ProUI

Trichy: A special train to promote awareness on biodiversity and safe environment which chugged into the city a few days back is drawing a large number of people. A large number of students were in attendance at the Trichy railway junction on Tuesday to see the exhibits on the train, named Science Express-Biodiversity Express.SEBS, a specially designed 16-coach AC train, is stationed at Trichy railway junction from Sunday. The train, which commenced its trip from Delhi's Safdarjung station on April 9, arrived at Trichy junction on August 4 in its fifth phase of travel across the country. On the third and penultimate day, more than 21,000 students from various schools and colleges lined up at the junction station to explore the train. The experience was joyous as well as rewarding to the students. "I feel as if I was exploring the entire nation because I have got abundant information about birds, animals, society, and culture of India. I also became aware about various kinds of pollution. Henceforth, I would do my best to protect our environment particularly in our city," said K Madhanraj, a class 10 student of St Joseph School at Ayyampatti in Trichy.Ironically, the place where the train is stationed is close to Ariyamangalam composite yard where piles of garbage dumped for many years is polluting the air nearby.Teachers, who accompanied the students, felt that the visit would help the students understand concepts about biodiversity easily. "It was very useful for both the students and the teachers. The information about the consequence of deforestation, climate change and etc were highly informative and educative," Jennifer, a teacher from Periyar matriculation school, in Trichy said.

On the first day, 11,457 visitors checked into the train. The figure, which was 15,117 on Monday, surged to 21,236. Considering its popularity, a demand has been made to extend its stay in Trichy so that the students from neighbour district could also benefit.

The train will be stationed here for four days till August 7. The next destination for this special train is Koodalnagar railway station in Madurai.

SEBS is a collaborative endeavour of the department of science and technology and ministry of environment and forests.

A railway staff BK Madhavan who took his daughter to visit the train said "We got the chance to know about various things related to their subjects at one go because it is impossible to go everywhere across the country to see such things.

HUBLI: South Eastern Railway ( SER) will augment train no: 12245/12246 Howrah-Yeshwantpur-HowrahDuranto Express temporarily to clear extra rush.Train no: 12245 Howrah-Yeshwantpur Duranto Express runs with one additional 3-tier AC coach on August 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30 & 31. One additional second class sleeper coach is also attached to the same train on August 3, 7, 11, 16, 20, 24 and 28.In the return direction, 12246 Yeshwantpur-Howrah Duranto Express runs with one additional 3-tier AC coach on August 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29 & September 1 and 2. One additional second class sleeper coach is also attached to the same train on August 5, 9, 13, 18, 22, 26 & 30.

NEW DELHI: A special CBI court has ordered the medical superintendent of AIIMS to get former railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla, an accused in the Rs 10 crore railway bribery case, medically examined after he claimed that he was not given proper treatment in Tihar jail.

Special CBI judge Swarana Kanta Sharma ordered that Singla be produced before the medical superintendent of AIIMS on August 8 and also said that a compliance report be filed before the court on August 13. The order came after Singla, who is lodged in Tihar jail along with other accused, told the court that he was not being provided proper treatment in prison.

"In such circumstances, it is ordered that the accused (Singla) be medically examined from AIIMS. Medical superintendent, AIIMS, is also directed to get the accused medically examined and file status report regarding his present medical condition, the treatment required and any other opinion he deems fit to the court," the judge said.

Tihar jail authorities had filed a medical report on Singla in court in which they said he was suffering from enlarged prostate.

The court had extended till August 19 the judicial custody of seven accused, including Singla, who have been arrested in connection with the case.

Besides Singla, the then member (staff) of railway board Mahesh Kumar, MD of Bangalore-based GG Tronics India Pvt Ltd Narayan Rao Manjunath, alleged middleman Sandeep Goyal, Rahul Yadav, Samir Sandhir and Sushil Daga are in judicial custody.

Out of the 10 accused who were chargesheeted by CBI, alleged middleman Ajay Garg, who is accused of being instrumental in fixing the bribe amount to get a favourable post for Kumar, was granted bail on July 8. Two other accused, M V Murali Krishan and C V Venugopal, are out on interim bail.

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) V Dinesh Reddy on Thursday warned Samaikyandhra agitators of stringent action if they go ahead with their proposed rail roko agitation in Seemandhra regions. "For the impending rail roko we have appealed to them (protesters) in view of the Supreme Court direction (and on the likely misery that will cause to the travelling public) to withdraw from their move," Reddy said in Hyderabad. "We are fully prepared to tackle the rail roko. Lot of forces (from within the state) and central paramilitary forces have already been deployed and we are in full control of the situation. We will also keep vigil by aerial survey," he said warning of initiating stern measures against those indulging in squatting on tracks and rail roko and resorting to violence. Referring to the ongoing protests by united Andhra Pradesh supporters in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts, which entered ninth day on Thursday, the DGP said, "In AP, the law and order situation is well under control. The police is in total grip of the situation. No need for any worry at any point of time and there isn't any marked violence."

Samaikyandhra agitators have announced that they will go ahead with their proposed agitation for a united Andhra Pradesh. The AP police chief further said no permission has been granted to anyone to hold rallies in Hyderabad city and also warned of stern action against the AP non-gazetted officers (APNGOs), if they picket government offices. "I have appealed to everyone that as long as the protests are within the walls of democratic norms we have no objection. We have appealed to them not to take law into their hands. Once if law is taken into hands and if there is any violence, it is the primary duty and responsibility of police to protect the rights of the individuals," Reddy added. Those who are agitating have the right in a democratic way but those rights will not go to the extent of infringing the rights of others. We will take very serious view of such acts, he said. Replying to a query on reported threats to the people of non-Telangana regions staying in Hyderabad, the DGP said, "We assure their safety. The police is ever vigilant." To a question on the visit of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to the city on August 11, Reddy said, "The fact is that we have not made any statement on banning his visit...so he is welcome and we are making all arrangements (for his visit)." Modi is scheduled to address a meeting here on August 11.

Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) V. Dinesh Reddy today warned Samaikyandhra agitators of stringent action if they go ahead with their proposed rail roko agitation in Seemandhra regions.“For the impending rail roko we have appealed to them (protesters) in view of the Supreme Court direction (and on the likely misery that will cause to the travelling public) to withdraw from their move,” Reddy told reporters here.“...We are fully prepared to tackle the rail roko. Lot of forces (from within the State) and central paramilitary forces have already been deployed and we are in full control of the situation. We will also keep vigil by aerial survey,” he said warning of initiating stern measures against those indulging in squatting on tracks and rail roko and resorting to violence.Referring to the ongoing protests by united Andhra Pradesh supporters in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts, which entered the ninth day today, the DGP said: “In AP, the law and order situation is well under control. The police is in total grip of the situation. No need for any worry at any point of time and there isn’t any marked violence.”

The AP police chief further said no permission has been granted to anyone to hold rallies in Hyderabad city and also warned of stern action against AP non-gazetted officers, if they picket government offices.

“I have appealed to everyone that as long as the protests are within the walls of democratic norms, we have no objection. We have appealed to them not to take law into their hands. Once if the law is taken into hands and if there is any violence, it is the primary duty and responsibility of police to protect the rights of the individuals,” Reddy added.

“Those who are agitating have the right in a democratic way but those rights will not go to the extent of infringing the rights of others. We will take very serious view of such acts,’’ he said.

नई दिल्ली.  देशभर में चलने वाली 368 रेल परियोजनाएं फिलहाल पैसे के अभाव में लंबित पड़े हुए हैं. ये जानकारी आज सरकार ने संसद मे दी है. सरकार के मुताबिक 368 रेल परियोजनाएं लंबित हैं जिन्हें पूरा करने के लिए 1 लाख 78 हजार करोड़ रुपये की जरूरत होगी.

लोकसभा में शरद यादव, शैलेन्द्र कुमार, गणेश नाइक, अर्जुन राम मेघवाल के प्रश्न के उत्तर में रेल मंत्री मल्लिकार्जुन खड़गे ने कहा कि 1 अप्रैल 2013 की स्थिति के अनुसार अभी 368 रेल परियोजनाओं पर काम जारी है जिनमें 156 नई रेल लाइन, 43 आमान परिवर्तन और 169 दोहरीकरण से जुड़ी परियोजनाएं हैं.

उन्होंने कहा कि इन्हें पूरा करने के लिए 1.78 लाख करोड़ रुपये की जरूरत होगी. अभी हर वर्ष 9 हजार करोड़ रुपये खर्च हो रहे हैं. इन परियोजनाओं को पूरा करने के लिए राजस्व जुटाने का प्रयास किया जा रहा है.

रेल मंत्री ने कहा कि पिछले तीन वर्षो में 171 नई रेल परियोजनाओं को मंजूरी दी गई है जिनमें 5,431 किलोमीटर की 54 नई रेल लाइन, नौ आमान परिवर्तन और 108 दोहरीकरण की परियोजनाएं शामिल हैं. खड़गे ने कहा कि उपलब्ध संसाधनों के अनुरूप परियोजनाओं पर काम आगे बढ़ाया जा रहा है.

इससे पहले भी पूर्व रेलमंत्री पवन बंसल ने कहा था कि रेल मंत्रालय के पास पैसे का अभाव है. हाल के दिनों में रेल किराया में बढ़ोत्तरी के पीछे भी सरकार ने यही कारण बताया था.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has questioned the PPP model of Delhi's airport metro link saying the concessionaire Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL) was operating a project worth Rs 5697 crore with an equity of just Rs one lakh

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has questioned the PPP model of Delhi's airport metro link saying the concessionaire Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL) was operating a project worth Rs 5697 crore with an equity of just Rs one lakh.The auditor's report, tabled in parliament today, also claimed key guidelines were flouted in implementation of the project and accused DMRC of not doing enough to protect financial interests."Audit observed that the concessionaire brought in equity capital of only Rs 1 lakh at the time of incorporation (April 2008) and an amount of Rs 611.95 crore was infused as share application money pending allotment," the CAG report said.

"This share application money was subsequently converted into interest-free unsecured sub-ordinate debt in 2010-11. Thus, although authorised capital was Rs 870 crore, the paid- up capital remained at only Rs 1 lakh, which was the minimum requirement as stipulated by section 3 of the Companies Act, 1956, for a private company," it added.

The CAG report mentioned that the reasons for conversion of share application money into sub-ordinate debt were not on record. It said this conversion aided the concessionaire to operate a project of Rs 5697 crore with an insignificant risk of one lakh rupess.

The audit report said DMRC in its reply said share money pending allotment was to be included in equity while calculating debt equity ratio.

The CAG report said compliance to financing parameters was to be ensured by DMRC and added share application money pending allotment does not form part of equity unless allotted.

"Instead of insisting upon the concessionaire to maintain the defined debt-equity ratio, DMRC merely asked (June, 2012) the concessionaire to clarify on conversion of share application money into subordinate debt, that too after 15 months of the event," the CAG report said.

The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal for treating 50:50 Joint ownership Metro Rail Companies like DMRC at par with CPSUs for transfer of land. This will allow to transfer / alienation of land including defence land to Metro Rail Companies having 50:50 partnership between the Government of India and the State Government concerned, on the same pattern and terms and conditions as applicable to PSUs / Statutory bodies etc. As per this decision, the on-going and future metro rail projects would be facilitated to get completed within the approved cost and time with subsequent project benefits to the people.

In view of huge throw forward of ongoing projects and limited availability of resources, to expedite project implementation various non-budgetary resources including cost sharing by State Governments have been explored by Railways. Railways have requested State Governments to come forward for sharing cost of projects essential for development and ten state governments have agreed to share cost of 37 projects. Planning Commission has decided as a matter of policy that the project proposals which are to be taken up on socio-economic considerations by the Ministry of Railways are to be supported by the concerned State Government by providing land free of cost and also bearing 50% of the cost of construction. Projects are also taken up with full funding by Ministry of Railways. In 2013-14, a total number of 22 projects were included in Railway Budget provisionally with condition that execution will take place after Planning Commission clearance & Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approval. Except for these projects, all sanctioned projects have been taken up. Clearance for these projects has been processed. This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is making all efforts to prevent incidents of suicides in the metro premises of Delhi.

DMRC has taken the following steps to prevent the incidents of suicides:-

• The Security Controller, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Station Controller have been asked to keep more vigil on CCTV to indentify restless or gloomy persons who may commit suicide.

• Additional measures to prevent access of passengers to the non-passenger areas have been adopted.

• Passengers are advised to keep away from the yellow line on platform through regular announcements and sporadic check by staff.

• Train Operators have been asked to be extra vigilant while approaching platform and apply emergency brakes to stop the train whenever suicide attempt is noticed.

• At many stations, raising of the height of hand railings on the platform boundary has been taken up to prevent any passenger from jumping on to the road beneath.

There have been 14 cases of suicides reported for the period, June 2012 to 2013 in the Delhi metro premises.

This information was given by Shrimati Deepa Dasmunshi, Minister of State, Urban Development in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.