. Besides Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru have Metro services.

“In the same way that people across the country contact the police control room for help by dialling 100, Metro passengers can call 1511 for help from any city where the service is avilable. It will help police respond faster to complaints,” Joint Commissioner of Police M K Meena said.

According to Meena, now it takes longer for police to respond to complaints of Metro passengers, who have to dial 100 and lodge their complaints with the Police Control Room (PCR) first. Then, the PCR asks the nearest police station to respond to the complaint.

By the time police personnel reach the spot, the offenders usually manage to escape, Meena said.

Under the new initiative, the moment someone lodges a complaint at 1511, a police team will be rushed to the spot.

In another step, eight new police stations will be set up at Metro stations across Delhi. But, it is still a proposal.

09:19

Shiv Sena wants the Wadala-Thane Metro to be extended till Dahisar

Shiv Sena wants the Wadala-Thane Metro to be extended till Dahisar

Thane (TNA): The Shiv Sena wants the Wadala-Thane metro to be extended till Dahisar. In addition, the Sena also wants the entire 32-km project to be built underground, as opposed to the plan of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to have a 5-km elevated track from Manpada to Ovala (car shed).

In a meeting with the MMRDA officials last week, senior Sena leader Eknath Shinde suggested that instead of ending the metro at Kasarvadavli on Ghodbunder Road, the authority should extend it till Dahisar so that it caters to commuters travelling from Mumbai to Thane and vice versa. Keeping in mind the population growth in the city and the increasing number of people commuting between Thane and Mumbai on the Godhbunder Road daily, the Sena leaders felt this would be a viable option. Also, as the traffic volume on the route has increased, it has resulted in slow moving vehicles at several stretches.

“Many people commute to Thane from Mumbai and vice versa. So, if the Wadala-Thane metro is extended to Dahisar, instead of making Kasarvadavli the last station, it would benefit many people,” Shinde said.

Appreciating Shinde’s suggestion, U P S Madan, the metropolitan commissioner, and Sanjay Sethi, the joint commissioner of MMRDA, said that the authority may look at the feasibility of extend the connectivity in future.

“At present, the MMRDA will have to go ahead with the current plan. However, in future the administration will consider the feasibility of extending the Metro till Dahisar,” said Madan.

Rail India Technical and Economic Services (Rites) has prepared a detailed survey of the 32-km Wadala-Thane metro project. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 22,000 crore and will have 29 stations, of which 11 will be in the Thane region.

During the meeting, saffron leader from the region, Pratap Sarnaik, also urged the MMRDA to consider making the entire project underground instead of having 5 kms of elevated tracks from Manpada to Ovala.

“The movement of traffic is very high on Ghodbunder road. If MMRDA goes ahead with elevated plan, than it will create hurdles for the administration if it wants to build a flyover in the locality in future,” Sarnaik said.

However, MMRDA officials stated that they have no issue in having the underground transport network, but then the project cost would escalate a lot.

“Once the Metro services are rolled out, the traffic density on this route might ease,” one of the MMRDA officials told Sarnaik.

09:17

CRS disagree with Konkan Railway’s steps on braving monsoon

CRS disagree with Konkan Railway’s steps on braving monsoon

Mumbai: The Konkan Railway Corporation’s (KRCL) confidence of braving this monsoon by neither changing the train timings nor curtailing the speed of trains, as it has been the usual case, did not get a green signal from the Commissioner for Railway Safety.

A top KRCL official on condition of anonymity told that the disapproval of KRCL’s proposal by Commissioner for Railway Safety caused the one-month delay in announcing the corporation’s monsoon railway timetable for 2014 which will come into force from July 1 to September 30.

Usually, the KRCL’s monsoon time table will come into effect at the beginning of monsoon ie., June.

KRCL officials approached the Commissioner for Railway Safety with the idea of doing away with the change in train timings from this monsoon, as they were confident of the success of various safety measures the corporation has been implemented along the high terrain path to avert monsoon havoc on tracks.

Had the KRCL received the nod, then it would have been the first time in the history of KRCL to do away with monsoon timings after it was introduced in 2003, five years after the KRCL went fully operational on January 26, 1998.

Apart from a change in time-table, running speed of trains has been cut short to 60 km per hour instead of 100 km from Mangalore Junction to Roha in Maharashtra during the period. The trains carrying freight should run at a speed of 40 km per hour instead of the usual 70 km/hr.

Geo-tech safety measures

The measures such as boulder netting, rock bolting, shotcreting, flattening of cuttings, construction of toe walls were the major safety measures the KRCL has been carried out in the 760-km path of Western Ghat which consists of 92 tunnels, 320 curves and 1,998 bridges.

The path, usually hailed as an engineering marvel for its unique carving out of a railway track off rock, mountainous terrain is also infamous for mishaps during monsoon.

Several lives were lost along the path during monsoon due to boulders falling on track, land slide, flood in tracks etc.

Besides, the KRCL has taken remedial measures of identified vulnerable cuttings every year.

Earthwork for flattening of slopes, lining of catch water drains and construction of ballast retainer cum drain wall were also taken up.

Grass plantation

After flattening of cutting slopes in soil, grass plantation with locally available grass or vetiver is planted on the slopes to check soil erosion.

A whopping 12 lakh square feet of land on slopes are now filled with grass to keep the soil intact during monsoon.

Additionally, special patrolling is done extensively during the period. About 700 personnel will be patrolling the route from Kolad to Thokur.

In case of an emergency, self-propelled accident relief medical van with provision for operation theatre and emergency medical aid are kept ready all the time at Ratnagiri and Verna.

09:16

Railway Board, Zonal Railways to discuss strategies to cut cost; save Fuel

Railway Board, Zonal Railways to discuss strategies to cut cost; save Fuel

Railways at work on twin diesel headaches; Seeks ways to bring down rising fuel costs, will brief green tribunal on plan to cut emissions

New Delhi: Rising bills have turned diesel into a major worry for Indian Railways, which effected a 4.5 per cent increase in fares this week on account of escalating fuel spend.

On top of that is emission from the thousands of diesel engines, a matter that has gone to the National Green Tribunal. On July 7, Railways will have to appear before the NGT to apprise it of plans to formulate an emission standard for diesel engines, a first such move in the country.

Since diesel is a fuel Railways cannot do without — around 60 per cent of its locomotives run on diesel — a plan has been formed to try and reduce the bills, which rose 45 per cent to Rs 20,000 crore in the year ending March 31, 2014. Ironically, in the past year railways’ consumption of diesel has increased by just about three per cent, but the price of diesel rose 34 per cent.

The Ministry of Railways has called a meeting of zonal railways next month to discuss strategies to bring down the bill and save fuel. In an audit, the ministry has found that thanks to various state taxes and cesses on diesel, there is a price difference of over Rs 12 between the cheapest diesel fuelling point and the costliest across India. It has circulated a list of the 58 fuelling points where the price of the fuel is upwards of Rs 68. The ministry has asked zonal railways to avoid those places and to fill their tanks from the cheaper stations nearest their ares. The estimate is that a nominal saving of Re 1 per litre can save railways up to Rs 300 crore per year on the fuel bill.

For bringing down emission, it is learnt that the PSU Rites has been asked to carry out a study, but the amount it has quoted for the first phase of a year is still being negotiated. In a recent meeting with Rites, oil companies and the Central Pollution Control Board, Railways has discussed whether such an exercise could be part-funded by other ministries such as Environment and Petroleum.

The US and the European Union have standards for locomotives, while other countries such as Canada, China and Australia are working on standards for themselves.

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