ProUI

Western Railway commuters have benefitted from measures
like the introduction of 12-car rakes and increase in services over the years, but they say its punctuality has taken a beating in the process.
    Officials too admitted that WR’s moves to increase its capacity, by switching from 9-car rakes to 12-car and 15-car ones and introducing more services, may have inadvertently slowed it down. The punctuality of its trains has come down from 97% to around 95% and nearly 50 to 60 services are behind schedule on an average every day.
    “A signal turns from red to yellow to double yellow and green as a train moves from one signaling territory to another. But a 9-car train occupies lesser signaling territory compared to a 12- or 15-car train. In the present situation, some trains are unable to hit maximum speed as it takes longer to get a double yellow or green signal. When the motorman sees a yellow signal, he has to reduce the speed to 38 kmph,” a senior official explained.
    The maximum speed on fast lines is 80 to 100 kmph, whereas it is atleast 50 to 60 kmph on slow lines if the signal is clear. Many services run behind schedule due to the extra time taken by the longer rakes to cross each signaling territory. However, it is difficult to recover the lost time with speed as the tracks are saturated due to the increase in services. Moreover, minor disruptions or trespassing incidents also delay trains.
    In 2006-07, WR had 1,140 services, including 532 ninecar ones. After procuring new rakes, converting to AC traction and expansion of its rail corridor, WR now runs 1,305 services, of which 1,165 are 12-car and 30 are 15-car services.
    “On an average, there is a 5-10 minute delay. But besides delays over signaling, the problem is also due to the retrofitted rakes, whose performance is below standard,” claimed a motorman.
    “I board a train to Bhayander at 8.23pm from Dadar, but it never reaches its destination on time, halting intermittently between stations,” said Mira Road resident Vijay Pancholi.
    “Most trains halt for at least four to six minutes between Dahisar and Borivli,” said Shailesh Goyal, former member of the Zonal Rail User Consultative Committee.
    A senior railway official said, “Our first task is to re-position the signals to allow trains to run at maximum speed. The signal poles were installed keeping in mind 9-car services.”
    WR has also decided to remodel the yard at Borivli and plans to improve its services with help from the Indian Institute of Technology-Powai. WR’s divisional manager Shailendra Kumar said, “We will take a number of steps to improve punctuality.”
NINE TO TWELVE STRETCH
2006
1,043
services at 4 minutes per service
2013
1,305
services at 3 minutes per service AUTO-SIGNALING | Signals on WR automatically convert from red to yellow, double yellow and green once a train hits its track circuit TRACK CIRCUIT | It is an electrical circuit installed to know if a train is occupying the track in a particular section. It comprises a power supply at one end and a relay on the other end DISTANCE | Signal poles are installed at a distance of 400-500 meters, while the length of each coach is 22 meters. The change to 12-coach rakes means a train takes longer to hit its track circuit as the motorman often encounters a yellow signal which restricts him to a speed of 38kmph. This has a cascading effect on other services
BORIVLI ISSUE
At Borivli, Western Railway authorities plan to remodel the yard to allow the simultaneous entry of trains in the Churchgate direction on both platforms 5 and 6. Shifting the crossover further north will help resolve the problem. WR has requested the BMC for a small patch of land to carry out the modification

Withdraw the call or face action, sponsors told

DGP V. Dinesh Reddy on Thursday made it clear that there was no question of allowing ‘rail roko’ as part of the ongoing agitation in coastal and Rayalaseema districts. Non-bailable cases would be booked against those participating in the programme.Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Dinesh Reddy said rallies in support of integrated State or Telangana in the State capital would not be allowed at all.He asked the sponsors of ‘rail roko’ to withdraw their call or else the police would take stringent steps identifying the participants on the basis of video clippings.“There will be 100 per cent video coverage of railway stations and tracks. And there will also be an aerial survey.” Recalling a SC direction not permitting rail roko at any cost, Mr. Reddy said it was on the basis of court ruling that the police acted tough against a similar programme in Telangana in the past. The same norm would be applied this time in a counter agitation. Police had taken the call seriously and he had himself held consultations with the SCR General Manager, chief operations manager and chief security commissioner.The Additional DGP in charge of railways would be stationed in Vijayawada to enforce the proposed steps, he added. He said the police would permit democratic forms of protest to highlight grievances but not something that infringed the rights of others.

Holding up train traffic fell into the category of infringement because it led to suffering to passengers, including the aged.

NGOS’ PROTEST

Referring to the picketing of government offices by non-gazetted staff, Mr. Reddy warned that there was little difference in the programme with ‘wrongful restraint’ which attracted criminal action. There was also the danger of anti-social elements penetrating into the mob to create lawlessness.

On the preparedness of police to tackle the agitations, Mr. Reddy said 55 companies of Central paramilitary forces were deployed for the purpose. Police did not enter the Secretariat to deal with protests in the absence of any request from the Chief Secretary or the Principal Secretary (Political).

ALLAHABAD: To commemorate 10 years of its existence, North Central Railway has planned a series of programmes. The year-long celebrations will have public participation and even passengers can take part in them. Talking to TOI, CPRO North Central Railway, Sandeep Mathur said, "It is a proud moment that NCR has completed 10 years. There will be a series of programmes that will be organised throughout the year so that people can have everlasting memories and celebrate their association with NCR. There will be logo designing, slogan and jingle writing and photography competitions which will be open for public participation." He also added that there will be various cultural and educational programmes during the month of September. Further, there will also be sporting activities for the railway employees and officers. In addition to this, there will also be a 'Walk' where general public will participate. North Central Railway came into existence on April 1, 2003. It has completed 10 years of existence this year. The railway zone is planning a series of events to commemorate the event. The first set of events will include a logo designing competition, slogan writing and photography competition. While logo designing, NCR is expecting the participants to design logo based on the achievements of North Central Railway.

There will also be a slogan writing contest in which participants will require to write a slogan about the various facets of North Central Railway. The maximum length of the slogan is about 10 words. There will also be a jingle writing contest which can be of maximum 8 lines. The last date of submission of entries to these contests is August 21. This competition is open to the general public and also to the railway employees.

To mark the event, there will also be a photography competition in which participants can showcase photographs pertaining to stations, trains or any event related with NCR. The last date of entries to this competition is October 15.

NCR officials informed that in September, a series of cultural and educational programmes are also being planned. In the cultural programme, there will be dance, drama and singing competition in which wards of the railway employees will showcase their talent in front of the audience. There will also be a debate competition.

In February next year, there will be various sporting activities for the railway employees and the officers. There will be various sports competitions including cricket, hockey, athletics and other events.

Bhubaneswar: The Carriage Repair Workshop of the East Coast Railway at Mancheswar added another feather to its cap by getting the coveted ISO 9001-2008 Certification for Quality Management Systems on Wednesday. RCoR Chief Mechanical Engineer Prem Chandra received the certificate issued by Certification Services Ltd. He praised the initiatives taken by the Mancheswar Workshop and urged its staff and officers to continue their efforts to achieve many such milestones in future also.Chief Workshop Manager SK Pankaj informed that the Workshop is planning to celebrate its completion of 30 years of production in December with lot of festivities and record outturn. It is also planning to get ISO 14000 for Environment Management System and ISO 18000 certification for Occupational Health & Safety System by December.Last month, the Workshop achieved the highest-ever outturn of 145 coaches. It also produced 1,001 wheels, which is another milestone.

Even as the railway officials convinced the local people that all the facilities being provided to passengers at Vadamadurai railway station would continue, a section of the general public and the members of the Chamber of Commerce still expressed concern. But for many, the railway’s assurance came as a relief.Divisional Railway Manager A.K.Rastogi, in a statement issued on Wednesday, assured that there would not be any change in passenger amenities, platforms, booking of tickets and stoppages of trains at Vadamadurai station.The Hindu had carried a report on Wednesday that the shops downed shutters and autorickshaws stayed off the roads following a proposed move by the railways to close down the station.The Divisional Railway Manager said as part of doubling of track, modern signalling equipment were being installed in the Tiruchi-Dindigul section, and an intermediate block signal system would be installed at Vadamadurai. Booking clerks would be available at the station. Similarly, the existing passenger facilities at Chettiapatti would also continue, he added.Vadamadurai Chamber of Commerce president S.Thiagarajan said calculating the distance between stations while doubling the tracks had shattered the hopes of the residents.“We do not think that continuance of booking staff and other facilities would ensure a long life to Vadamadurai station. At this juncture, we cannot predict whether the assurance is a permanent relief or a temporary joy,” he said.

“If they (Southern Railway officials) were really interested in continuing the operations at Vadamadurai station, we all will welcome it, because this station has been serving the people for more than 100 years,” he added.

However, regular rail commuters, particularly college students, heaved a sigh of relief over the announcement by the railway authorities.

KARIMGANJ, Aug 8 – The Karimganj district units of the BJP and Yuva Morcha have decided to launch separate movements throughout the Barak Valley for quick implementation of the BG and Mahasadak projects.
The BJP and Yuva Morcha units will commence their mass movements from August and September respectively. This was disclosed here by district BJP president Rathindra Bhattacharjee and Yuva Morcha district president Kishore De.

Rathindra Bhattacharjee said that the district committee in its meeting held on July 27 adopted a few resolutions. In an important resolution, the district BJP decided to commence a mass movement throughout the valley for early completion of the two projects.

Bhattacharjee added that earlier the Railway Ministry had assured that within March, 2014, the execution of the BG line construction works would be completed, but now the Railway Ministry is unwilling to complete the project on time.

According to the president of the Karimganj BJP, workers of the party are going to stage an agitation in front of Karimganj, Badarpur, Nilambazar, Patherkandi, Chandkhira and Dullavcherra railway stations, demanding quick implementation of the Lumding-Silchar BG project. Besides, they will bring to the notice of people the alleged negligence of the Central and State Governments in completing the construction works of the Silchar-Saurashtra Mahasadak project.

With a view to exerting pressure on both the Central and State governments for quick implementation of the two mega projects, the Karimganj district committee of the BJP has launched a month-long agitational programme like organising public meetings at various places in the district. The BJP leaders of Karimganj district are trying to bring Dima Hasao under the movement.

The Karimganj BJP and Yuva Morcha units also commenced a special drive to strengthen the party at the grassroot level. The district BJP president, Rathindra Bhattacharjee said that national vicepresident of BJP SS Ahluwalia is expected to visit Karimganj and participate in a workers’ conference to be held in the last week of this month.

Yuva Morcha district president Kishore De disclosed that 65 per cent of the total voters are youths. Hence the Yuva Morcha has taken a few steps to attract the youths. The Morcha also started a membership drive and has fixed a target to enrol 10,000 youths within October.

Kharagpur :
In order to increase the reading habits & to help the children of Rly. employees, a 2-day Readers’ Orientation Programme followed by a Book Exhibition was held at S.E.Rly. Girls’ H.S.School/ Kharagpur today( 18TH July, 2013).The programmeis being organized by the Ministry of Railways & National Book Trust on 18th and 19th July 2013.Sri Prempal Sharma , Executive Director, Railway Board inaugurated the proramme in presence of Sri Manoj Pande, Chief Personnel Officer, S.E. Railway, Sri R.K. Kulsreshtha, Divl. Railway Manager , S.E. Railway, Kharagpur and Smt. Mansi Kulsreshtha , President of SERWWO, Kharagpur. Sri Manas Ranjan Mahapatra, Editor NBT, Smt. Karabi Mukhopadhyay, Principal, SER GHSS/Khargapur, Sri C.M.Saren ,Sr. Divl.Personnel Officer & Sri D.Sutar Dy. Chief Personnel Officer /Welfare were also present.

The corporate objective of organizing this kind of programme is to encourage the teachers & the students to beget their reading habits.

The programme brought togetheras many as 45 teachers & 10 principals from all Railway schools of 4 Divisions (Kharagpur, Adra, Chakradharpur, & Ranchi)under SER.Sri Prempal Sharma Executive Director , Railway Board while addressing the gathering , advised that the reading habits of all students should be encouragedat the grass root level. Sri Manoj Pande, Chief Personnel Officer, SER said that reading more would generate knowledge & individuality. Sri Pandeencouragedthe students to learn more instead of mere selective.

Smt Karabi Mukhopadhayay , Principal , SER GHSS/Kharagpur announced that the BOOK EXHIBITION would remain opened for all on 18th & 19th July 2013 from 9.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. at SER GHSS/Kharagpur & National Book Trust would give 10% discount on the purchase of Booksdisplayed in the exhibition. Students of different schools should come & availthis opportunity .

To supplement this grand occasion , a series ofProgrammes like Discussion , Question & Answer Sessions, Sharing of Views , Cultural Events , Film Show etc. are being organized

This kind of Programme would improve the standard of education & the SER’s effort on this moveis commendable.

इलाहाबाद : रेलवे कर्मचारियों की अधिकतर मांगे रेल मंत्रालय मान चुका है, लेकिन उन्हें वित्त मंत्रालय भेजकर लटका दिया गया है। इसके अलावा सातवें वेतन आयोग, नई पेंशन नीति खत्म करने आदि मामले में भी आवाज उठ रही है। इन सबको लेकर रेलवे यूनियन संजीदा हैं। गुरुवार को दिल्ली में होने वाली बैठक में हड़ताल के लिए बैलट मतदान की तिथि निश्चित की जाएगी। मतदान के बाद अगर हड़ताल के लिए कहा गया तो वह भी किया जाएगा। इसमें कई केंद्रीय संगठन के साथ राज्य संगठन सहयोग देने के लिए तैयार हैं। यह बातें ऑल इंडिया रेलवेमेंस फेडरेशन के महामंत्री शिवगोपाल मिश्रा ने कहीं।

कहा कि अभी भी ग्रुप डी में एक लाख पद खाली चल रहे हैं। लार्जेस स्कीम को लेकर उन्होंने कहा कि अब इस स्कीम के तहत रेल कर्मचारियों के बच्चों को किसी भी प्रकार की परीक्षा नहीं देनी होगी। यह नियम जुलाई 2013 से लागू हुआ है। इसके तहत 2010 व 2011 में बाहर हुए और जिन्हें बुलाया नहीं गया उन्हें दोबारा शामिल किए जाने की मांग उठाई गई।

Union Railway Minister M. Mallikarjun Kharge has assured a team of MPs that his Ministry will seriously consider realising the proposed Nanjangud-Nilambur railway that connects three States in South India.M.I. Shanavas, MP, said in a release here on Wednesday that the team stressed the need for a railway line that connected eight districts of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu for the development of backward districts in the region. The team comprised R. Dhruva Narayan, A. Raja, and M.I. Shanavas, MPs representing Chamaraj Nagar constituency in Karnataka, Nilgiri in Tamil Nadu, and Wayanad respectively.They also submitted a memorandum on the significance of constructing the railway line, Mr. Shanavas said. According to a revised survey of the Southern Railway, the proposed project could be commissioned at an estimated cost of Rs.4,266.85crore .The first phase of the project aimed at constructing a railway line connecting Sulthan Bathery and Nanjangud at a cost of Rs.641 crore. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had announced recently that that the government would give first priority to the proposed project, Mr. Shanavas said.A joint meeting of various organisations including the Mysore Chamber of Commerce, Mysore Travel and Tourism Organisation, Wayanad-Nilgiri Railway Action Council, and the Kerala Samajam Mysore Unit held in Mysore on Tuesday decided to exert pressure on governments to realise the project, T.M. Rasheed, convener of the Wayanad-Nilgiri Railway Action Council, said. The project also expected to overcome the issues related to the night traffic ban on the Karnataka’s part of the National Highway 212, he added.

Debaraj Panda, an officer of 1985 batch of the Indian Railway Traffic Service has joined as New Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) in Sambalpur Division of East Coast Railway.Mr. Panda has replaced A. K Gupta who has been transferred to North Central Railway, Allahabad. Prior to this new posting, Mr. Panda was serving as Chief Freight Transportation Manager (CFTM) of East Coast Railway here.