ProUI

Sivasagar as world heritage site sought
Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, Aug 31 – The media fraternity here has appealed to the Sivasagar Deputy Commissoner Minakshi Sundaram to turn Sivasagar, which has an abundance of monuments dating back to the Ahom period, into a world heritage site. The media persons including Guno Barua, Manirul Islam Bora, Khairuddin Ahmed and Toufique Islam Bora met the DC on Thursday and briefed him about the various burning issues of Sivasagar and the importance of preservation of ancient monuments and the possibility of turning Sivasagar a world heritage site.
The media fraternity also expressed their ire over the non-preservation of the Sivasagar tank and Joysagar tank either by Central Archeological Department or the State Archeological Department. They said that Sivasagar has all the potential to be recognised as a heritage site having the Sivadol adorned with a golden pot, Bishnu Dol, Devi Dol, Asia’s first pavilion Rang Ghar, Kareng Ghar, Talatal Ghar, maidams of Charaideo, Ajan peer Dargah etc.

The DC, accompanied by the media persons, later visited Sivasagar town and took stock of the burning issues of the town, like artificial floods, traffic congestion, encroachment of road / streets and said that a meeting would soon be convened with the chairman, SMB and the Superintendent of Police, Sivasagar to resolve the issues.

Kochi: Tired of complaining about untidy toilets, trash left behind in the train, or dirt and grime in a coach. The railways promises to change all that as it plans to implement the ‘On Board  Housekeeping Services’ (OBHS) in select trains originating from the state for the first time.“The OBHS will be introduced in mail and express trains starting from the division for the first time. This is as part of the efforts to raise the cleanliness rating from one star to three star. We’re preparing the list of trains which will be announced next week,” Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Agarwal told DC.Under the scheme, a team of cleaning workers has been  hired by the railways to keep coach toilets, doorways, aisles and passenger coaches neat and clean during the journey from the originating to terminating stations.However, the cash-strapped railways would incur substantial expenditure on OBHS scheme and hence it would be implemented on select popular trains like the Netravati Express.The complaints of old and untidy coaches being used in trains running through the state were there for some time. However, the railway  official said the situation has changed in the past two years. “Now we’ve better long-distance trains than those running in the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu,’’ he said.The OBHS scheme has laid down criterion such as nature of train service, journey time/period, pattern of maintenance etc. The scheme has so far been implemented in around 385 trains.

GUWAHATI: The feasibility study for five rail links between the bordering towns of India and Bhutan, conducted by the Railways, has reached an advanced stage.

According to senior Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction) officials, the progress of the survey in all the five links is over 50 per cent as at the end of last month.

“The study is going on at a steady pace, considering the terrain and the fact that it will involve two sovereign nations. This year’s Railway Budget made special provision considering cost updating for the survey which was initially sanctioned in 2007,” an official said.

The proposed links will have an approximate total length of 198 km. Of the five proposed lines, two will connect West Bengal with Bhutan and the rest three will be between Assam and Bhutan.

The lines are Banarhat (West Bengal)-Samtse (Bhutan) with a proposed length of 23.15 km, Hasimara (West Bengal)-Phuentsholing (Bhutan) of 17.51 km, Kokrajhar-Gelephu of 57.7 km, Pathsala-Nganglam of 51.15 km and Rangia-Samdrup Jongkhar of 48.04 km.

“The survey has to take into account various factors including alignment of the proposed lines, feasibility and prospects for land acquisition, economics of the areas through which the lines will pass including viability of such links and so on. Besides, it involves detailed discussions with the state governments concerned,” the official said.

Another senior Railway official said that, if sanctioned, the link between the border towns of the two countries could give a massive boost to bilateral trade and the local economy.

“It will also act a precursor to similar rail links between India and the South-East Asian nations,” he said.

Once the feasibility survey is over, reports are sent to the Railway Board for sanction and the Railway Ministry enters the picture along with the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Railways.

The Government Railway Police has completed the investigation into the crashing of a barge into the 100-year-old Pamban rail bridge in January and is all set to file the charge sheet against the five accused, including the Captain of the barge and the then Pamban port conservator, in the case.

India’s first cantilever bridge across the Palk Strait, connecting the mainland with the Rameswaram Island, suffered damage after the barge, owned by Kolkotta-based Titagarh Marine crashed into the bridge after anchor failure.

A tug boat was towing the barge from Kolkotta for handing it over to the Indian Navy in Karwar, when the mishap occurred on January 13. The barge was salvaged on the same day but train services remained suspended for a week following damage to one of the piers.

After the GRP registered a FIR, C.Vellaiyan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, GRP, Madurai Division took up the investigation and completed it recently, holding the Captain of the vessel responsible for the mishap and decided to include the then Pamban port conservator as one of the five accused in the charge sheet.

“We have completed the investigation and written to the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board to include the then Pamban port conservator as an accused in the case. After getting the clearance from the board, the charge sheet will be filed before the Judicial Magistrate Court, Rameswaram,” he told . Apart from the Captain and the port conservator, the vessel Engineer, seaman and the agent of Titagarh Marine are also being charged in the case, he said.

Investigations revealed that there has been slackness on the part of the Captain and the crew leading to the mishap, Mr. Vellaiyan said adding the then Pamban port conservator (who has been transferred to Kannyakumari after the incident) was equally responsible for the mishap as he “had played the role of the agent” and tried in vain to remove the vessel before it rammed into the bridge, he said.

After registering the case in January, the TNRP took possession of the barge and arrested the Captain and seaman. However, it later handed over the barge to Titagarh Marine on the order of the JM court Rameswaram. The Captain and seaman were also released on bail.

Meanwhile, the Madurai Division of the Southern Railway claimed damages to the tune of Rs. 1.5 crore and denied permission to the tug boat and barge to pass through the bridge without paying the compensation. The row between Titagarh Marine and Southern Railway took a dramatic turn with the company taking out the barge via Sri Lanka in March. The matter pertaining to the compensation was pending before the Madurai bench of the Madras High court.

The Southern Railway’s plan for constructing Limited Use Subway gets green signal from Chennai Corporation. T. Madhavan reports.

Finally, train commuters, residents and traders of Ambattur have something to cheer about. The Chennai Corporation recently gave its nod to the plan of the Southern Railway for constructing a Limited Use Subway at level-crossing 6 at Ambattur railway station.

For long residents and commuters have been pressing the Railway Board to construct a road over-bridge or under-bridge replacing the existing level-crossing near the station.

In the past, a number of fatal accidents have taken place where unwary pedestrians were hit by speeding trains at the level-crossing 6. At present, there is only a foot over-bridge to cross from one side to the other. Though it is a safe passage of pedestrians, motorists risk their lives while using the level-crossing. School students also find it difficult to use the level-crossing during rush hour. “Sometimes, people crawl under the stationary goods train at the level-crossing, skipping the overbridge,” said Palaniyappan, a fruit vendor on Old MTH Road.

T. Gunaseelan, a resident of Varadarajapuram, Ambattur, says that once the subway work is completed the residents of Kallikuppam Road, Venkatapuram, Prithvipakkam and Vijayalakshmipuram will have easy access to the CTH Road. At present, people have to take a detour via CTH Road to reach Canara Bank bus stop. “This would also reduce the traffic congestion near the O.T. bus stand,” he adds.

Traders on either side of the Bazaar Road want the process of constructing the Limited Use Subway to be expedited as they also stand to benefit from it.

Last September, Southern Railway called for tenders to construct a Limited Use Subway with an internal dimension of 8.0 metre x 3.6 metre under the ‘box pushing’ method. The height of the each box would be 2.1 metre. The tender value of Rs. 4.69 crore failed to impress the bidders, as the contractors felt the value was too low for building the facility.

Joseph Samuel, chairman of Ambattur Zone of Chennai Corporation, said: “Now, Railways has revised the tender value to Rs. 6.89 crore. Tenders are likely to be re-floated soon. Chennai Corporation Engineers would coordinate with the Southern Railway engineers for executing the project.”

अमृतसर. रेलवे बोर्ड के एजीएम अनूप साहू ने  शनिवार को रेलवे स्टेशन का दौरा किया और हर एक काम की बारीकी से जांच की। हालांकि रेलवे स्टेशन पर क्या-क्या खामियां हैं, इसके प्रति डीआरएम सहित सभी अधिकारियों ने उन्हें गुमराह किए रखा और नई-नई योजनाओं की तरफ उनका ध्यान खींचने की कोशिश करते रहे। बावजूद इसके स्टेशन पर साफ-सफाई और अन्य जरूरी सुविधाओं को लेकर उन्होंने अधिकारियों की जमकर खिंचाई की और प्रबंधों को सुधारने के निर्देश दिए।

वेटिंग हाल होगा बड़ा

पत्रकारों के साथ बातचीत  के दौरान एजीएम साहू ने कहा कि उन्होंने वेटिंग हाल का जायजा लिया है और वहां पर लोगों के बैठने की कैपेसिटी बहुत ही कम है। इसके तहत उन्होंने डिवीजन के अधिकारियों के आदेश जारी कर दिए हैं कि वेटिंग हाल को बड़ा किया जाए, ताकि आने वाले समय में यात्रियों को परेशानी न हो सके।

डीआरएम एनसी गोयल ने कहा कि रेलवे के सभी अधिकारियों पर चौकस नजर रखी जा रही है, ताकि किसी भी यात्री को परेशानी का सामना न करने पड़े। उनको मिलने वाली हर एक शिकायत को गंभीरता से लिया जाता है और उस पर बनती कार्रवाई भी की जा रही है।

दौरे पर आए एजीएम साहू ने रेलवे स्टेशन के मौजूदा हालातों पर अधिकारियों की जमकर खिंचाई की। साहू ने कहा कि पर्यटन विभाग की ओर से अमृतसर रेलवे स्टेशन को प्रमुखता प्रदान की गई है, जिसके तहत ही वह यहां निरीक्षण करने आए हैं।

इज्जतनगर रेल मंडल के काठगोदाम स्टेशन से हावड़ा जाने वाली 13020/13019 बाघ एक्सप्रेस और जोधपुर जाने वाली 15014/15013 रानीखेत एक्सप्रेस देश के सबसे ताकतवर ब्राडगेज डीजल पैसेंजर (डब्ल्यूडीपी4डी) इंजन (लोको) से दौड़ेगी। इसके लिए डीजल शेड से शनिवार की रात इंजन संख्या 40131 को रवाना किया गया है।
यह इंजन रविवार की सुबह से सप्ताहिक बाघ एक्सप्रेस को 130 किमी की रफ्तार से लेकर ट्रैक पर दौड़ेगा। इसके बाद वापस आने पर दूसरी सप्ताहिक ट्रेन रानीखेत लेकर जाएगा। 4500 हॉर्स पॉवर वाले डब्ल्यूडीपी-फोर डी 160 किमी प्रति घंटे की रफ्तार से दौड़ सकेगा। जबकि बाकी रेल इंजन मात्र 110 किमी की रफ्तार से ही दौड़ सकते हैं।
वाराणसी लोको कारखाने में तैयार डब्ल्यूडीपी4डी चार लाख किमी तक लगातार दौड़ सकता है। इसके साथ ही 14 करोड़ की लागत से तैयार इंजन को दोनों ओर से चलाया जा सकेगा। इसकी ओवरहालिंग की जरुरत 18 साल बाद पड़ेगी। इसमें चालकों की राहत के लिए चार पंखे लगे है। डीजल शेड में बाकी बचे तीन डब्ल्यूडीपी-फोर डी इंजनों से जल्द अन्य एक्सप्रेस ट्रेनों को दौड़ाने की तैयारी की जा रही है। इस इंजन में फेल्योर की शिकायत कम है। इससे यात्रियों को काफी राहत मिलेगी।

इज्जतनगर रेल मंडल के काठगोदाम स्टेशन से हावड़ा जाने वाली 13020/13019 बाघ एक्सप्रेस और जोधपुर जाने वाली 15014/15013 रानीखेत एक्सप्रेस देश के सबसे ताकतवर ब्राडगेज डीजल पैसेंजर (डब्ल्यूडीपी4डी) इंजन (लोको) से दौड़ेगी। इसके लिए डीजल शेड से शनिवार की रात इंजन संख्या 40131 को रवाना किया गया है।
यह इंजन रविवार की सुबह से सप्ताहिक बाघ एक्सप्रेस को 130 किमी की रफ्तार से लेकर ट्रैक पर दौड़ेगा। इसके बाद वापस आने पर दूसरी सप्ताहिक ट्रेन रानीखेत लेकर जाएगा। 4500 हॉर्स पॉवर वाले डब्ल्यूडीपी-फोर डी 160 किमी प्रति घंटे की रफ्तार से दौड़ सकेगा। जबकि बाकी रेल इंजन मात्र 110 किमी की रफ्तार से ही दौड़ सकते हैं।
वाराणसी लोको कारखाने में तैयार डब्ल्यूडीपी4डी चार लाख किमी तक लगातार दौड़ सकता है। इसके साथ ही 14 करोड़ की लागत से तैयार इंजन को दोनों ओर से चलाया जा सकेगा। इसकी ओवरहालिंग की जरुरत 18 साल बाद पड़ेगी। इसमें चालकों की राहत के लिए चार पंखे लगे है। डीजल शेड में बाकी बचे तीन डब्ल्यूडीपी-फोर डी इंजनों से जल्द अन्य एक्सप्रेस ट्रेनों को दौड़ाने की तैयारी की जा रही है। इस इंजन में फेल्योर की शिकायत कम है। इससे यात्रियों को काफी राहत मिलेगी।

Sivasagar as world heritage site sought
Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, Aug 31 – The media fraternity here has appealed to the Sivasagar Deputy Commissoner Minakshi Sundaram to turn Sivasagar, which has an abundance of monuments dating back to the Ahom period, into a world heritage site. The media persons including Guno Barua, Manirul Islam Bora, Khairuddin Ahmed and Toufique Islam Bora met the DC on Thursday and briefed him about the various burning issues of Sivasagar and the importance of preservation of ancient monuments and the possibility of turning Sivasagar a world heritage site.
The media fraternity also expressed their ire over the non-preservation of the Sivasagar tank and Joysagar tank either by Central Archeological Department or the State Archeological Department. They said that Sivasagar has all the potential to be recognised as a heritage site having the Sivadol adorned with a golden pot, Bishnu Dol, Devi Dol, Asia’s first pavilion Rang Ghar, Kareng Ghar, Talatal Ghar, maidams of Charaideo, Ajan peer Dargah etc.

The DC, accompanied by the media persons, later visited Sivasagar town and took stock of the burning issues of the town, like artificial floods, traffic congestion, encroachment of road / streets and said that a meeting would soon be convened with the chairman, SMB and the Superintendent of Police, Sivasagar to resolve the issues.

अहमदाबाद-गांधीनगर मेट्रो रेल प्रोजेक्ट खटाई में पड़ता दिख रहा है, मुख्यमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी लंबे समय से इसे गति देने में जुटे थे, लेकिन परियोजना के कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष पूर्व आइएएस संजय गुप्ता ने निजी कारणों से खुद को इससे अलग कर लिया।
मेट्रोलिंक एक्सप्रेस गांधीनगर - अहमदाबाद मेगा प्रोजेक्ट पर पिछले कई वर्ष से काम चल रहा है।
मुख्यमंत्री मोदी ने प्रोजेक्ट को गति देने के लिए अपने खास संजय गुप्ता को इसका कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष बनाया। अब उन्होंने अपने निजी व्यवसाय पर ध्यान केंद्रित करने का इरादा जताते हुए परियोजना से खुद को अलग कर लिया। राज्य सरकार के प्रवक्ता नितिन पटेल ने गुप्ता के इस्तीफे को स्वीकार करने की पुष्टि कर दी है। माना जा रहा है कि सेवानिवृत्त आइएएस आईपी गौतम को गुप्ता की जगह नया कार्यकारी अध्यक्ष बनाया जा सकता है।