Today's Cancelled Trains
Tariff Plan
17:36
Showing posts with label reduce traffic congestion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reduce traffic congestion. Show all posts
Friday, 5 June 2020
Saturday, 19 September 2015
Metro Fares and Auto fares for single person are comparable ?
Metro Fares and Auto fares for single person are comparable ?
Nagpur: While the fare of metro railway will be decided by a high level committee, officials of Nagpur Metro Rail Corporation Limited (NMRCL) have indicated they would be comparable to autorickshaw fare per person.
Addressing a public interaction programme at Dhantoli, Shirish Apte, public relations officer (PRO), gave an example, "If a three-seater autorickshaw takes Rs 90 for going to railway station then per person the fare comes to Rs 30. The metro railway fare will be comparable to this over the same stretch. The exact fare will be decided by a committee headed by a retired high court judge as per the Metro Railway Act."
The official further said that monthly, three-monthly passes would be issued as the agency wanted long term business from commuters. The commuters will be able to pay the fare of feeder service and bicycles (wherever available) through the metro rail smart card. "Only 30% of our reveneue will come from tickets. The rest will be from other sources and hence the fare will be affordable," he added.
NMRCL has been organizing such programmes at localities situated near metro rail stations. This was the ninth in the series and was organized with the cooperation of corporators Sandip Joshi and Safalta Ambatkar. NMRCL, which was represented by Apte and Kapil Chandrayan, faced a barrage of questions from Dhantoli residents on a host of issues. Many were irrelevant as some pertained to agencies that have no relation with NMRCL.
Residents of one of the buildings of Congress Nagar Square complained that their building was being demolished to save the New English High School and demanded that the Congress Nagar station should be opposite Ajni railway station. NMRCL asked them to give a submission in writing.
Corporator Joshi wondered why the distance between Congress Nagar and Rahate Colony stations was hardly 1.5 km. Apte said that going by the experience of metro railways elsewhere the distance should be between 950 to 1200 metres to reduce the use of two-wheelers. On a doctor's query about noise pollution, the NMRCL officials said the metro rail engine's noise would be far lower than that of a normal railway engine because it would be far less powerful. "As for vibrations, it will be less where the track is straight. The at grade stretch also it will have low vibrations," Apte said.
Some citizens wondered why Civil Lines, which had so many government offices, did not have metro rail connectivity. The officials said that the locality would be covered by feeder service.
Source :Times Of India
Friday, 18 September 2015
zero accident mission
06:40
Safety needs to be top Priority
Safety needs to be top Priority
Railways on notice
Safety, not bullet trains, needs to be top priority
Almost a year into his tenure as railway minister, Suresh Prabhu, has done what he should have done right after taking charge: called a meeting of the most senior railway officials and told them he will not have any more excuses on safety. The meeting took place in the wake of several railway accidents causing deaths and raising serious safety concerns all around. The glamourous new idea of the government has been creating a diamond quadrilateral of high-speed train links, and Mr Prabhu's public pronouncements till date have mostly dealt with the need to find fresh big-ticket investments.
There has been no commensurate public concern over too many rail accidents - although introducing bullet trains and the like without improving safety can only lead to more serious accidents. Yes, the railways does need to modernise, which does not come cheap; and investment and safety are conceptually linked if new technology is considered as a route to greater safety. But whenever there is talk of addressing the poor safety record of the Indian Railways, all that the leadership can think of by way of a solution is big-ticket investment.
Even as Mr Prabhu expressed his exasperation over the continuing spate of accidents, the railway board chairman spoke of a Rs 1-lakh-crore safety plan to be put before the Union Cabinet. Of course there is a need to invest for creating necessary infrastructure to eliminate level crossings and renew ageing tracks and rolling stock. But the railway establishment should know that safety can be improved also without spending a paisa more - by toning up the way the organisation functions.
The need of the hour is to ensure that well-established safety practices and drills which have been allowed to be run down are again followed with alacrity. The drill of inspecting tracks before trains are allowed to go through has become lax. This drill helps detect breaches in tracks caused through ageing, sabotage, or when flash floods wash them away. If there are sections where the traffic is too heavy for this kind of inspection to be undertaken with the necessary periodicity, Mr Prabhu must cancel some passenger trains on the ground that the present traffic density is unsustainable.
Several accidents take place because of human error. The only way this can be undone is by motivating the staff better - which cannot happen unless they see the minister and top officials leading from the front. The minister has reminded top railway officials that he has already delegated substantial autonomy to them and it is high time they were held accountable. He has given them six months to act and underlined the need for safety audits by neighbouring zones (not a zone auditing itself) - but he should have done this six months ago.
The reality is that there is no sign that the railways today is a more toned up organisation. For the past several months, it has not been able to appoint a full-time member on its board to oversee traffic operations - a responsibility that includes overseeing safety as well. An additional member is looking after this crucial portfolio. A certain amount of outsourcing of passenger services is being done with immediate improvement in delivery - but subsequent backsliding.
The performance of outsourced agencies needs monitoring; but in a business-as-usual scenario, that does not take place. More than anything else, railway safety today needs to be a greater priority.
Source:Business Standard
urban development
06:30
Railway Industry seen as China’s Next Major Economic Driver
Railway Industry seen as China’s Next Major Economic Driver
Beijing: Urban development and the development of city clusters bolstered by the construction of high-speed railway and subway lines is expected to lay the foundation for a second economic take off in China, reports the Shanghai-based China Business News, citing a transportation official.
Construction of railway systems will play an even bigger role than the property market in China’s economy as the country will need to build more than the 6,000 kilometers of rail networks under its 12th Five Year Economic Development Plan, said Wang Ming, director of the Institute of Comprehensive Transportation under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
To date, 39 cities around the country have met the stipulated criteria for subway construction and by 2020, China’s total subway network will extend to 6,000 km, while an estimated 4 trillion yuan (US$625 billion) will be invested in urban subway construction, Wang said at a recent transport forum.
The railway construction market is estimated at 10 trillion yuan (US$1.57 trillion), according to Wang.
With the acceleration of urbanization, urban transit systems will be a natural solution to traffic congestion, not only in first-tier cities but also in second- and third-tier cities, said Li Guoyong, an NDRC official.
The urbanization rate is expected to exceed 60% by 2020 and the number of cities with a population of more than 1 million will rise to more than 200 during that period, the official said.
Therefore, the government will speed up construction of the railway systems in cities to improve urban traffic flow, said Li Puming, a spokesperson at the NDRC.
Investment in urban rail transit this year is expected to reach 300 billion yuan (US$47 billion), exceeding last year’s 285.7 billion yuan (US$45 billion), Li Puming added. The criteria that qualify cities for an urban transit system include a population of over 3 million and a GDP of more than 100 billion yuan (US$15.7 billion), according to the guidelines on the development of urban rapid rail transit systems, which were issued by the State Council in 2003.
Thursday, 17 September 2015
UITP Mobility week
15:29
Chennai Metro Rail joins UITP Mobility Week campaign
Chennai Metro Rail joins UITP Mobility Week campaign
Chennai: Chennai Metro Rail has joined the UITP Mobility Week campaign to create awareness on public transport. The campaign, organised by International Association of Public Transport (UITP), kicked off in 92 countries on Wednesday. It will be on till September 22.
“Being a member of UITP, CMRL is participating in this campaign to create awareness among public in Chennai by conveying a common message Celebrating Mobility Week”, Metro Rail said in a statement posted on its website.
“In the fight against climate change, electro-mobility is becoming increasingly popular. However, whether electric or not, cars add to the congestion on a same corridor, suburban rail by comparison can carry 50 times more passengers than cars. But e-mobility is not limited to cars. More and more bus systems are becoming electric while energy regeneration from metro braking allows for charging of electric vehicles,” the statement said.
UITP is supporting the 2015 Mobility Week (16-22 September) with a campaign aiming to highlight the vital role that public transport plays across the globe, transporting millions of people on a daily basis.
UITP encouraged its members – and all others supporting the development of public transport – around the world to join together in celebrating Mobility Week (16-22 September) to raise awareness of the importance of public transport in keeping cities moving.
In 2009, 47% of the daily trips worldwide were still made in private motorised vehicles, creating both pollution and congestion, degrading air quality and holding back economic growth.
Encouraging a significant modal shift to public transport, as per UITP’s strategy of doubling the modal share of public transport by 2025, would play a major role in climate mitigation, making cities better places to live and work.
Activities taking place during Mobility Week
16 September – UITP will be present at the European Mobility Week Launch Event in Brussels
16 –22 September – UITP members and other sustainable transport stakeholders will join forces to promote Mobility Week. More information here:www.uitp.org/mobilityweek
16 – 22 September – The NODES and ZeEUS projects will share an exhibition cube on the European Parliament Esplanade in Brussels showcasing their activities
22 September – World Car Free Day: cities around the world will be celebrating World Car Free Day (22 September) on or around this event, closing urban centres to cars and promoting public transport, walking and cycling as well as other activities.
Tuesday, 28 July 2015
UTTIPEC
18:47
UTTIPEC planned to make free of Traffic Jams at Old Delhi Station
Old Delhi station getting a facelift, entry to be hassle-free in a year
NEW DELHI: Delhiites will enjoy a congestion-free entrance to Delhi Junction, better known as Old Delhi railway station, in the near future. The Delhi division of Northern Railway has begun work on a planned revamp of the city's oldest railway station wherein it will be bestowed a look similar to that of New Delhi station.
A second entrance to the station towards Kashmere Gate has been built at a cost of Rs 90 crore and it is expected to share 30 per cent of the footfall. It will be thrown open to the public soon.
Officials say the aim of the project is to eliminate the bottlenecks at the entrance and exit gates of the station which result in huge traffic jams. Hundreds of vendors who have encroached upon the area adjacent to the boundary wall of the station will also be asked to leave.
The plan for the makeover has been approved and finalized by UTTIPEC (Unified Traffic and Transport Infrastructure Planning and Engineering Centre) and it will be implemented over one year. "One year on, Old Delhi station will look just like New Delhi railway station.The area will be free of traffic jams. We have received several complaints regarding issues faced by commuters. A complete revamp of the area in front of the station has been initiated. All work like shifting of structures and removal of boundary wall would be executed within six months," said Arun Arora, divisional railway manager.
The cost of the project is Rs 16 crore. "The portion which is on railway land is being handled by the rail ways at Rs 4.86 crore. The remaining work of laning, development of bus shelters and other stuff on SP Mookerjee Road is being executed by the public works department and other Delhi government agencies. We are actively coordinating with PWD and UTTIPEC."
About 300 trains pass through the station every day and it records a gigantic footfall of over 3.5 lakhs.
According to the UTTIPEC plan, the existing boundary wall between the station and SP Mookerjee Road would be demolished and the area encroached up on by street vendors will be cleared. Dedicated lanes for cars, three-wheelers and taxis and non-motorized transport will be constructed. The parking area of the station will also be renovated to increase its capacity by 200 vehicles
"The most important feature of this plan is seamless integration of lanes in the circulating area. Alighting bays will be provided for passengers. We are also opening a second entrance towards Kashmiri Gate which is expected to share 30 per cent of the existing footfall at this heritage station," Arora said.
Source : The Economic Times
Source : The Economic Times
Monday, 27 July 2015
traffic
07:54
When Railway Over Bridge in Korukkupet to be Open?
When Railway Over Bridge in Korukkupet to be Open?
Chennai (MAS): The corporation appears set to open the Korukkupet-Cochrane Basin Road railway overbridge (ROB) for use in October — to the relief of residents of localities nearby who prolonged delays in the project put out on a daily basis.
Work on the overbridge stalled after people living near the overbridge went to court but the Corporation of Chennai has settled the litigation and its officials are confident of meeting the new deadline for the project.
The corporation proposed the project in 2007 and began work on it in 2011, not long after which residents went to court over land acquisition.
The corporation has completed more than 85% of work on the 500-metre-long, 12.2-crore overbridge, a corporation official said. The overbridge and a proposed underpass at the same spot will replace a level crossing that creates traffic snarls several times a day.
“Work on the remaining 100 metres of one of the ramps of the overbridge is underway,” the official said.
The overbridge will ease traffic congestion at the railway crossing on the Chennai Central-Gummidipoondi line that the railways primarily uses to transport freight. Once it is ready people will not have to wait at the railway crossing to get to Chennai Central, 4km away, or to Flower Bazaar.
The gates now shut during peak hours, forcing commuters to wait for more than half an hour.
“This bridge will make things very convenient,” said Jitendra Bhati, who commutes from Tondiarpet to Cochrane Basin Road every day. The official said the corporation will start work on the underpass as soon as it completes the ROB.
“We needed to realign the underpass route and recently submitted a general arrangement drawing to the railways,” the official said.
The underpass will be wide enough to let buses through and, after it is complete, the authorities will shut the railway gate.
Tuesday, 21 July 2015
Centre kick-starts FDI, PPP in Railways; begins work with Model Concession Agreements
Centre kick-starts FDI, PPP in Railways; begins work with Model Concession Agreements
New Delhi: Attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Railways is finally getting the push with the government. The Railways ministry is initiating a move to create model concession agreements in order to kick-start the process of attracting FDI and private investments, close to 8 months after it came up with sectoral guidelines for such investments in November.
The ministry has just started the process of appointing consultants for preparing model concession agreements for those areas where private and foreign investments have been allowed.
Areas where such investments would be allowed are operation of private passenger trains, concession of standalone passenger corridors, construction, upgradation and maintenance of any new or existing freight terminal owned by the Railways, setting up of technical training institutes, testing facilities and laboratories and technological solutions for level crossings and for improving safety and reducing accidents.
“For the purposes of this assignment, the consultants are expected to go through best possible international and domestic agreements of a similar nature and suggest a framework which will be acceptable to stakeholders including financial institutions,” the document for consultants who would prepare model concession agreement said.
For concession of standalone passenger corridors, the asset would be transferred to a special purpose vehicle at a pre-specified nominal value and the concession period will be for a period between 10-15 years.
For freight terminal projects as well there would be a transfer of assets and the revenues would be shared under the concession agreement.
While model concession agreements already exist for urban rail systems and construction of private lines, many of the permissible activities detailed in the sectoral guidelines will require preparation of concession agreements under which investments can be made.
According to the Dibek Debroy committee which submitted its report in June, earlier policies of Indian Railways for private ownership of rolling stock have not brought in the desired level of investments, primarily due to the perception of a lack of level playing fields.
The government had earlier decided to allow FDI in areas like suburban corridor projects through PPP, high speed trains, Mass Rapid Transport Systems, dedicated freight lines, rolling stock including train sets, locomotives or coaches manufacturing and maintenance facilities, rail electrification, signaling systems, freight and passenger terminals and facilities to manufacture railway lines or sidings.
Sunday, 21 June 2015
Southern Railway
16:04
India’s first air-conditioned DEMU train launched in Kochi
India’s first air-conditioned DEMU train launched in Kochi
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Sunday flagged off India’s first diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) train service with an air-conditioned coach in Kochi.
The Angamaly-Ernakulam-Tripunithura-Piravom train service is expected to help in reducing traffic congestion in the state’s fastest growing city.
“It is for the first time in a DEMU service, we have provided air conditioned service. We want to increase it further,” Prabhu said at a function in Ernakulam Junction.
Top Railway officials said the AC coach provides reclining type comfortable cushion seats for 73 passengers similar to air-conditioned chair car of inter-city express trains.
Other coaches of DEMU train are provided with bench type cushion seats and large windows with glass shutters. The train is equipped with bio-toilets and fully vestibule
for free movement of passengers between coaches.
Prabhu said the DEMU after the inaugural service would be withdrawn temporarily and replaced with MEMU (mainline electrical multiple unit) train till the completion of
renovation work of Harbour Terminus and Old Railway Stations.
He assured that the DEMU launched today would itself be restored once the renovation work was completed.
Kerala Power Minister Aryadan Muhammed, K V Thomas, MP, and Hybi Eden, Congress MLA, were among those who attended the function.
Source:The Indian Express
Source:The Indian Express
