ProUI

PSPB men defeated Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) 3-1 while the women beat Airports Authority of India (AAI) 3-0.
Dharwad, Karnataka: The Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) retained the men and women team titles in the LIC-sponsored Institutional Table Tennis Championships at the District Indoor Hall here Saturday.

PSPB men defeated Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) 3-1 while the women beat Airports Authority of India (AAI) 3-0.

Aman Balgu upset Amalraj 3-2 to give a grand beginning for Railways. But the pace that Balgu set was somewhat dented by both Soumyajit Ghosh and Harmeet Desai who rolled over their rivals. Ghosh, the crucial link the in the PSPB line-up, then disposed of Balgu in the fourth singles, much to the relief of the PSPB bench.

Amalraj showed patchy brilliance on the day and credit must go to Balgu for the way he staged a nice comeback from 1-2 down to breathe easy at 2-2. But his opponent was certainly not comfortable and Balgu from 2-2 went up 5-2, then 7-4 before allowing Amalraj just a couple of points to win 11-6. Then Ghosh came and demolished Souvik Kar with a straight games win, Harmeet Desai, despite a stutter, provided his team a 2-1 lead and left completion job in the expert hands of Ghosh.

Ghosh, who defeated Balgu 3-1, was under great pressure, particularly in the third game which he won 12-10. The see-saw battle saw some excellent rallies and away-from-the-table game with no quarters given. But some crucial errors on the part of Balgu at 10-10 proved his undoing. Ghosh, despite leading in the fourth, allowed Balgu come close before raising his game a notch higher to clinch it with the minimum margin of 11-9.

Results:

Team finals: Men: PSPB bt RSPB 3-1 (A. Amalraj lost to Aman Balgu 2-3 (11-6, 8-11, 11-6, 7-11, 7-11), Soumyajit Ghosh bt Souvik Kar 3-0 (11-5, 11-8, 11-4), Harmeet Desai bt Noel Pinto 3-1 (8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-7), Soumyajit Ghosh bt Aman Balgu 3-1 (11-3, 8-11, 12-10, 11-9).

Women: PSPB bt AAI 3-0 (K. Shamini bt AV Nivedita 3-1 (11-9, 10-12, 11-8, 11-8), Ankita Das bt Kritwika Sinha Roy 3-1 (11-2, 7-11, 11-06, 11-9), Madhurika Patkar bt Nikhat Bhanu 3-1 (2-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-9).

They moved like giant snails, at their own pace. But when life itself was leisurely paced, trams in Chennai — the service came to a stop in 1953 — did not seem as if they belonged to the Jurassic age.They travelled at a maximum speed of 7 kmph but have left behind pleasant memories of a time when every inch of city roads was not occupied by vehicles.“I would not call the journeys thrilling. But travel in a slow-moving tram, seated by the windows, offered me excellent sightseeing opportunities. At one anna (1/16th of a rupee), they were ideal for a pleasant journey,” said writer and Sahitya Akademi winner Ashokamitran.Run by the Madras Electricity System (MES), trams on rails dominated Chennai roads back then and remained a convenient mode of transport for office-goers.“People from Mylapore travelled in trams to reach the High Court and other parts of the city. They boarded and detrained as they pleased, as trams moved very slowly,” said Mr. Ashokamitran.A strike by workers who demanded wage revision led to a lockout. Subsequently, Chief Minister C. Rajagopalachari favoured the idea of ending the service, bringing the curtains down on 67 years of its run. “But the rails embedded on roads continued to remind Chennaiites of the tram days. For many years, they were not removed as they cost a fortune,” said Mr. Ashokamitran, who arrived in Chennai in 1953 to settle down permanently on an invitation from S.S. Vasan, owner of Gemini Studios.

But as the son of a railway employee entitled to a railway pass, Mr. Ashokamitran visited the city as early as in 1938 and enjoyed tram journeys to cinemas.

“I clearly remember travelling by a tram to Odeon theatre. It was here I watched ‘Mangamma Sabatham’ and ‘Nandanar,” he said.

S.A. Govindaraj too vividly recalls the high-pitch noise emanated by the vehicle when the driver changed gears and the ringing of a bell warning careless pedestrians.

“There were two types of trams. The big one was about 50-ft-long and the small, 35 ft. Inside, there were wooden benches on both sides and 60 passengers could sit on them. A total of 200 commuters could conveniently travel in trams,” said the 78-year-old Govindaraj, who once had two tickets in his possession.

One ticket was in English and the other in Tamil. Mr. Govindaraj sold them to a collector three months ago.

The tram ran on electricity and had a rod with a small wheel on it, said Mr. Govindaraj. “The wheel was turned by the overhead electric lines as the tram moved. When the vehicle travelled in the opposite direction, the conductor would pull the line by a rope to place it on the wheel,” he said.

Travelling by trams was very cheap, said Mr. Govindaraj, who travelled from Central to Luz Corner. “Even then, many passengers would not buy tickets and weeklies would carry cartoons lampooning ticketless travellers,” he said.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has decided to take up the issue of the attack on an American woman, Michelle Marks, 28, on a local train on Sunday between Marine Lines and Charni Road stations. A drug addict allegedly attacked Marks with a blade while trying to snatch her iPhone.

“Even though Marks escaped with minor injuries, the incident in itself is serious in nature. We are concerned about the safety of millions of women who commute on local trains,’’ said commission member Nirmala Samant-Prabhavalkar.

“I plan to meet the victim soon and get a first-hand report of the incident. I spoke to Prabhat Kumar, chief of Government Railway Police (GRP), Mumbai, and have asked him to submit a report to the commission immediately.”

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Railway Pravasi Sangh has slammed the railway ministry for its failure to ensure passenger safety. Sangh president Madhu Kotian said, “It’s a disgrace that the ministry, which gets a revenue of Rs1,800 crore annually from Mumbai’s suburban railway, does not deem it necessary to provide for security. Every time an incident takes place, it claims that there is a paucity of police personnel.’’

Kotian said the Railway Protection Force (RPF) claimed that they are tasked with only protecting railway property.

“The GRP, which comes under the state government, has completely failed in its task,’’ said a daily commuter, Chandresh Dani.

Nazima Sayyed, vice-president of the Sangh, said the organisation has decided to lead a delegation of women commuters to home minister RR Patil to complain about the “utter lack of security’’ on the city’s local trains

Bhubaneswar/Visakhapatnam: The much-awaited security makeover of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Visakhapatnam railway stations under East Coast Railway (ECoR) is likely to be commissioned by December, official sources said. Railways would spend Rs.1.9 crore for implementation of the proposed integrated security system, involving video surveillance, personal and baggage screening, access control and explosive detection.

“High frequency colour cameras with day and night vision will be installed to keep a hawk’s eye on movement of people on platforms, parking lots and surrounding areas,” said a senior railway protection force (RPF) officer.

For proper frisking of vehicles, there will be vehicle surveillance system with boom barriers and advanced vehicle scanners outside the station. “The system will be equipped to capture images of drivers and number plates of vehicles,” he said.

While the existing baggage scanner often gets defunct, the railways would put in place an advanced X-ray baggage scanner at the station. Besides, latest door frame metal detectors and hand-held ones would replace the old devices, sources said.

There will be provision of water cannon, gas cutters, bomb basket, bomb suit among others under the explosive detection and disposal system, sources said. “Those who will handle the integrated security system would be properly trained,” said the RPF officer.

The railways chalked out the proposed fool-proof security measures in the aftermath of the 2008 serial blasts in Mumbai.

Bhubaneswar/Visakhapatnam: The much-awaited security makeover of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Visakhapatnam railway stations under East Coast Railway (ECoR) is likely to be commissioned by December, official sources said. Railways would spend Rs.1.9 crore for implementation of the proposed integrated security system, involving video surveillance, personal and baggage screening, access control and explosive detection.

“High frequency colour cameras with day and night vision will be installed to keep a hawk’s eye on movement of people on platforms, parking lots and surrounding areas,” said a senior railway protection force (RPF) officer.

For proper frisking of vehicles, there will be vehicle surveillance system with boom barriers and advanced vehicle scanners outside the station. “The system will be equipped to capture images of drivers and number plates of vehicles,” he said.

While the existing baggage scanner often gets defunct, the railways would put in place an advanced X-ray baggage scanner at the station. Besides, latest door frame metal detectors and hand-held ones would replace the old devices, sources said.

There will be provision of water cannon, gas cutters, bomb basket, bomb suit among others under the explosive detection and disposal system, sources said. “Those who will handle the integrated security system would be properly trained,” said the RPF officer.

The railways chalked out the proposed fool-proof security measures in the aftermath of the 2008 serial blasts in Mumbai.

बिलासपुर। जोन के 28 रेलवे स्टेशन नक्सलियों के निशाने पर हैं। रेलवे सुरक्षा बल ने खुफिया जानकारियों और नक्सलियों की सक्रियता के आधार पर इन स्टेशनों को संवेदनशील घोषित कर दिया है। इनकी सूची रेलवे बोर्ड के साथ ही राज्य शासन को भी भेजी गई है, ताकि समय रहते सुरक्षा मजबूत की जा सके। रायपुर, बिलासपुर व नागपुर डिवीजन के 28 रेलवे स्टेशनों पर नक्सलियों की चहलकदमी की खबर आरपीएफ को मिली है। बताया जा रहा है कि नक्सली इन स्टेशनों में आम लोगों को निशाना बना सकते हैं, लिहाजा आरपीएफ से लेकर स्थानीय पुलिस भी हाईअलर्ट पर है।
रेलवे सुरक्षा बल की रिपोर्ट से पता चला है कि नक्सली छत्तीसगढ़ व महाराष्ट्र की सीमा में सक्रिय हैं। नागपुर डिवीजन में सबसे अधिक 16 संवेदनशील स्टेशन हैं। बिलासपुर डिवीजन के 9 और रायपुर के 3 स्टेशन नक्सल गतिविधियों से प्रभावित हैं।
52 ब्रिज व टर्मिनल पर नजर
नक्सली आम लोगों की हत्या करने की मंशा से रेलवे ब्रिज व टर्मिनल (सुरंग) को भी निशाना बना सकते हैं। आरपीएफ ने जोन के ऐसे 52 रेलब्रिज व 227 मीटर लंबे टर्मिनल को संवेदनशील माना है।
ये हैं संवेदनशील स्टेशन
1. बिलासपुर डिवीजन: टेंगनमाड़ा, खोडऱी, खोंगसरा, बोरीडांड, उदलकछार, दर्रीटोला, नगर, जामगा एवं दगोरा।
2. रायपुर डिवीजन: बालोद, कुसुमकसा एवं दल्लीराजहरा।
3. नागपुर डिवीजन: गोंदिया, दारेकसा, सालेकसा, बोरतलाब, पनियाजॉब, डोंगरगढ़, राजनांदगांव, बालाघाट, सामनापुर, चारेगांव, लमता, देवालगांव, अर्जुनी, वाडसा, नागभीर एवं चांदाफोर्ट।

Thousands of unsuccessful applicants went on a rampage during an army recruitment campaign here pelting stones at buses and stopping trains.

On the last day of the 'Sena Bharti Mela' at the RPSF camp here yesterday, candidates from Mau district were tested. A total of 362 of them were selected and rest about 5,000 were found ineligible, police said.Some of these 5,000 candidates while returning home created a ruckus at the railway platforms, bus stations and streets of the city, they said.They travelled in autorickshaws and buses without paying the fare and also pelted stones on roadways buses, police said.The accused looted railway vendors and stopped Durg Express, Bagh Express and Varanasi-Gorakhpur Intercity trains on Cantt Railway station in a bid to board them, railway sources said.They stopped Shaheed Express at the Cantt railway station for hours, the sources said.Policemen and RPF jawans controlled the mob and got the train moving. The railway is trying to identify the miscreants through CCTV footage, a railway spokesman said."The guilty will be punished once the identification is established," he added.

Kolkata: The Railway Protection Force of South Eastern Railway has made remarkable achievements in curbing criminal and anti-social activities in the month of July, 2013.

During the month of July, 2013, Railway Protection Force (RPF) of South Eastern Railway conducted a total of 4,015 drives and 26,204 persons were arrested under the Railways Act. A total amount of Rs.41.76 lakhs was realized as fine from the offenders.

Under the Cigarette & Other Tobacco Products Act, a total number of 840 cases were detected by RPF in the month of July, 2013 for which a total amount of Rs. 1.68 lakhs was collected as fine.

Other achievements of RPF in protecting railway passengers in July, 2013 included arrest of one criminal with the help of footage of CCTV at Santragachi station, arrest of one eve teaser from Dn. Hatia-Howrah Express at Kharagpur, recovery of ammunition during anti-sabotage check from Puri-Santragachi Passenger etc. Moreover, one hard core criminal and key accused in incidents of dacoity in 4 goods train was arrested and handed over to GRP/Dangoaposi. One Luggage Lifter was also arrested from Rourkela station.

Apart from protecting Railway passengers and property, RPF of S.E.Railway played a commendable role in service of humanity. During the month of July, 2013, RPF arrested one women trafficker and rescued four minor girls from Monoharpur in Chakradharpur Division. Besides, 12 minor boys and 8 minor girls were also rescued during checking by RPF in different stations and trains in SER’s jurisdiction.

After mooting the construction of railway platforms using garbage at Kadakkavoor station, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation on Friday submitted the estimate to Suchitwa Mission for getting technical sanction.

The estimate includes a sketch for erecting sidewalls for raising the platforms that are to be constructed, which as per the latest information has to be done by the Corporation, bearing the cost of construction.

Before the Suchitwa Mission gives technical sanction, the estimate would be submitted for the Railways’ approval.

The Corporation is unhappy over spending a huge sum for erecting sidewalls for the platforms alone. According to the estimate, around Rs 60 lakh will have to be spent for the sidewalls alone.

If the cost for transporting the garbage from the city and bringing earth for the construction would be considered, the amount would go up further.

“It is to be noted that the Corporation has to spend such a huge sum to get rid of less than 1,500 tonnes of garbage, which is only a part compared to the entire garbage generated in the city. When platforms were constructed in Murukkumpuzha and Kochu Veli stations, we had to transport the waste and provide earth to reinforce it and the amount was not that big,” a top official of the Corporation said.

The Corporation had earlier expressed its willingness to transport up to 3,000 tonnes of garbage for this purpose.

For over the years, there was constant demand from the passengers to raise the platforms as they find it difficult to get into the train. Therefore after a meeting held between the Railways, City Corporation, Suchitwa Mission officials and people’s representatives in July, it was decided to raise two platforms at a length of 500 metres on two sides to a height of 90 cm.

यूरेका फो‌र्ब्स कंपनी के ठेकेदार गुरुवार को भागलपुर-जम्मूतवी अमरनाथ एक्सप्रेस की सफाई कर ट्रायल लेंगे। सफाई का विधिवत कार्य शुक्रवार से शुरू किया जाएगा। बुधवार को ठेकेदार द्वारा यार्ड में पूजा-अर्चना का कार्य पूरा कर लिया गया। ट्रेनों के अंदर-बाहर की सफाई के लिए जेट क्लीनिंग मशीन को मंगाया गया है। फ्लोर स्क्राइबर मशीन को भी मंगा लिया गया है। फिलहाल ठेकेदार द्वारा पूर्व में सफाई कार्य में लगे मजदूरों से ही कार्य कराने का निर्णय लिया है। कुछ नए मजदूरों को भी रखा गया है।

मालूम हो कि ठेका समाप्त होने के बाद यंग बंगाल कंपनी ने एक अगस्त से सफाई का काम बंद कर दिया था। चलती ट्रेनों में सफाई का काम एटूजेड कंपनी ने चार जून से काम बंद कर दिया था। रेलवे अपने कर्मियों से एक अगस्त के बाद से ट्रेनों की सफाई करा रहा था, लेकिन चलती ट्रेनों में सफाई नहीं हो रही थी। इसके लिए साहिबगंज से 12 व जमालपुर से आठ कर्मचारियों को मंगाया गया। पूर्व से यहां सौ कर्मचारी कार्यरत हैं। भागलपुर ट्रेनों की सफाई के लिए मालदा रेल मंडल का यूरेका फो‌र्ब्स लि. साउथ इंक्लेव कंपनी के साथ चार जून को अनुबंध हुआ था।

भागलपुर यार्ड में फिलहाल भागलपुर-दानापुर इंटरसिटी, भागलपुर-मुजफ्फरपुर जनसेवा एक्सप्रेस, विक्रमशिला एक्सप्रेस, भागलपुर-अजमेरशरीफ साप्ताहिक एक्सप्रेस, भागलपुर-नई दिल्ली साप्ताहिक एक्सप्रेस, भागलपुर-रांची वनांचल एक्सप्रेस, भागलपुर-लोकमान्य तिलक एक्सप्रेस की सफाई व रखरखाव होता है। साथ ही भागलपुर-सुरत एक्सप्रेस, भागलपुर-रांची एक्सप्रेस, भागलपुर-यशवंतपुर अंग एक्सप्रेस, गरीब रथ की सफाई होती है। अब अमरनाथ एक्सप्रेस की भी सफाई होगी। कर्मियों की कमी के कारण ट्रेनों की सही ढंग से सफाई नहीं हो पा रही थी। पीट व सिक लाइन पर भी गंदगी का अंबार है। कर्मियों को काम करने में परेशानी हो रही है। चलती ट्रेनों में सफाई नहीं होने से यात्री परेशान थे।

यूरेका फो‌र्ब्स लि. ने चार जून को भागलपुर से खुलने वाली ट्रेनों की सफाई के लिए मालदा रेल मंडल से समझौता किया था। इसके तहत तीन वर्षो में मालदा रेल मंडल यूरेका फो‌र्ब्स लि. को सात करोड़ चार लाख रुपये देगी। समझौता के अनुसार एक माह के अंदर कंपनी को भागलपुर में कार्यभार संभालना था। मगर, कंपनी ने अब तक सफाई का काम शुरू नहीं किया है। कंपनी को चलती ट्रेनों में सफाई के अलावा यार्ड में भी ट्रेनों की सफाई करनी है। यार्ड परिसर व कार्यालय की सफाई का जिम्मा उसी के पास है।