ProUI

In a bid to fulfil the light refreshment requirements of passengers boarding and alighting trains at railway stations, 45 stations under the Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division are getting new catering stalls. Of this, 39 stations are in Kerala. Stations coming under the lower income D, E categories and halt stations in the F category are getting the stalls. Ten stations are in the D category and 29 are in the E category. The only F station where the stall is being installed is in Tamil Nadu. All these stalls are coming up for the first time in the respective stations. In some stations stalls are coming up on two platforms.  Of this, permission has been granted to install stalls in 19 stations. Whereas in some stations, none has responded. “For the stations where no applications have been received, we would invite fresh applications,” said a railway official.

When some stations which have lowest income got no takers, the stations which witness large number of passengers too evoked no response. For all these stations, fresh applications will be invited, including the B category stations, the official said.

PATNA: New divisional railway manager (DRM) N K Gupta of the Danapur division of East Central Railway (ECR) has said that safety of passengers and punctuality of trains would be his top priority. The division is facing several problems, posing a serious challenge to the DRM.

The division lacks proper infrastructure to maintain smooth run of about 200 and odd pairs of passenger trains either originating or passing through the division. It has Up and Down lines on the main line only, particularly between Mughalsarai and Jhajha. The proposal for the third line between Ara and Fatuha is still pending with railway ministry for sanction, sources said.

Though the third line is the need of the hour, railways has maintained silence on the issue for long causing unnecessary detention of mail and express trains at outer stations or signals. That apart, the division has no contingency plan to cope with heavy traffic. Patna Junction is a hub of passenger trains. About one lakh passengers move here everyday. Yet there is no proper planning to cope with passengers’ rush during peak hours. The entire concourse area is full of unauthorized people and vendors. As a result, it is very difficult to move freely with luggage.

The division transports a large number of daily passengers on the Buxar-Patna, Patna-Mokama, Patna-Gaya, Kiul-Gaya and Bakhtiarpur-Rajgir sections of the division. For them, the division has provided several pairs of local trains including MEMUs. But, barring MEMUs, none of the local trains is running on time causing hardship to passengers, mostly office-goers.

Illegal stoppage of trains, rampant alarm chain pulling, frequent attacks on railway property by miscreants, drugging menace and luggage lifting are some of the other problems faced by the Danapur division which have badly affected the normal movement of trains. The new DRM will have to work hard to ensure that all safety rules are strictly followed.

Cleanliness on railway platforms, not only at Patna Junction but at all major stations of the division, is another challenge for the new DRM. Punctuality of trains, at least for those trains originating from the division, would be another uphill task.

The Palakkad Division of Southern Railway has said that train services will be regulated in connection with yard re-modelling work at Podanur junction from August 10 to 26.

It said that train no. 16107/16108 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore – Chennai Egmore Express will be partially cancelled between Coimbatore and Mangalore during August 20-25.

Train no. 16107 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central Express will be regulated for 60 minutes at Coimbatore on August 11, 13, 14; and for 70 minutes on August 12, 15. This train will be regulated for 120 minutes at Coimbatore on August 16; for 60 minutes on August 17, 18 and 19; and for 70 minutes on August 26.

Train no. 16318 Jammutawi–Kanyakumari Express will be regulated for 105 minutes at Coimbatore on August 15, and for 105 minutes on August 22.

On August 16, train no. 12678 Ernakulam Junction – Bangalore Express will be regulated for 45 minutes at Madukkarai, and the train no. 13352 Alleppey – Dhanbad – Alleppey Express for 75 minutes at Madukkarai. On that day, the train no. 13351 Dhanbad – Alleppey – Dhanbad Express will be regulated for 60 minutes at Coimbatore.

On August 16, and the train no. 12660 Shalimar – Nagercoil Express will be regulated for 90 minutes at Coimbatore, it said.

To lower its power bill by around Rs 3.5 crore, the Central Railway (CR) is pushing for traction conversion on slow and fast lines between Kalyan and Thane and on 5th and 6th lines between Kalyan and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and is awaiting the mandatory nod from the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), which is likely to come by August-end. A CRS inspection is tentatively planned for August 17 and 18, said railway sources, adding that the CR has been trying to get a nod for the conversion since May this year.

CR is in the process of converting the suburban section between Kalyan and Thane from 1500-volt Direct Current (DC) to 25,000-volt Alternate Current (AC) and the same on the 5th and 6th lines between Kalyan and LTT. The section between Thane and CST will take at least a year to be completed.

Mukesh Nigam, divisional railway manager, CR, said: "The conversion will take place as soon as the CRS inspection is undertaken. There is no fixed date for the conversion yet."

A primary reason for the delay is a set of crossovers at Vidyavihar, Vikhroli and Mulund, which are presently used by mail/express trains to cross over from 5th and 6th lines to Up and Down suburban fast lines in emergencies.

It is learnt that Chetan Bakshi, the CRS (central zone), has expressed apprehensions about trains crossing over after the conversion work is complete. His reservations stem from an incident that took place at Reay Road in December last year. During an inquiry, it was found that the AC switch of the AC-DC local was mistakenly switched on the DC section, causing damage to equipment and resulting in fire in the train.

Railway officials said CRS has asked CR to commit that the crossovers in the DC section will not be used by mail/express trains until beyond Thane.

When asked about the condition put on CR, Bakshi said, "All issues have been sorted now. However an official word from CR is awaited."

Expressing doubt about the commitment asked for, a senior railway official requesting anonymity said, "There will be repercussions if the crossovers are made non-functional. There could be instances where the trains have to be diverted on fast lines between LTT and Thane. An assessment of the implications of such a commitment will have to be made before the administration goes ahead with the conversion."

Chennai: The Madras bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has dismissed an application fro­m the general manager of the Integrated Coach Fac­tory (ICF), to constitute a fresh selection committee comprising officials from traffic and accounts of the railway board and conduct a fresh selection for the post of member (technical), Railway Cla­ims Tri­bunal.Dismissing the petition from Abhay Kumar Kha­nna who was working as GM, ICF, the bench comprising judicial member K. Elango and administrative member Naresh Gupta held that CAT has no jurisdiction and competence over the issue.Advocate A. Abdul Ajees, counsel for the petitioner, contended that Abhay Kumar Khanna had app­lied for the post of member (technical), in the Railway Claims Tribunal in res­ponse to an advertisement dated January 31, 2013 and attended an interview on April 13, 2013.The selection committee was not constituted as per law. On May 23, 2013, he submitted a representation to the ministry of railways. As there was no response, the official filed this petition.

P. Srinivasan, senior standing counsel for railways, argued that CAT has no jurisdiction to decide the issue and prayed for dismissal of the petition.

Citing a judgment of the HC  where it was observed that the selection of a member (judicial) of the Railway Claims Tribunal was governed by the provisions of the Railway Claims Act, Srinivasan said CAT cannot go into the aspects of appointment of a person to the bench of another tribunal, also governed by a similar enactment. The Railway Claims Tribunal was on the same footing as that of CAT, he added.

Concurring, the bench dismissed the application.

Jammu: Rail services were disrupted on Saturday on the Jammu-Pathankot route as the ABVP activists stopped a train at the Kathua railway station protesting the recent clashes at Kishtwar district. Demanding sacking of the Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo over the Kishtwar incident, the activists of ABVP blocked the railway tracks and raised anti-government slogans, police said. The Ahmedabad-bound train from Jammu was stopped for a brief period by the activists at the Kathua station. However, the rail services were restored when the protesters left the spot. Several political parties, including BJP, have blamed Kitchloo for the clashes between the two communities and demanded a high-level probe by independent authority. Meanwhile, VHP condemned the communal violence in Kishtwar and asked the Centre to take immediate steps in this regard, otherwise it would have "far reaching repercussions". "The killing of five jawans by the militants along the LoC is a well-planned conspiracy and the terrorists were responsible for the communal clashes in Kishtwar on Friday," VHP spokesperson Prakash Sharma said in a statement here.

The activists of ABVP blocked the railway tracks and raised anti-government slogans demanding sacking of the Minist "The Centre should take urgent measures to protect the minority communities and should or otherwise the incident would have far reaching repercussions," Sharma added. Clashes between two communities left two people dead and at least 20 injured, several business establishments and vehicles gutted in arson in Kishtwar district where curfew was clamped and Army called in to assist the local administration in maintaining law and order on Friday.

भोपाल। निशातपुरा स्थित कोच फैक्ट्री में वेस्ट सेंट्रल रेलवे एम्पलाइज यूनियन की महिला विंग ने संगठित महिला कामगार सम्मेलन का आयोजन किया। इसमें वक्ताओं ने कहा कि रेलवे में महिलाकर्मियों की अहम भूमिका है। महिला कर्मियों को चाहिए कि वे फैक्ट्री एक्ट के तहत उन्हें दिए गए अधिकारों का उपयोग अपने हित में करें। इस मौके पर संगठित महिला कामगारों को उनके अधिकारों के प्रति सचेत करने पंफलेट, ब्रोशर आदि भी बांटे गए।

सम्मेलन का उद्घाटन यूनियन की कोच फैक्ट्री इकाई के अध्यक्ष अशोक सक्सेना ने किया। विशेष अतिथि व मुख्य वक्ता के रूप में ऑल इंडिया रेलवे फेडरेशन की सहसचिव चंपा वर्मा व संगीता तिवारी मौजूद थीं। संचालन जोनल अध्यक्ष रवींद्र जायसवाल ने किया।

गौरतलब है कि संगठित क्षेत्र के अंतर्गत काम करने वाली कई महिला रेलकर्मियों को उनके अधिकारों के बारे में जानकारी नहीं है, जिस कारण उन्हें कई समस्याओं का सामना करना पड़ता है। इसी बात को लेकर यह कामगार सम्मेलन आयोजित किया गया। इस दौरान ईद की शुभकामनाएं भी दी गईं।  

रेलकर्मियों के बच्चों की परीक्षा फीस की प्रतिपूर्ति होगी   रेलकर्मियों के बच्चों की ट्यूशन फीस के साथ अब इसी शिक्षण सत्र से परीक्षा फीस की प्रतिपूर्ति भी की जाएगी। कार्मिक मंत्रालय ने इस आशय का आदेश  जारी कर दिया है। वेस्ट सेंट्रल रेलवे एम्पलाइज यूनियन के मंडल सचिव फिलिप ओमन ने बताया कि इस आदेश से रेल मंडल के 16 हजार 500 कर्मचारियों के बच्चों को फायदा होगा।      रेल कर्मचारियों के बच्चों को अभी तक केवल ट्यूशन फीस ही दी जाती थी। वेस्ट सेंट्रल रेलवे एम्पलाइज यूनियन और ऑल इंडिया लेवल की यूनियन के प्रयासों से यह संभव हो सका है कि अब रेलकर्मियों के बच्चों को हर परीक्षा की फीस भी दी जाए। देशभर के करीब 20 लाख रेलकर्मियों के बच्चों को इस आदेश का फायदा मिल सकेगा।   रेलवे की न्यू पेंशन स्कीम का विरोध    रेलवे में न्यू पेंशन स्कीम का विरोध वेस्ट सेंट्रल रेलवे मजदूर संघ कर रहा है। इस सिलसिले में संघ की विभिन्न इकाइयां हर दिन किसी न किसी स्थान पर विरोध प्रदर्श, धरना प्रदर्शन आदि कर रही हैं। संघ के मंडल अध्यक्ष राजेश पांडेय, मंडल सचिव बीडी मिश्रा ने बताया कि फिलहाल डीआरएम सहित संबंधितों को ज्ञापन व पत्र भी सौंपे जा रहे हैं। जल्द हमारे हित में निर्णय नहीं हुआ तो बड़ा आंदोलन किया जाएगा।      कर्मचारी नेताओं का कहना है कि न्यू पेंशन स्कीम के तहत कर्मचारी का 10 फीसदी बेसिक तनख्वाह में से हर महीने काटा जाएगा। इस पैसे को निकाला नहीं सकता और यदि कोई कर्मचारी उसका उपयोग जीपीएफ के नाम पर करना चाहता है तब भी उसका अधिकार नहीं होगा। वहीं, पुरानी पेंशन स्कीम में 10 फीसदी पैसे को छोड़कर शेष निकाला जा सकता है। इसलिए पुरानी पेंशन स्कीम ही फिर से लागू की जाना चाहिए। संघ के पदाधिकारियों एपी शुक्ला, एमएस पुरी, आलोक त्रिपाठी, आलोक मालवीय, जेए नियाजी ने भी नई पेंशन स्कीम पर विरोध जताया है।

उज्जैन. मध्य प्रदेश के उज्जैन मे आगामी 2016 मे सिहस्थ के दौरान लगभग सौ स्पेशल रेलगाडियां चलाने की तैयारी की जा रही और उसी के अनुरुप आधारभूत संरचनाए जुटाई जा रही है. इसके साथ ही उज्जैन स्टेशन पर हाईटेक सुविधाए भी जुटाई जायेगी.

पश्चिम रेलवे के महाप्रबंधक प्रमोद कुमार ने आज यहां उज्जैन स्टेशन का निरीक्षण के दौरान यह जानकारी दी. उन्होने बताया कि उज्जैन मे आगामी 2016 को होने वाले सिहस्थ महापर्व के पूर्व रेल प्रशासन द्वारा शहर के फ्रीगंज साइड की अोर विचरण क्षेत्र का विस्तार किया जायेगा और बहुउद्देश्य परिसर के लिये रेल भूमि विकास प्राधिकरण द्वारा निविदाए आमंत्रित की गई है.

NEW DELHI: According top priority to passenger safety, Railway Minister Mr.Mallikarjun Kharge has asked his officers to follow a policy of ‘no loss of life’.

However, ensuring that no lives are lost could prove to be a difficult task in view of the mammoth 1.42 lakh vacancies in safety-related posts in the state-run transporter. To stretch the already thin workforce, hundreds of new trains have been added in the last few years.

The Railway Board, the highest decision-making body which is responsible for operations of 11,000 trains every day and handles projects worth lakhs of crores, has been headless for over a month now. Besides, the board doesn’t have a full-time Member (Staff) and Financial Commissioner.

In a message to general managers, heads of zonal railways and divisional railways managers, Kharge said, “Safety should take priority over all other considerations. A policy of ‘no loss of life’ should be our motto.”

Safety-related posts lying vacant include loco running staff, drivers, station masters, guards, technology supervisors, control and yard staff, signal inspectors and maintenance employees who are crucial for railway operations. The shortage of loco pilots alone is around 20%.

The vacancies have put excessive strain on existing staff which is reflected in the increase in train accidents attributed to human error.

While railways maintains that an aggressive recruitment drive is underway to fill up vacancies, incidents of paper leaks in examinations have slowed down the process. The railways, incidentally, is the largest public sector employer in the country.

The recent ‘cash for promotion’ scam involving the nephew of the former railway minister had raised questions on the way senior level posts in railways board were filled.

भोपाल। निशातपुरा स्थित कोच फैक्ट्री में वेस्ट सेंट्रल रेलवे एम्पलाइज यूनियन की महिला विंग ने संगठित महिला कामगार सम्मेलन का आयोजन किया। इसमें वक्ताओं ने कहा कि रेलवे में महिलाकर्मियों की अहम भूमिका है। महिला कर्मियों को चाहिए कि वे फैक्ट्री एक्ट के तहत उन्हें दिए गए अधिकारों का उपयोग अपने हित में करें। इस मौके पर संगठित महिला कामगारों को उनके अधिकारों के प्रति सचेत करने पंफलेट, ब्रोशर आदि भी बांटे गए।

सम्मेलन का उद्घाटन यूनियन की कोच फैक्ट्री इकाई के अध्यक्ष अशोक सक्सेना ने किया। विशेष अतिथि व मुख्य वक्ता के रूप में ऑल इंडिया रेलवे फेडरेशन की सहसचिव चंपा वर्मा व संगीता तिवारी मौजूद थीं। संचालन जोनल अध्यक्ष रवींद्र जायसवाल ने किया।

गौरतलब है कि संगठित क्षेत्र के अंतर्गत काम करने वाली कई महिला रेलकर्मियों को उनके अधिकारों के बारे में जानकारी नहीं है, जिस कारण उन्हें कई समस्याओं का सामना करना पड़ता है। इसी बात को लेकर यह कामगार सम्मेलन आयोजित किया गया। इस दौरान ईद की शुभकामनाएं भी दी गईं।  

रेलकर्मियों के बच्चों की परीक्षा फीस की प्रतिपूर्ति होगी   रेलकर्मियों के बच्चों की ट्यूशन फीस के साथ अब इसी शिक्षण सत्र से परीक्षा फीस की प्रतिपूर्ति भी की जाएगी। कार्मिक मंत्रालय ने इस आशय का आदेश  जारी कर दिया है। वेस्ट सेंट्रल रेलवे एम्पलाइज यूनियन के मंडल सचिव फिलिप ओमन ने बताया कि इस आदेश से रेल मंडल के 16 हजार 500 कर्मचारियों के बच्चों को फायदा होगा।      रेल कर्मचारियों के बच्चों को अभी तक केवल ट्यूशन फीस ही दी जाती थी। वेस्ट सेंट्रल रेलवे एम्पलाइज यूनियन और ऑल इंडिया लेवल की यूनियन के प्रयासों से यह संभव हो सका है कि अब रेलकर्मियों के बच्चों को हर परीक्षा की फीस भी दी जाए। देशभर के करीब 20 लाख रेलकर्मियों के बच्चों को इस आदेश का फायदा मिल सकेगा।   रेलवे की न्यू पेंशन स्कीम का विरोध    रेलवे में न्यू पेंशन स्कीम का विरोध वेस्ट सेंट्रल रेलवे मजदूर संघ कर रहा है। इस सिलसिले में संघ की विभिन्न इकाइयां हर दिन किसी न किसी स्थान पर विरोध प्रदर्श, धरना प्रदर्शन आदि कर रही हैं। संघ के मंडल अध्यक्ष राजेश पांडेय, मंडल सचिव बीडी मिश्रा ने बताया कि फिलहाल डीआरएम सहित संबंधितों को ज्ञापन व पत्र भी सौंपे जा रहे हैं। जल्द हमारे हित में निर्णय नहीं हुआ तो बड़ा आंदोलन किया जाएगा।      कर्मचारी नेताओं का कहना है कि न्यू पेंशन स्कीम के तहत कर्मचारी का 10 फीसदी बेसिक तनख्वाह में से हर महीने काटा जाएगा। इस पैसे को निकाला नहीं सकता और यदि कोई कर्मचारी उसका उपयोग जीपीएफ के नाम पर करना चाहता है तब भी उसका अधिकार नहीं होगा। वहीं, पुरानी पेंशन स्कीम में 10 फीसदी पैसे को छोड़कर शेष निकाला जा सकता है। इसलिए पुरानी पेंशन स्कीम ही फिर से लागू की जाना चाहिए। संघ के पदाधिकारियों एपी शुक्ला, एमएस पुरी, आलोक त्रिपाठी, आलोक मालवीय, जेए नियाजी ने भी नई पेंशन स्कीम पर विरोध जताया है।