ProUI

Guwahati, Aug. 19:The Assam Cricket Association has initiated steps to bar NF Railway Sports Association (NFRSA) from fielding its teams in the junior age group cricket tournaments in the state.
According to sources in the ACA, decks have been cleared for a decision in this regard in the ACA’s meeting with its affiliated district sports association presidents and secretaries here on August 22.
The move may be termed a fallout of a series of attacks on the ACA by a section of NF Railway employees, who are former state cricketers, in the media.
Confirming the development toThe Telegraph, ACA secretary Bikash Baruah, said, “A section of the district associations have been demanding the same for some time because the players in the under-15 (school), under-16 and under-17 age groups are not employees with the NF Railways. We will place the matter for discussion in the August 22 meeting and will abide by the house’s opinion.”
The Railway outfit will be eligible for the under-19, under-25 and senior inter-district tournaments, provided the players are employees with the NF Railway, the ACA secretary added.
The NFRSA is an affiliated district unit of the ACA and its academy has produced the likes of Abu Nechim Ahmed, who is currently the captain of the state senior team, and a host of players for the state.
The development in the ACA assumes significance in view of the fact that a few former first class players, who are employees with the NF Railway, have offended the ACA by making so mere marks against the ACA top brass during the last two months.
The ACA has also moved the NFRSA and the NF Railway general manager here against former Ranji players Rajesh Borah, Syed Zakaria Zuffri and Tilak Das, alleging that they were trying to mislead the people of the state.
The players apparently alleged that the state does not have any qualified coach and support staff in a recent television talk show.
Terming it as a “disrespect” by the former players towards the coaches and support staff, the ACA said it currently has 31 National Cricket Academy qualified coaches and 10 BCCI accredited support staff including physio, trainer and video analyst at its disposal.
It has urged the NF railway authorities concerned to initiate action against the employees for the misdemeanour.
The district sports associations will definitely throw their weight on the issue particularly after the senior players concerned did not spare the members from the districts concerned by criticising them of not being qualified as cricket administrators.
“It is not necessary to be a good cricketer to be a good administrator. Jagmohan Dalmia, as everybody knows, was never a great cricketer, but he is invariably a great administrator,” one of the district sports association secretaries said, wishing anonymity.
NF Railway SA general secretary P.K. Singh said he was “unaware of a development to bar his association from participation in the junior tournaments”.

A sitting of the Railway Special Magistrate Court was held at the Kannur railway station by the Kannur Railway Protection Force (RPF) on August 18 and 19.

The sitting was held in the wake of offences reported on trains, particularly the food poisoning reported on Marusagar Express.

RPF personnel inspected the express trains and stations between Vadakara and Kasaragod. Out of the 85 offences booked, 50 offenders were charged for unauthorised vending of food items.

Nearly 35 cases were booked for other offences including ticketless travel, travelling on footboard and men travelling in ladies coaches.

A total of Rs.26,000 was realised as penalty in various offences.

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PATNA: Expressing shock over the incident, railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each deceased and a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to each seriously injured.

The railways arranged two trains to transport the stranded passengers of Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express from Dhamara Ghat. According to ECR CPRO Amitabh Prabhakar, railways arranged food, snacks and water for the stranded passengers at different stations. Besides, railway doctors also examined and provided medical relief to those who sustained minor injuries in the incident, he said.

The CPRO said railways had set up helpline booths at Patna Junction (0612-2206965, 0612-1072), Samastipur (06274-221741), Mansi (06244-233234) and Khagaria (06244-222049) to provide information to people about the passengers.

सहरसा के पास हुए रेल हादसे का ठीकरा जहां केंद्र सरकार ने पूरी तरह नीतीश कुमार सरकार के सिर फोड़ दिया, वहीं भाजपा इसके लिए केंद्र को भी जिम्मेदार मानती है। पार्टी नेता रविशंकर प्रसाद ने कहा कि केंद्र इससे बच नहीं सकता। उन्होंने जांच कर दोषियों पर कार्रवाई की मांग की।
बिहार में हाल में हो रही घटनाओं के बाद अक्सर नीतीश सरकार पर हमलावर रही भाजपा ने सोमवार को उसे थोड़ी राहत दी। रविशंकर ने कहा, 'राज्य सरकार को ज्यादा सतर्क और संवेदनशील होना चाहिए था। लेकिन, केंद्र का यह तर्क नहीं माना जा सकता कि राज्य प्रशासन की ओर से रेलवे को उस क्षेत्र में चल रहे मेले की जानकारी नहीं दी गई थी। रेलवे का अपना स्टाफ होता है जो आसपास की जानकारी रखता है। केंद्र इस हादसे से अपना दामन नहीं बचा सकता। केंद्र और राज्य सरकार दोनों को सतर्क होना चाहिए था, लेकिन किसी ने भी अपनी पूरी जिम्मेदारी नहीं निभाई। घटना की पूरी जांच कर दोषियों के खिलाफ कार्रवाई होनी चाहिए। साथ ही हादसे के शिकार हुए लोगों के परिजनों को पर्याप्त क्षतिपूर्ति दी जानी चाहिए।'

PATNA: Railways suffered an estimated loss of over Rs 90 crore as a furious mob set ablaze 15 coaches, including an AC coach and locomotive of the Saharsa-Patna Rajyarani Express (12567) and five coaches and the locomotive of Samastipur-Saharsa passenger train at Dhamara Ghat on Saharsa-Mansi section under Samastipur division of East Central Railway (ECR) after 37 passengers were killed by the running train around 9am on Monday morning. Railways, however, put the death toll at 28. The railway communication system was totally paralysed as an irate mob also ransacked the railway station, cabin and tracks. It was difficult for railways to rush the rescue team to the site soon after the mishap, said ECR CPRO Amitbah Prabhakar. According to him, most of the officials, including railway doctors of the rescue team, were unable to reach the accident site because of lack of direct road link. He said the railways rescue team could reach the spot at 2.45pm only.

The CPRO said ECR GM Madhuresh Kumar, along with senior officials of the ECR headquarters, rushed to the site by a special train soon after receiving the information about the incident. However, Samastipur DRM Arun Mallik and other senior officials of the division were already camping at the site and supervising the rescue and relief works, he said.

Though railways was yet to announce an inquiry to probe the exact cause behind the incident, prima facie it appeared that the mishap took place while the victims were crossing the tracks when Rajyarani Express was coming from Saharsa end. The CPRO said railways started its rescue operation after getting clearance from the local police.

He said the mob assaulted the train driver and made several staff of Dhamara Ghat hostage for a few hours. They were released after police intervention. Traffic system would remain suspended on Saharsa-Mansi section till normalcy returned, he said.

Meanwhile, railways cancelled four passenger trains on Monday which included Saharsa-Amritsar Jansewa Express, Saharsa-Barauni Express, Patna-Saharsa Rajyarani Express and Patna-Saharsa Kosi Express.

Amritsar-Saharsa Garib Rath was short terminated at Begusarai on Monday and it would originate from there for Amritsar. Sealdah-Saharsa passenger would originate from Mansi while Amritsar-Saharsa Jansewa was terminated at Barauni. Besides, Barauni-Saharsa passenger train was also terminated at Khagaria, the CPRO said.

ALLAHABAD: Indian railway has decided to shift the focus of Adarsh stations from beautification to utility, comfort and cleanliness. In this connection, comprehensive guidelines have been issued by the railway board to all the zonal railways so that the recommendations can be implemented in letter and spirit.

According to guidelines issued, various types of facilities should be provided at the Adarsh stations in accordance with the category of the station. Pointedly, Indian railways have categorized stations into seven categories based on the income generated by the stations. Thus, the six categories are A1, A,B,C,D,E and F. In the first A1 category, the annual income is more than Rs 50 crore and in the A categry the income is between Rs 6 to 50 crore annually.In the A1 category stations which generate the highest income, there will be diverse type of facilities, which has been tagged with Adarsh stations. This includes facilities of escalators/lifts and also improvement in the facade of the station building. There will be facility of VIP lounge in the station area, which will be fully air-conditioned.In addition to this, Adarsh station of the A1 category also has the facility of retiring room, waiting room (with bathing facilities) for upper class with TV, separate ladies waiting room (with bathing facilities) for ladies, cloak room and computer based public address system.

Further, there would be landscaping of the circulating area (where feasible) subject to availability of space. Ornamental trees suitable for climate of the area may be planted. Other facilities include prepaid taxi/radio taxi booth, electronic train indicator board/Plasma TV Train Indicator System, coach indication board, water cooler. Adequate lighting arrangements with energy fitting and fixtures on platform and FOB/circulating area/concourse are also in the offing.

There would also be provision of battery operated car for carrying disabled persons at such station. There will be ramps at the entry to station for physically handicapped and senior citizens and separate parking for disabled persons. Provision of wheel chair at such stations is also proposed.

In the second category of 'A' Adarsh stations, there facade of the station building will be improved. There will retiring room, waiting room (with bathing facilities) for upper class with TV, waiting room (with bathing facilities) for other classes with TV, cloak room and the circulated areas would be lighted.

There will be prepaid taxi/radio taxi booth, lifts/escalators, pay and use toilets in circulating area/concourse area, water cooler, Passenger Reservation System, UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System ) counters. For the facility of handicapped persons, there should be ramps at the entry to the station. The Adarsh stations coming under B category and generating income from Rs 3 to 6 crore annually will also have many facilities. Besides improvement in the facade of the station building, retiring room, waiting room (with bathing facilities) for other classes with TV, cloak room the level of the platform would be high, Foot Over Bridge, PRS and UTS counters.

In the C category, there are sub urban stations and in D category stations are non-suburban stations, which also envisages improvement in the faced to the station building. The above mentioned services will also be provided like other stations.

The E category station has income of about 1 crore annually and will have the facility of signage, pay and use toilets, Foot Over Bridge, water Cooler, PRS and UTS counters and have the facilities for the handicapped persons as described above. The stations coming F category are halts, which are not incorporated in the Adarsh stations.

The Southern Railway is exploring the possibility of increasing the frequency of freight trains for Karaikal port operations. In view of the high revenue generated through freight operations in Karaikal port managed by MARG, the Southern Railways, Tiruchi division, is toying with the idea of increasing the number of freight trains, if the port demands.

In a bid to review the current engagement with the port and to ascertain future potential, General Manager, Southern Railways, Rakesh Misra, arrived here on Monday. Currently, four freight trains of 58 wagons each are being used for port service daily. A freight service can handle 3,900- 4,500 tonnes of cargo. Freight commodities including coal and fertilizers are moved to various cement plants and power plants in the hinterland.

The Southern Railways had earned Rs.242.85 crore in the last fiscal by handling 4.126 million tonnes of coal and fertilizer. Brimming with economic potential, the national transporter seeks to increase the number of freight trains to seven, if the port proposes to increase its export basket.

Touring on the sidelines and inspecting the Karaikal railway station , Mr.Misra said the 23-km Karaikal-Peralam project announced in the budget 2013 is estimated to cost Rs.230 crore. The project is pending with the Railway Board due to its high expedition cost. Further, the gauge conversion works also required land acquisition for which the railways needed State support, the General Manager said.

According to sources, potential for some sort of private partnership in executing the project may also be explored, in the light of the successful port operations. When asked about the poor amenities at Karaikal station, Mr. Misra said the station fell under the Class E category and as and when the station got upgraded, facilities would be upgraded. However, two-wheeler parking and toilet facilities would be given priority, Mr. Misra said. Directions were issued to set up a running room for the loco pilot and railway staff.

The sustained demand for a halt station at T.R. Pattinam, between Nagore and Karaikal was delayed for lack of takers to run the ticket counter, Mr. Misra said. According to the General Manager, tenders were floated to run the counter on contract basis, but had no takers. The Lokmanya Tilak-Karaikal rail service announced in the budget would see fruition within six months, Mr.Misra said.

Later, the General Manager also visited Velankanni shrine to interact with the Church administration on the upcoming flag festival. The Southern Railways has extended its support for the smooth flow of pilgrim traffic.


Anchoring deep

Four freight trains of 58 wagons each currently being used for port service

23-km Karaikal-Peralam project estimated to cost Rs. 230 crore

Potential for private partnership in executing project being explored

Demand for halt station at T.R. Pattinam delayed due to lack of takers to run ticket counter

A sitting of the Railway Special Magistrate Court was held at the Kannur railway station by the Kannur Railway Protection Force (RPF) on August 18 and 19.

The sitting was held in the wake of offences reported on trains, particularly the food poisoning reported on Marusagar Express.

RPF personnel inspected the express trains and stations between Vadakara and Kasaragod. Out of the 85 offences booked, 50 offenders were charged for unauthorised vending of food items.

Nearly 35 cases were booked for other offences including ticketless travel, travelling on footboard and men travelling in ladies coaches.

A total of Rs.26,000 was realised as penalty in various offences.

MYSORE: Train services between Mysore and Bangalore will be affected on Tuesday due to work related to doubling of the track. Six trains will be cancelled as the South Western Railway (SWR) is taking up engineering work on the Bangalore-Mysore broad-gauge section.

The work, between the Maddur and Mandya sections of the line, will begin at 5am and last 24 hours, SWR's senior divisional commercial manager K Anil Kumar said. Of the 19 trains that were to run on Tuesday, 11 will be in service, sources said.

The Mysore-Yeshwantpur-Mysore Malgudi Express and Bangalore-Mysore-Bangalore Rajya Rani Express have been cancelled for the day. The services of four trains have been withdrawn between Bangalore and Mysore: Hubli-Mysore-Hubli Hampi Express; Tuticorin-Mysore Express; Mysore-Mayiladuthurai Express; and Mysore-Solapur-Mysore Gol Gumbaz Express. However, these trains will leave at their designated timings from Bangalore.

The Bangalore-Mysore passenger train has been cancelled between Channapatna and Mysore, railway officials said. The Chamarajanagar-Tirupati passenger train will start 30 minutes late.

Following the cancellations, additional buses will be operated on the Mysore-Bangalore highway, a KSRTC official said.