ProUI

DHAMARA GHAT ( KHAGARIA): Union minister of state (MOS) for railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary visited Dhamara Ghat railway station late on Monday night where, in all, 28 passengers were run over and killed by 12567 Rajyarani Express while crossing the rail track earlier in the day.

The junior railway minister also visited the persons who were seriously injured in the incident at Sadar hospital, Khagaria. He personally handed over a cheque of Rs 95,000 and a cash of Rs 5,000 to each of the three admitted in the hospital. The railways has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of the kin of those who were killed by the train at the station, according to Samastipur divisional railway manager (DRM) Arun Malik.

A four-member junior administrative grade inquiry has, in the meantime, been ordered into the ghastly accident at Dhamara Ghat railway station in Saharsa-Mansi section of Samastipur railway division of East Central Railway (ECR) on Monday morning, the DRM said.

DRM Malik, shrugging off railways' culpability in the accident said, "The passengers had got off the Saharsa-Samastipur passenger train on the wrong side of the platform and were walking through the middle track at the station when Patna-bound super fast Rajyarani Express happened to pass through."

Putting the blame squarely on the hordes of passengers, he said, "The train had not only been given signal, and the train driver also blew the horn, but in the din of the passengers,who were hurrying towards Katyani temple,opposite to the railway platform, missed the engine's hoot."

"The question of suspension of any railway staff does not arise," he said. He also added that the engine driver of Rajyarani Express Rajaram Paswan had to face the mob fury and was seriously injured.

Meanwhile, train services in Saharsa-Mansi section in Samastipur division were resumed late on Monday night. 15208 Amritsar-Saharsa Jansewa Express, Danapur-Saharsa Inter-City Express, Sealdah- Saharsa Haatey Bazare crossed on Tuesday.

However, Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express and Patna-Saharsa Kosi Express are suspended even on Tuesday.

In all, 15 out of 19 coaches of Rajyarani Express and 5 out of 11 coaches of Saharsa-Samastipur Passengers and engines of both the trains were torched by irate mob which had converged at the station. The burnt coaches and engines have, in the meantime, been towed away, railway sources said.

തിരുവനന്തപുരം - ചെങ്ങന്നൂര്‍ പാതയില്‍ സബര്‍ബര്‍ മെമു തീവണ്ടി സര്‍വീസ് ആരംഭിക്കുന്നതിന് സാധ്യതാപഠനം മുബൈ റെയില്‍വികാസ് കോര്‍പ്പറേഷന് കൈമാറാനുള്ള നിര്‍ദേശം അടുത്ത മന്ത്രിസഭായോഗം പരിഗണിച്ചേക്കും.

തിരുവനന്തപുരം-ചെങ്ങന്നൂര്‍, തിരുവനന്തപുരം- ഹരിപ്പാട് പാതകളിലാണ് മെമു സബര്‍ബന്‍ തീവണ്ടി ആരംഭിക്കാന്‍ റെയില്‍വേ സംസ്ഥാന സര്‍ക്കാരിന്റെ സഹായം തേടിയത്. 2500 കോടി രൂപയോളം വേണ്ടിവരുന്ന പദ്ധതിക്ക് സംസ്ഥാന സര്‍ക്കാരിന്റെ സാമ്പത്തിക പങ്കാളിത്തമാണ് റെയില്‍വേ പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കുന്നത്. നിലവിലുള്ള ട്രാക്കുകള്‍ ഉപയോഗിച്ച് കൂടുതല്‍ പാസഞ്ചര്‍ (മെമു) തീവണ്ടികള്‍ ഓടിക്കാമെന്നതാണ് പദ്ധതിയുടെ നേട്ടം. എല്ലാ സ്റ്റേഷനുകളിലും നിര്‍ത്തുമെന്നതിനാല്‍ പ്രതിദിന യാത്രികര്‍ക്ക് മെമു സബര്‍ബന്‍ സര്‍വീസുകള്‍ ഏറെ പ്രയോജനകരമായിരിക്കും. നിലവിലെ യാത്രാക്ലേശം പരിഹരിക്കാനും ഇതിലൂടെ കഴിയും.

തിരുവനന്തപുരം റെയില്‍വേ ഡിവിഷന്‍ അധികൃതര്‍ സമര്‍പ്പിച്ച പദ്ധതിയുടെ പ്രായോഗികതയെക്കുറിച്ച് പഠിക്കാന്‍ ചീഫ് സെക്രട്ടറി ഭരത്ഭൂഷണ്‍, ഫുട്‌സേഫ്ടി കമ്മീഷണര്‍ ബിജുപ്രഭാകറെ ചുമതലപ്പെടുത്തിയിരുന്നു. ഈ റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടാണ് മന്ത്രിസഭയുടെ പരിഗണനയ്‌ക്കെത്തുന്നത്.

സ്ഥലം ഏറ്റെടുക്കല്‍ ഉള്‍പ്പെടെയുള്ള വൈതരണികള്‍ നേരിടേണ്ടിവരില്ലെന്നത് പദ്ധതിക്ക് സ്വീകാര്യത നല്‍കുന്നുണ്ട്. കൂടുതല്‍ മെമു റേക്കുകളും അനുബന്ധ സജ്ജീകരണങ്ങളുമാണ് വേണ്ടത്. സിഗ്‌നല്‍ സംവിധാനത്തിന് 1000 കോടി രൂപ വേണ്ടിവരുമെന്നാണ് പ്രാഥമിക നിഗമനം. തീവണ്ടികള്‍ക്ക് 1500 കോടി രൂപയും വേണ്ടിവരും. രണ്ടരക്കൊല്ലംകൊണ്ട് പദ്ധതി നടപ്പാക്കാന്‍ കഴിയും.

ഓട്ടോമാറ്റിക് സിഗ്‌നല്‍ സംവിധാനമാണ് സബര്‍ബന്‍ റെയില്‍വേയുടെ നെടുംതൂണ്‍. വന്‍ മുതല്‍മുടക്ക് വേണ്ടിവരുന്ന ഈ സംവിധാനത്തില്‍ ട്രാക്ക് പൂര്‍ണമായും സ്വയം നിയന്ത്രിത സിഗ്‌നല്‍ സംവിധാനത്തിലേക്ക് മാറ്റപ്പെടും. ട്രാക്കിനെ ഒരു കിലോമീറ്റര്‍ വീതമുള്ള സ്വതന്ത്ര സിഗ്‌നല്‍ യൂണിറ്റുകളായിട്ടാണ് തിരിക്കുന്നത്. ഇടവിട്ട് സ്ഥാപിക്കുന്ന സിഗ്‌നല്‍ യൂണിറ്റുകളാണ് ഗതാഗതം നിയന്ത്രിക്കുന്നത്. തീവണ്ടി ഒരു സിഗ്‌നല്‍ യൂണിറ്റ് പിന്നിട്ടാലുടന്‍ പിറകെ അടുത്ത തീവണ്ടി അയയ്ക്കാന്‍ കഴിയും. രണ്ടും മൂന്നും കിലോമീറ്ററുകള്‍ വ്യത്യാസത്തില്‍ തീവണ്ടികള്‍ ഓടിക്കാന്‍ കഴിയുമെന്നതാണ് ഈ സംവിധാനത്തിന്റെ പ്രത്യേകത. ഒരേ ദിശയിലെ തീവണ്ടികള്‍ തമ്മിലുള്ള സമയവ്യത്യാസം കുറയ്ക്കാന്‍ കഴിയും.

സ്റ്റേഷനുകള്‍ കേന്ദ്രീകരിച്ചുള്ള സിഗ്‌നല്‍ സംവിധാനമാണ് റെയില്‍വേ ഇപ്പോള്‍ ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്നത്. ഒരു സ്റ്റേഷനില്‍ നിന്നും പുറപ്പെടുന്ന തീവണ്ടി അടുത്ത സ്റ്റേഷന്‍ പിന്നിട്ടാല്‍ മാത്രമേ അടുത്ത തീവണ്ടി പിറകെ അയയ്ക്കാന്‍ കഴിയുകയുള്ളൂ. ഉദാഹരണത്തിന് കൊച്ചുവേളിയില്‍ നിന്നും പുറപ്പെടുന്ന തീവണ്ടി കഴക്കൂട്ടം സ്റ്റേഷന്‍ പിന്നിട്ടാല്‍ മാത്രമേ അടുത്ത തീവണ്ടിക്ക് സിഗ്‌നല്‍ കിട്ടുകയുള്ളൂ. എന്നാല്‍ ഓട്ടോമാറ്റിക് സിഗ്‌നല്‍ സംവിധാനത്തില്‍ കൊച്ചുവേളിയില്‍ നിന്നും പുറപ്പെടുന്ന തീവണ്ടി ഹ്രസ്വദൂരത്തിലുള്ള ഒരു സിഗ്‌നല്‍ യൂണിറ്റ് പിന്നിടുമ്പോള്‍ അടുത്ത തീവണ്ടി പിന്നാലെ അയയ്ക്കാന്‍ പറ്റും.

ട്രാക്ക് സര്‍ക്യൂട്ടുകള്‍ ഉള്‍പ്പെടെ വന്‍ മുതല്‍മുടക്ക് വേണ്ടിവരുന്ന സജ്ജീകരണങ്ങള്‍ ഓട്ടോമാറ്റിക് സംവിധാനത്തിന് വേണ്ടിവരും. ട്രാക്കില്‍ തീവണ്ടിയുടെ സാനിധ്യം തിരിച്ചറിയുന്നത് ഇത്തരം സര്‍ക്യൂട്ടുകളാണ്. ഒരു കിലോമീറ്റര്‍ പരിധിക്കുള്ളില്‍ നിരവധി ട്രാക്ക് സര്‍ക്യൂട്ടുകള്‍ സജ്ജീകരിക്കണം. സിഗ്‌നല്‍ ബോക്‌സുകള്‍, കേബിള്‍, ബാറ്ററികള്‍ എന്നിവയെല്ലാം ഇതിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി വേണ്ടിവരും.

ചെന്നൈ, മുംബൈ എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിലാണ് നിലവില്‍ സബര്‍ബന്‍ റെയില്‍വേയുള്ളത്. വന്‍ മുതല്‍മുടക്ക് വേണ്ടിവരുന്ന പദ്ധതി യാഥാര്‍ത്ഥ്യമാക്കാന്‍ ഉന്നതതല സ്വാധീനത്തിന് പുറമെ കൂട്ടായ പ്രയത്‌നവും ആവശ്യമാണ്. കോച്ച് ഫാക്ടറി, നേമം ടെര്‍മിനല്‍, കൊച്ചുവേളി സ്റ്റേഷന്‍ നവീകരണം തുടങ്ങി റെയില്‍വേയുടെ നിരവധി പദ്ധതികള്‍ വര്‍ഷങ്ങളായി പാതിവഴിക്ക് ഉപേക്ഷിക്കപ്പെട്ട അവസ്ഥയിലാണ്.

The cancellation of six pairs of ‘passenger trains’ by the East Coast Railway, at a time when RTC buses have been cancelled due to the Samaikhyandhra agitation, is drawing flak not only from the public but also railway employees, who commute by these trains.

Thousands of passengers commute to the city and back from nearby places like Kothavalasa and Vizianagaram apart from those who travel regularly from places like Palasa and Rayagada by these trains, which run to full capacity even during normal times as they are convenient and offer a cheap mode of transport. The cancellation of RTC buses has increased the pressure on trains.

Cancellations galore

ECoR has either cancelled or short-terminated three pairs of passengers from Sunday to August 22 on the plea of taking up “Non Interlocking works between Kothavalasa and Kantakapalle.”

They are: 58526/58525 Visakhapatnam-Palasa-Visakhapatnam which has been totally cancelled, 58528/58527 Visakhapatnam-Raipur-Visakhapatnam has been cancelled between Visakhapatnam and Titlagarh and 58638/58537 Visakhapatnam-Koraput-Visakhapatnam has been cancelled between Visakhpatnam and Rayagada.

Three more pairs of passenger trains – 1 VK Visakhapatnam-Kirandul, Visakhapatnam-Vizianagaram shuttle and Visakhapatnam-Palasa – have been cancelled from Monday.

The ECoR officials seem to be ignorant of the needs of passengers in the region. Further, they seem to have been emboldened by the lack of opposition from DRUCC, ZRUCC members, MLAs and MPs from the region.

“The ECoR officials would not have dared to cancel passenger trains in Odisha. Non-interlocking works were done in the past also but passenger trains were not cancelled. The trains would, no doubt, be delayed but passengers would at least reach their place of work or homes,” he said.

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government today approved the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for the proposed Lucknow metro rail project.The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. The chief minister was authorised to consult the Centre on the DPR and make amendments and changes in the future.The cabinet decided to implement north-south corridor from airport to Munsi Pullia on priority basis in the first phase, a UP government spokesman said.The chief minister was also authorised to take decision on practical problems faced in the implementation of the proposed north-south corridor.An estimated 6.45 lakh passengers will use this corridor in the year 2020, the 'peak hour peak direction traffic (PHPDT)' of this corridor is estimated to be 20,976 in 2020.The metro service is expected to start operations in December 2016.The constitution of the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) is underway with the memorandum of association and articles of association having been prepared.DMRC is working on the depot design for north-south corridor, which is proposed to be developed in the first phase, he said.The underground portion of north-south corridor was reduced from 7.5 km to approximately 3.5 km from Charbagh to Hazratganj, he said adding that 22 stations are proposed in the first phase, out of which three stations are underground and 19 stations elevated, he said.One rake would consist of six coaches with a passenger strength of 1,574. Initially, the train will run at an interval of 7 to 14 minutes but with the increase in traffic the interval will be reduced to 2 to 4 minutes.

The completion cost of the first phase of the project is estimated at Rs 6,757 crores.

All possible efforts are being made to obtain necessary approvals and financial sanction from the Centre as these are mandatory to start actual construction on this corridor by the target date of December 2013, a senior officer said.

The Uttar Pradesh government today approved the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for the proposed Lucknow metro rail project. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. The chief minister was authorised to consult the Centre on the DPR and make amendments and changes in the future. The cabinet decided to implement north-south corridor from airport to Munsi Pullia on priority basis in the first phase, a UP government spokesman said. The chief minister was also authorised to take decision on practical problems faced in the implementation of the proposed north-south corridor. An estimated 6.45 lakh passengers will use this corridor in the year 2020, the 'peak hour peak direction traffic (PHPDT)' of this corridor is estimated to be 20,976 in 2020.

The metro service is expected to start operations in December 2016.

The constitution of the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) is underway with the memorandum of association and articles of association having been prepared. DMRC is working on the depot design for north-south corridor, which is proposed to be developed in the first phase, he said. The underground portion of north-south corridor was reduced from 7.5 km to approximately 3.5 km from Charbagh to Hazratganj, he said adding that 22 stations are proposed in the first phase, out of which three stations are underground and 19 stations elevated, he said. One rake would consist of six coaches with a passenger strength of 1,574. Initially, the train will run at an interval of 7 to 14 minutes but with the increase in traffic the interval will be reduced to 2 to 4 minutes. The completion cost of the first phase of the project is estimated at Rs 6,757 crores. All possible efforts are being made to obtain necessary approvals and financial sanction from the Centre as these are mandatory to start actual construction on this corridor by the target date of December 2013, a senior officer said.

The Southern Railway will run a passenger special between Kozhikode and Mangalore Central from August 20 to August 25 with the existing timings and stoppages of 16107/16108 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central–Chennai Egmore expresses.

Khagaria (Bihar):
Thirtyseven pilgrims, including women and children standing on rail tracks, were killed when a speeding express train ploughed into them today in Bihar's Khagaria district, triggering angry protests by locals who attacked train drivers, set ablaze a coach and vandalised the station.‘Kanwarias’ or devotees of Lord Shiva were walking along the tracks at Dhamara Ghat station after alighting from the Samastipur-Saharsa passenger when the Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express travelling at 80 kmph, ran over them, a senior railway official said. Khagaria is about 160 km from Patna.Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that 37 persons, including women and children, were killed. Among them were 13 women, four children and 20 men. The victims hailed from Khagaria, Sahrsa, Munger and Naughachia. Twentyfour others, who sustained injuries, were admitted to the hospital here.

Soon after the incident at 8.40 am, a violent mob assaulted the train driver, set on fire an AC compartment and engine of another train, vandalised the station and even held a few rail staff hostage.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Chief Minister appealed for calm.

Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar said the express was not supposed to halt at Dhamara Ghat and was given clearance to pass through, but the pilgrims on the tracks thought they could stop the train.

Though the driver applied the emergency brakes, it was too late by then, he said, adding an internal inquiry has been ordered into the accident. The pilgrims were going to nearby Katyani Sthan temple to offer ‘jalabhishek’ to Lord Shiva on the fourth and final Monday of the holy month of Shrawan.

Superintendent of Police S K Jha said the engine of the Samastipur-Saharsa passenger train and an AC coach of Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express were set on fire by enraged local people.

The two drivers of the express train, Rajaram Paswan and Sushil Kumar Suman, fled from the spot after being attacked. They later contacted railway officials to informing them that they were safe, ECR CPRO Amitabh Prabhakar said.

The Prime Minister “appealed for calm in the area so that the relief and rescue operations can be carried out without any hindrance,” a statement by PMO said.

The Prime Minister has directed the Railway Ministry to deploy all available resources for rescue and relief operations, it said.

Minister of state for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the express was travelling at a speed of 80 km per hour when the accident occurred.

He said although relief trains carrying doctors and nurses were sent from Saharsha and Barauni, they could not reach the spot as the law and order situation there was not conducive because of protests by angry people.

The Bihar Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for family of each of the deceased and free medical treatment for the injured.

He ruled out lapse by the state administration. He said he had talked to Railway minister Malliarjun Kharge and urged him to provide the maximum compensation to victims considering the fact that "this is a rarest of rare incident". — PTI

Brakes applied too late

* The train was not supposed to halt at Dhamara Ghat and was given clearance to pass through

* The pilgrims on the tracks thought they could stop the train

* Though the driver applied the emergency brakes, it was too late

* An internal inquiry has been ordered into the accident

Compensation announced

* Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of each of the deceased

* Says an inquiry by a railway safety commissioner would be conducted

* Ruled out lapse by the state administration

* Has urged Railway Minister Malliarjun Kharge to provide the maximum compensation to victims considering the fact that “this is a rarest of the rare incidents”

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Against the backdrop of changed political equations in Bihar, BJP on Monday joined RJD and LJP in slamming the Nitish Kumar government over lack of relief and rescue measures after a rail accident in Khagaria claimed several lives.As soon as the Rajya Sabha met for Zero Hour, Ram Vilas Paswan (LJP) and Ram Kripal Yadav (RJD) were on their feet saying, “Thirty people were killed by Rajyarani Express from Saharasa at Dhamara Ghat this morning but no rescue and relief measure has been initiated after 10 hours of the mishap by the Nitish government which claims good governance.”Both the leaders were soon joined by BJP members who stood on their feet, holding Bihar government responsible for the accident.

Responding to members’ concern, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla said, “The House is saddened over the accident. Minister of Railways is being contacted to apprise the House at the earliest of the steps taken so far.”

Earlier, Deputy Chairman P.J.Kurien said, “government should come out with statement.”

Mr Paswan said despite claims of good infrastructure, the condition of roads was such that no relief measures could reach the spot, for which he held the state government solely responsible.

Mr. Yadav joined him blaming the Nitish government for “anarchy” there saying the railway station has been set ablaze and situation was serious.

Ravi Shankar Prasad and Rajiv Pratap Rudy (both BJP) also blamed the Bihar government for the situation.

ALLAHABAD: The railway administration had decided to fix quota in the selection of Jan Sadharan Ticket Booking Sewak (JTBS) operators. Under the scheme, the selected persons are empowered to issue general tickets to the passengers at major locations in the city. Director (passenger marketing), Railway Board, Monica Agnihotri had written letters to all the chief commercial managers of the zonal railways in this regard. There would be 49.5% reservation of the total number of JTBSs on the divisional basis. Of this, 12% has been reserved for people belonging to Scheduled Caste, 8% for Scheduled Tribes, 20% for persons belonging to other backward classes (OBCs) while 9.5% has been reserved for person belonging to the minorities communities. The minorities would include Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis).

In each category, 10% would be for freedom fighters and women, including war widows and widows of railway employees and 10% for physically challenged persons. Apart from this, 10% reservation for the disabled persons would be applicable in the general category also.

The JTBS operators are allowed to issue season tickets. Each season ticket is to be treated as a single ticket/single passenger for the purpose of levy of service charge. Service charges to be realized by JTBS is Re 1 per passenger. Bank guarantee had been reduced to Rs 20,000 from Rs 40,000 and security deposit has been reduced to Rs 5,000 from existing Rs 15,000. JTBS operators are also permitted to operate one additional counter provided the sale of tickets is more than 800 per day on each counter for a period of one month. They may be allowed to shift from the original location to a new location at own cost with a view to increase sale of tickets.

The tenure of contract is enhanced to three years, renewable by a tenure of three years, subject to satisfactory performance. and the operators abide by terms and conditions prevailing at the time of renewal.

The railway ministry had introduced this scheme in 2008 with a view to appoint JSTB Sewaks in various parts of cities for issue of unreserved tickets through Computerized Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS).

DHAMARA GHAT ( KHAGARIA): Union minister of state (MOS) for railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary visited Dhamara Ghat railway station late on Monday night where, in all, 28 passengers were run over and killed by 12567 Rajyarani Express while crossing the rail track earlier in the day.

The junior railway minister also visited the persons who were seriously injured in the incident at Sadar hospital, Khagaria. He personally handed over a cheque of Rs 95,000 and a cash of Rs 5,000 to each of the three admitted in the hospital. The railways has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of the kin of those who were killed by the train at the station, according to Samastipur divisional railway manager (DRM) Arun Malik.

A four-member junior administrative grade inquiry has, in the meantime, been ordered into the ghastly accident at Dhamara Ghat railway station in Saharsa-Mansi section of Samastipur railway division of East Central Railway (ECR) on Monday morning, the DRM said.

DRM Malik, shrugging off railways' culpability in the accident said, "The passengers had got off the Saharsa-Samastipur passenger train on the wrong side of the platform and were walking through the middle track at the station when Patna-bound super fast Rajyarani Express happened to pass through."

Putting the blame squarely on the hordes of passengers, he said, "The train had not only been given signal, and the train driver also blew the horn, but in the din of the passengers,who were hurrying towards Katyani temple,opposite to the railway platform, missed the engine's hoot."

"The question of suspension of any railway staff does not arise," he said. He also added that the engine driver of Rajyarani Express Rajaram Paswan had to face the mob fury and was seriously injured.

Meanwhile, train services in Saharsa-Mansi section in Samastipur division were resumed late on Monday night. 15208 Amritsar-Saharsa Jansewa Express, Danapur-Saharsa Inter-City Express, Sealdah- Saharsa Haatey Bazare crossed on Tuesday.

However, Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express and Patna-Saharsa Kosi Express are suspended even on Tuesday.

In all, 15 out of 19 coaches of Rajyarani Express and 5 out of 11 coaches of Saharsa-Samastipur Passengers and engines of both the trains were torched by irate mob which had converged at the station. The burnt coaches and engines have, in the meantime, been towed away, railway sources said.