RailEnquiry

PATNA: The number of alarm chain pulling (ACP) incidents have come down in all five divisions of East Central Railway (ECR). Altogether 521 persons were caught red-handed by RPF personnel at different places in connection with ACP incidents in May alone and railways realized a fine of Rs 3.32 lakh from them while 132 people were sent to jail for their failure to pay the fine on the spot, said ECR CPRO Amitabh Prabhakar.Railways has deployed 200 security personnel mostly RPSF to check ACP incidents on the running trains under Danapur division.According to Prabhakar, railways caught 1,969 persons in connection with ACP incidents from January to April this year at different places falling under ECR. While 1,732 people paid fine on the spot, 237 of them were forwarded to jail for not paying the fine before railway magistrate, Prabhakar said.According to Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Danapur, L M Jha, ACP continues to affect normal movement of passenger trains under the division. He said the railways has launched a massive drive against ACP, hose pipe disconnection (HPD) and clappet valve operation (CVO) in Danapur division. About 425 cases of ACP were reported last year. Altogether 889 people were nabbed for their involvement in ACP and other acts to stop illegally trains at different places under the division last year, he said.The DRM said miscreants used to stop trains by pulling alarm chains of mail and express trains at odd hours between Buxar and Dildarganj on the mainline section of the division. "These trains are so important that their forcible stoppage can cause any untoward incidents during night," he said adding Buxar - Ara was the worst affected section from ACP point of view.Railways intends to launch a massive awareness campaign against ACP incidents.This is possible only when villagers cooperate with the railways ,the DRM said. Jha said railways has been giving priority to running trains on each section of the division. These local trains, which are maintaining punctuality, have been given priority ahead of mail and express trains.The DRM said efforts are on to provide more amenities to passengers at each big and small station under the division during sultry weather in summer. " Safe drinking water has been made available at roadside stations. Fans, electricity, AC and other amenities are being ensured in long distance and local trains during peak summer," he said.