ProUI

Municipal Administration and Wakf Minister Qamar-ul Islam said that the 67th Independence Day celebrations signalled the beginning of a new era of development for Hyderabad Karnataka.Two long-pending demands of the region are becoming a reality: establishment of a permanent bench of the Karnataka High Court, and implementation of Article 371(J).Speaking after inspecting the guard of honour and unfurling the national flag during the Independence Day celebrations on the Police Parade Ground here on Thursday, Mr. Islam said that the permanent bench of the Karnataka High Court here would cover Gulbarga, Yadgir, Bijapur and Raichur.It would be inaugurated on August 31. Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam has been invited to participate in the inaugural function.Mr. Islam said that the State has already decided to extend the benefits of Article 371(J) to the people of Hyderabad Karnataka. The framing of rules and fixing of reservation has been finalised.Once the notification empowering the Governor to frame the rules for implementing Article 371(J) gets Presidential assent, special status would become a reality, he said.

It is heartening to note that the Centre and State have joined hands to develop the region’s road and rail network, the Minister said. He lauded Railway Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge for his contributions to the region’s development: getting the ESIC super-speciality hospital for Gulbarga, upgradation of the railway station, expediting the construction of the Gulbarga-Bidar rail line, and the electrification of the Wadi-Gulbarga rail line.

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to protect wakf properties. Survey and listing of wakf properties was nearing completion, and this would put an end to the encroachment of wakf properties and enable the government to take back those properties. The government also proposes to construct a Haj Bhavan here, along the lines of the one in Bangalore, he added.

G. SRINIVASAN
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Association says the train should be continued till a new train was introduced


Demand for continuing Rockfort express from Kumbakonam till the new Thanjavur-Chennai Express train is introduced has been growing in Thanjavur district as the people feel that they may lose a vital link to Chennai if the train is short-terminated in Tiruchi before introducing the new train.

People said that reservation had been stopped for Rockfort Express beyond August 28. It was assumed that the train would be stopped by then. If the train was stopped on August 28, people of Thanjavur district would be deprived of a vital link to Chennai. If the new Thanjavur-Chennai Express was introduced before that, it would cater to the demands of the people of the district, they said.

According to A. Giri, Vice-President, Thanjavur District Rail Users’ Association, people of Thanjavur and Kumbakonam had five trains to Chennai before gauge conversion which provided them 1,500 berths. “Now there are three trains — Rameswaram, Mannai express and Rockfort Express — which provide them 422 berths. Out of these, Rockfort Express alone provides them 250 berths. If this train was short-terminated without introducing the new Thanjavur-Chennai express, which had been announced in the last year budget and for which time table has been announced by the Southern Railway, then the people will be deprived of major percentage of berths they enjoy,” Mr. Giri said.

Therefore, the southern Railway should continue to operate the Rockfort Express from Kumbakonam till the new train was introduced, Mr. Giri added.

Running the train from Kumbakonam for a couple of months more would not be a problem. It would help the pilgrims who would throng Velankanni, where the festival of Basilica of Our Lady of Health begins on August 29 and would go on till September 12. Vinayaka Chathurthi falls on September 9, when the people would travel from Chennai to respective places, Mr. Giri said.

He expressed concern over the delay in introducing the new Thanjavur-Chennai Express. “All the three trains announced in Tiruchi division have been introduced. They are Mannai-Coimbatore Chemmozhi Express, Velankanni-Madras Egmore Link Express, Chennai-Karaikudi bi-weekly Express. Only the train from Thanjavur-Chennai has not been introduced so far. It should be introduced immediately,” he said.

V. Jeevakumar, Adviser to Train Passengers Association from Thanjavur to Tiruchi, said that senior citizens were using the Rockfort Express. Train remained the most convenient mode of transport for old people. Rockfort had been a convenient train for people of Kumbakonam and Thanjavur. If it was closed, then the people should be provided with an alternative.

As the new train had been announced, it should be introduced quickly.

K. Padmanabhan, president of Thanjavur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, echoed the same and said that Rockfort Express should be operated from Kumbakonam till the new train was introduced.

S.S. Palani Manickam, MP and former union minister, said he held discussions with General Manager of Southern Railway and Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi, regarding the demand. They promised to look into the matter.

GUWAHATI: The Northeast Frontier Railway Construction Headquarters on Thursday celebrated the 67th Independence Day with patriotic fervour. General manager (construction) RK Singh in his speech highlighted the organization's performance and spoke about its future plans. He also urged all the employees to work with dedication. A cultural programme was organized on the occasion. Later, Singh inaugurated a newly constructed annexe office building in the headquarters complex.

A friendly football match between General Manager XI and President East Coast Railway Womens’ Welfare Organisation (ECoRWWO) XI was organised at Railway Stadium, Mancheswar on occasion of celebration of Independence Day. Indra Ghosh, General Manager, East Coast Railway, inaugurated the match. GM’s XI defeated President ECoRWWO XI.

A Rocket attack on Friday at a moving train in southwestern Pakistan killed two passengers and wounded 19, a railway official said. It took place near the village of Dozan as the train was heading to the town of Sibi in Balochistan province, said railway official Kashif Khan. Security forces, backed by a military helicopter, launched a search in an effort to trace and arrest the attackers, he added Dozan village is located about 50 km east of Quetta, capital of Balochistan No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion fell on Baloch separatists. —

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has adopted a new technology to build underground subways on busy roads without disrupting the traffic movement in Phase 3.As part of the upcoming ITO Metro station on Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate corridor, the subway is being constructed using the 'Box Pushing' technology, below the busy ITO intersection roads (Indraprastha Marg) without disturbing the traffic movement above."The subway, after construction, will have entry and exit points near the Delhi Police Headquarters and the building of the Institute of Engineers on either side of the Indraprastha Marg," Executive Director, Corporate communications, Anuj Dayal said.As per the 'Box Pushing' technology, vertical excavation or large scale digging is not required. Six Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) boxes are pushed with the help of hydraulic jacks to create the 48-metre long subway tunnel.The boxes are being designed and constructed at the site itself. It takes about 21 days to cast one box. A thrust bed is being created to generate enough force to push the boxes with the synchronised movement of the jacks."This method is much faster than the conventional cut-and-cover technology used generally for the construction of subways. In the case of this particular subway, had DMRC opted for the conventional cut-and-cover technology, then it would have had to excavate the road above causing great inconvenience to the movement of traffic," Dayal added.Construction started in June and will be finished by the end of September.The condition of the road above will be monitored through various types of instrumentation methods like precise levelling studs on the pavement areas, settlement markers, during the entire construction period.The under-construction ITO Metro station has six entry and exits points connecting different parts of ITO.DMRC has decided to use the technology for the construction of a number of underground subways in Phase 3.Apart from ITO, the technology will also be used for the construction of subways as well as entry/exit structures of Metro stations at Dabri Mor, Panchsheel Park, Chirag Delhi, Nehru Place (on Janakpuri West¿Botanical Garden corridor) and Bhikaji Cama Place (on Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar corridor).

A Rocket attack on Friday at a moving train in southwestern Pakistan killed two passengers and wounded 19, a railway official said. It took place near the village of Dozan as the train was heading to the town of Sibi in Balochistan province, said railway official Kashif Khan. Security forces, backed by a military helicopter, launched a search in an effort to trace and arrest the attackers, he added Dozan village is located about 50 km east of Quetta, capital of Balochistan No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion fell on Baloch separatists. —

Sixty-six coaches meant for Kochi Metro’s 22 trains would arrive here, beginning December 2014. But hardly 10 per cent of the work to level the ground at the coach-maintenance yard at Muttom near Aluva has been completed.The filling of fallow land came to a standstill a couple of days ago after a section of residents of the locality opposed the transportation of mud to the site. They alleged that the constant transportation of around 300 loads of mud every night was damaging the narrow access road to the yard. The tipper lorries with their load were sent back.Sources associated with the project said the yard had to be filled with 4 lakh cubic metres of mud and levelled by December. “But just around 38,000 cubic metres of mud has been transported till now. A few people are opposing the work, despite our promise that any damage caused to the road will be repaired by us. District Collector Sheikh Pareeth has promised all help to defuse the crisis.”Only after filling the land can work begin to lay tracks, construct a workshop, coach-cleaning area and allied buildings. “All these must be ready by December 2014. Tenders have been invited and metro coaches cannot be parked on the road. Fifty per cent of filling works could have been completed before the rains, but for issues and pressure tactics by vested interests which are delaying the work,” sources said.

Labourers at the yard are forced to remain idle because of the situation. The DMRC’s Principal Advisor E. Sreedharan had warned of the project cost rising by around Rs.40 lakh, for each day’s delay in commissioning the project.

The DMRC is learnt to have informed the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) and the district administration of the hassles faced in filling the site.

In the meantime, the DMRC has readied a proposal to construct an underpass beneath the adjacent railway line. As per plan, all civil works, including construction of the yard, metro’s 25-km-long viaduct and stations in the route ought to be over within another 22 months. The The DMRC has fixed March 2016 as the deadline to commission the metro.

KMRL sources said the agency would step in if the situation warrants.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has adopted a new technology to build underground subways on busy roads without disrupting the traffic movement in Phase 3.As part of the upcoming ITO Metro station on Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate corridor, the subway is being constructed using the 'Box Pushing' technology, below the busy ITO intersection roads (Indraprastha Marg) without disturbing the traffic movement above."The subway, after construction, will have entry and exit points near the Delhi Police Headquarters and the building of the Institute of Engineers on either side of the Indraprastha Marg," Executive Director, Corporate communications, Anuj Dayal said.As per the 'Box Pushing' technology, vertical excavation or large scale digging is not required. Six Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) boxes are pushed with the help of hydraulic jacks to create the 48-metre long subway tunnel.The boxes are being designed and constructed at the site itself. It takes about 21 days to cast one box. A thrust bed is being created to generate enough force to push the boxes with the synchronised movement of the jacks."This method is much faster than the conventional cut-and-cover technology used generally for the construction of subways. In the case of this particular subway, had DMRC opted for the conventional cut-and-cover technology, then it would have had to excavate the road above causing great inconvenience to the movement of traffic," Dayal added.Construction started in June and will be finished by the end of September.The condition of the road above will be monitored through various types of instrumentation methods like precise levelling studs on the pavement areas, settlement markers, during the entire construction period.The under-construction ITO Metro station has six entry and exits points connecting different parts of ITO.DMRC has decided to use the technology for the construction of a number of underground subways in Phase 3.Apart from ITO, the technology will also be used for the construction of subways as well as entry/exit structures of Metro stations at Dabri Mor, Panchsheel Park, Chirag Delhi, Nehru Place (on Janakpuri West¿Botanical Garden corridor) and Bhikaji Cama Place (on Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar corridor).

Owing to heavy rains, the power & traffic blocks of 7 hrs. each scheduled for undertaking the work of  replacement of girders of Bridge No. 14 between Tilak Bridge- Hazrat Nizamuddin stations of Delhi Division during night hours of 16/17.8.2013 & 17/18.08.2013 have been  postponed till further notice.The rail traffic will now run as per their schedule.Owing to heavy rains, the power & traffic blocks of 7 hrs. each scheduled for undertaking the work of  replacement of girders of Bridge No. 14 between Tilak Bridge- Hazrat Nizamuddin stations of Delhi Division during night hours of 16/17.8.2013 & 17/18.08.2013 have been  postponed till further notice.The rail traffic will now run as per their schedule.