ProUI

The members of the Uttariya Railway Majdoor Union (URMU) have demanded that the authorities ensure maintenance of their residential quarters.During a meeting held at Railways Electric Shed, here on Wednesday, the members also demanded to increase the limit of bonus which is given on the occasion of Dushehra.URMU assistant divisional secretary ML Prashar said, “The conditions of quarters for the employees are in a very bad shape and are an open invitation to a mishap.These quarters have not been maintained for a long time. We want authorities should take immediate steps to repair the residential quarters.”“The condition of roads is pitiable in the railway colony. These roads should be reconstructed at the earliest. The electricity wiring should be underground and all should be given permission to install air conditioners at their homes,” he added.“We are forced to drink contaminated water. The officials concerned should take steps to clean the water supply tanks, which have not been cleaned for many months. They should ensure provision of safe drinking water for the residents,” Prashar added.URMU member Ajay Sahni said, “The employees should be given new uniforms. There are no provisions of separate washrooms for female employees at carriage depots. Separate washrooms should be constructed soon. If our demands are not completed then we would be forced to resort to agitation.”

South Central Railway Vijayawada Divisional Railway Manager Pradeep Kumar has donned the role of an instructor in the Electric Traction Training Centre (ETTC). He explained the Apprentice Loco Pilots (ALPs) about major components in the engine.The DRM, who visited the ETTC last week, interacted with the students. He explained that sand box was an important part of the engine, which helps prevent slipping of wheels from the tracks.“Automatic sanders (sand boxes) and manual sanders are arranged in the engines. Wheels usually lose grip during rainy and winter seasons and when oil and grease falls on the tracks. The pilot should press the pedal to apply sand on the tracks to provide friction between the wheels and the tracks. Only river sand should be used in the process”, explained Mr. Pradeep Kumar.Likewise, simulators (computer-based locos) will help identify the mistakes committed by a driver during training.The instructors explain the apprentice loco pilots about the mistakes committed by the learners on the screens. The ALPs can rectify their faults and improve their driving skills, said ETTC Principal D.R.J. Prasad.The ALPs, who arrived from different States, completed training on technical and general and subsidiary rules at the ETTC.They will undergo training on ‘road learning’ for about 15 days.The apprentice pilots would accompany the senior loco pilots on running trains and learn on road rules. Finally the loco inspectors inspect the driving skills of the fresh candidates, Mr. Pradeep Kumar told The Hindu.“The Indian Railways arranged three model cars to explain the ALPs on different components in the engine. A display of the major components is arranged in the loco training centre”, said Mr. Pradeep Kumar.

The ban which was imposed on the central projects in Manipur by the United Naga Council (UNC) in furtherance of its demand for an alternative arrangement outside the Manipur government has been lifted from 5 pm on Wednesday. This was announced by the publicity wing of the UNC in Imphal on Wednesday.For a long time the UNC has been demanding an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur saying that they no longer want to stay under the "communal government" led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.There had been blockade, general strike and other forms of agitations demanding the alternative arrangement.The Union government has been holding talks with the representatives of the UNC and the Manipur government in this regard. The sixth round of talks was held in Delhi on August 30 among the representatives of the Union government, the Manipur government and the UNC. The UNC says that during the talks the representatives of the Union government had urged its representatives to lift the ban on the central projects so as to take the process to the political level within two months.The UNC discussed the proposal in a meeting held on Tuesday. It was decided that the ban would be lifted from Wednesday. The announcement says that the ban on the Trans Asian Railway Line and power grid is lifted appreciating the firm and sincere intention of the Union government to end the stalemate stemming from the UNC demand.However the ban on the "exploitive and divisive" projects which are undertaken without prior consent of the land owners and which have displaced or will displace people will continue. The projects include seismic survey for oil exploration, the Mapithel multipurpose dam, Chakpi Karong multipurpose dam.

A crack was found on a railway track on the Katpadi-Latheri section on Tuesday, resulting in delay of Chennai bound trains. Railway employees patrolling the track around 3 am found the crack and immediately informed Gudiyatham, Virinjipuram and Kavanur stations. The Alappuzha express about to cross the spot, was stopped in the mid way. — Staff Reporter

Southern Railway has announced cancellation of the following passenger trains due to operational reasons. The Thanjavur – Kumbakonam passenger (56040) leaving Thanjavur at 6.05 p.m. will not run on Wednesdays up to September 18. Kumbakonam – Thanjavur passenger (56039) leaving Kumbakonam at 8.05 a.m. will not run on Thursdays up to September 18, a Southern Railway press release here said.

One person died while two others were severely injured when a goods train jumped the rails at Gangavaram Port here on Tuesday.The goods train, carrying iron ore from Kirandul, reached Gangavaram Port. It derailed and moved into the port area resulting in severe injuries to three persons, attending to their duties. The injured persons, Lalan Choudhary (43), Indrajit Saha (21) and Subodh Saha (23), were working as security guards at the port. They were rushed to King George Hospital where Lalan Choudhary succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment. The condition of the other two injured is said to be stable.

New Port Police are investigating the case.

NEW DELHI: Passengers in AC train coaches will receive early alarms in the event of a fire as railways has begun installing an advanced safety system which will stop trains automatically after detection of smoke and fire.Trials for the system in Bhubaneswar Rajdhani, which actually averted two fire tragedies so far, has encouraged railways to install it in Ranchi Rajdhani."After the successful trial in Bhubaneswar Rajdhani, Rail Coach Factory at Kapurthala has installed the improved fire-alarm system on one more LHB rake which will be used in Ranchi Rajdhani train," said a senior railway ministry official.The Very Early Warning Smoke Detection System has provision of interfacing with the air brake system of the coaches so that in the event of fire alarm, trains get stopped.According to railways, fire in coaches become deadly as it spreads due to the train running full speed, with passengers not getting chances to exit.

As a significant step, railways has developed fire and smoke detection system in coaches which is capable of checking and giving alarm during initial stages of fire, thereby providing valuable time for passengers to shift to safe areas and also evacuation.

"It is a constant endeavour on the part of railways to improve safety of passengers and accordingly the system is being installed in more coaches," said the official, adding, "The system is however, suitable for controlled environment of AC coaches only."

The official said there are plans to install the system in more trains in due course.

CHENNAI: Southern Railway has ordered an investigation into the fire accident inside carriage and wagon works at Perambur, where an AC coach under maintenance was destroyed by fire. The coach was used in Chennai-Coimbatore Duronto Express and was at the workshop for periodic overhaul.

"An investigation has been ordered into the incident," said a senior official of Southern Railway. Sources at the workshop said all mechanical work on the coach was complete and it was shifted to another shop for electrical work when it caught fire. Nobody was injured since it happened at night.

The AC coaches are often over-used during travel in some trains. As the coaches cannot be taken out of service for a long maintenance, railway technicians do stop-gap maintenance till its periodic overhaul.

This is the second time in Chennai that an air conditioned coach was damaged by fire. In an accident in 2009, smoke came out of an AC coach of Chennai-Nagercoil Express which was ready for departure on platform number 3 at Central railway station. Railway officials issued circulars to check AC components thoroughly before clearing a train for operation.

AURANGABAD: The Nanded division of the south central railway on Tuesday conducted a special ticket checking drive and collected a fine of Rs 1.11 lakh from as many as 336 ticketless travellers.

Charles Herenz, divisional commercial manager, Nanded division, said that a team of 60 ticket checking staff, including 25 TTEs and 35 scouts, were assisted by three personnel of the railway police force during the drive. The squad members travelled by bus to different places of the division to check the trains and prosecuted 336 ticketless travelers.

Herenz added that many such drives would be conducted in future so as to deter the ticketless travellers from commuting without appropriate train tickets.

पश्चिम मेदिनीपुर जिलांतर्गत खड़गपुर रेलवे स्टेशन परिसर में स्थित चार स्टॉल्स को रेलवे प्रशासन द्वारा किराया बकाया रहने के आरोप में सील कर दिए जाने को ले बुधवार को दिन भर नाटकीय घटनाक्रम चलता रहा। विभिन्न यूनियनों के बैनर तले वेंडर और केटरिंग हेल्पर हड़ताल पर रहे। इसकी वजह से यात्रियों को काफी परेशानियों का सामना करना पड़ा।
बताते चलें कि किराया बकाया रहने के आरोप में रेलवे प्रशासन ने मंगलवार को खड़गपुर रेलवे स्टेशन परिसर में स्थित चार स्टॉल्स को सील करने की कोशिश की थी। हालांकि एक को सील करने के बाद ही यूनियनों के कड़े विरोध के चलते अभियान दल को बैरंग वापस लौट जाना पड़ा। अलबत्ता बुधवार की सुबह प्रशासन ने शेष तीन स्टॉल्स को भी सील कर दिया। इससे स्टेशन पर कार्यरत करीब तीन सौ वेंडर और केटरिंग हेल्परों ने बुधवार को दुकानें नहीं खोली, वहीं इंटक, इंटटक और एटक के बैनर तले विरोध-प्रदर्शन किया। उनका आरोप था कि रेलवे को अग्रिम किराये का भुगतान किए जाने के बावजूद अन्यायपूर्ण तरीके से प्रशासन ने स्टॉल्स को सील किया है। इधर स्टॉल्स नहीं खुलने से रेल यात्रियों को खान-पान की चीजों के लिए भारी परेशानी झेलनी पड़ी। हालांकि रेलवे और आइआरसीटीसी की कैंटीनें खुली रही, लेकिन यात्रियों की संख्या के मद्देनजर यह अपर्याप्त साबित हुई। बुधवार को अपराह्न यूनियनों की ओर से एक प्रतिनिधि मंडल ने खड़गपुर के डीआरएम गौतम बनर्जी से मुलाकात भी की। हालांकि किसी निष्कर्ष पर नहीं पहुंचा जा सका। इस संबंध में खड़गपुर रेल मंडल के वरिष्ठ वाणिज्यिक प्रबंधक विवेक कुमार ने कहा कि मामले में रियायत की कोई गुंजाइश नहीं थी, इसीलिए यह कार्रवाई करनी पड़ी। उन्होंने उन्होंने कहा कि यात्रियों को हो रही परेशानियों को देखते हुए वैकल्पिक व्यवस्था पर विचार किया जा रहा है।