ProUI

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court, on Tuesday, upheld a single judge's order that season ticket holders were not entitled to travel in reserved coaches.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice K Vinod Chandran passed the order while dismissing a petition filed by Nazarudeen from Kozhikode, challenging the  Railways stipulation that first class season ticket holders were allowed to travel only in unreserved coaches. The bench observed that it agreed with an earlier judgment of the High Court that season ticket holders were not permitted in reserved compartments.

The earlier judgment had held that persons who had reserved tickets would have to be protected and their problems also will have to be addressed by the Railways. Railways submitted that under the Indian Railway Commercial Manual, Railways are bound to see that passengers who had reserved their berths are properly accommodated.

The Railways said that journeys undertaken by first-class season ticket holders in reserved coaches, including sleeper-class on Express trains, are not permitted. All season ticket holders, including those who posses valid first-class season tickets, are bound to travel by general coaches, in case a particular train does not have an unreserved coach, the Railways said.

First class season tickets are issued by the Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division for Parasuram and Venad Express trains, on which unreserved first class coaches are available

Government asks MPs from State to mount pressure on Centre to concede demand

The State government has urged the MPs from the State to mount pressure on the Centre for carving out an exclusive railway zone for the State, Rural Development Minister K. C. Joseph has said.Briefing reporters about the deliberations at the MPs’ conference held here on Tuesday to discuss the issues to be raised at the monsoon session of Parliament, Mr. Joseph said that there was no dispute over the headquarters of the zone and it will be set up at a place acceptable for all. The Central government has not yet got the report of the committee appointed by the government for setting up railway zones. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who chaired the session sought the MPs’ cooperation to take up the issue with the Centre.The import duty on rubber has been fixed at 20 per cent or Rs. 20 per kg whichever is less. The meeting resolved to urge the Centre to fix the duty at 20 per cent itself. The State government had sought Rs. 607 crore to overcome the damage caused by the monsoon. Though the State was eligible only for Rs.403 crore, the meeting decided to seek assistance as per the report and also include compensation for sea erosion and deaths due to lightening strike in the Central norms.

Steps for expediting work on the Kanjikode coach factory was yet another demand set by the State government. The delay in starting the work was a matter of concern. The hurdles thrown up by the banks in the State in waiving the interest on the education loan of students with an annual income up to Rs.3 lakh will be raised in Parliament. Since road works under Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana in the State have been completed, the State will demand for inclusion in the second phase. The issue of granting central assistance for the kole farmers in Thrissur too would be taken up, he said.

Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K. V. Thomas who attended the meeting explained the significance of the Food Security Act and said that there will be no cut in the Central grain quota to the State.

Steps for distributing food and providing medical care to the tribes of Attapady too were discussed. Except Union Ministers A .K .Antony, Shashi Tharoor and E.Ahamed and M.I.Shanavas, MP, all UDF MPs were present. LDF MPs boycotted the meeting.

Keywords: Railway ministry, Kerala government

Junior railway minister Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday flagged off the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri AC Superfast Express and inaugurated computerized reservation centres at several locations along the Howrah, Malda and Asansol divisions of Eastern Railway. He also announced extension of some trains and increase in frequency of others.
    Among those present at the programme were ER general manager G C Agarwal, Metro Railway GM Radhey Shyam and Howrah divisional railway manager A Dutta.
    “It is important to run trains. But, it is equally important to provide better services, particularly in remote parts. We have to build necessary infrastructure to allow more trains to run. North Bengal is very important for the state. Till now, people from there were only connected to Kolkata through Sealdah. Now, with the introduction of this train, Howrah will also be connected to north Bengal,” the minister said.
    After the programme in Howrah, Chowdhury went to the South Eastern Railway’s headquarters to give away the prizes for the 61st All India Railways Table Tennis Championship. He assured more support to sportspersons during the programme. On Tuesday, the minister also commenced doubling work, flagged off local trains and announced the extension of MEMU services at the Berhampore Court station.
NEW SERVICES
Howrah-New Jalpaiguri AC Super Fast
Howrah-Malda Town Intercity Express via Azimganj
New Delhi–Farakka Express extended to Malda
Malda Town-Jamalpur Express to run daily
Ishan Chandi Halt commissioned

GARHWA: The decade-old Garhwa railway station, which sees more than 1000 commuters every day, has been crying for passenger amenities for years. Situated on the Garhwa-Chopan rail section, the station lacks basic amenities such as drinking water, a waiting room, overbridge and an enquiry counter. President of the railway user association Krishna Kumar Agrawal and secretary S P Verma have demanded better facilities for passengers."There is no arrangement of cold water for passengers who brave the sweltering heat to come here. There is only one hand pump for the 1000-odd passengers who come here every day. Toilets too are in a bad state. They are hardly cleaned, the taps often run dry. There aren't enough lights, making it unsafe for travelers to commute through the station at night. In case of a power cut, the entire station plunges into darkness as there is no generator here. Passengers feel insecure waiting for a train in the dark. This greatly inconveniences the old and ailing passengers," said Verma.

According to sources, Garhwa railway station garners Rs 2.5 crore revenue per annum, besides crore of rupees earned through the transportation of raw materials. Garhwa residents and commuters have long been demanding the doubling of Garhwa-Chopan railway section. This section has direct links with two metro cities - Delhi and Kolkata. On an average, twenty trains, including eight express trains, pass through the station every day.

Garhwa district, with a big market in Palamu division, has become the commercial hub of the region. Many businessmen from Garhwa travel to cities like Delhi, Kolkata and Kanpur every day.

To add to the passengers' woes, the Swarnajyanti Express and other trains halt for only two minutes at Garhwa station. President of Garhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bablu Patwa has demanded that express and other trains stop here for at least five minutes.

Former GCCI president Santosh Kesri too had handed over a memorandum to the divisional railway manager last year demanding the construction of platform no. 2, an overbridge, drinking water facility and an enquiry counter. "No action has been taken in this regard so far," rued local residents and businessmen.

KOLKATA: Junior railway minister Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday flagged off the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri AC Superfast Express and inaugurated computerized reservation centres at several locations along the Howrah, Malda and Asansol divisions of Eastern Railway. He also announced extension of some trains and increase in frequency of others.Among those present at the programme were ER general manager G C Agarwal, Metro Railway GM Radhey Shyam and Howrah divisional railway manager A Dutta."It is important to run trains. But, it is equally important to provide better services, particularly in remote parts. We have to build necessary infrastructure to allow more trains to run. North Bengal is very important for the state. Till now, people from there were only connected to Kolkata through Sealdah. Now, with the introduction of this train, Howrah will also be connected to north Bengal," the minister said.

After the programme in Howrah, Chowdhury went to the South Eastern Railway's headquarters to give away the prizes for the 61st All India Railways Table Tennis Championship. He assured more support to sportspersons during the programme. On Tuesday, the minister also commenced doubling work, flagged off local trains and announced the extension of MEMU services at the Berhampore Court station.

The photo exhibition showcasing the evolution and rare moments of the railway journey was inaugurated by Indra Ghosh, General Manager, East Coast Railway, at Railway Stadium, Mancheswar, on Tuesday.More than 200 rare photographs portraying the journey of the Railways are being displayed in the exhibition, reviving the nostalgia of passengers with ancient trains, engines, and political dignitaries making their journeys.

TUTICORIN

Southern Railway: Introduction of Tuticorin- Chennai – Tuticorin Link Express Train, S.R. Jeyadurai, Tuticorin MP, S.P. Shanmuganathan, Tourism Minister, S.T. Chellapandian, Tuticorin MLA, L. Sasikala Pushpa, Mayor, Tuticorin Corporation, flag off inaugural service, Tuticorin Railway Station, 7.35 a.m.

The photo exhibition showcasing the evolution and rare moments of the railway journey was inaugurated by Indra Ghosh, General Manager, East Coast Railway, at Railway Stadium, Mancheswar, on Tuesday.More than 200 rare photographs portraying the journey of the Railways are being displayed in the exhibition, reviving the nostalgia of passengers with ancient trains, engines, and political dignitaries making their journeys.

लखनऊ। उत्तर रेलवे लखनऊ मंडल चारबाग स्टेशन सहित अन्य स्टेशनों पर भी क्वाइन वेंडिंग मशीनें लगवाने जा रहा है। इन मशीनों के लगने से यात्री फुटकर पैसे के लिए परेशान नहीं होगा। यात्री मशीन में नोट डालेगा और सिक्के प्राप्त कर सकेगा। इस नई सुविधा से यात्रियों के पैसे काउंटर पर बैठे कर्मी नहीं मार सकेंगे। अफसरों ने चारबाग स्टेशन पर स्थान चिह्नित कर लिए हैं।
उत्तर रेलवे लखनऊ मंडल के सीनियर डीसीएम अश्विनी कुमार श्रीवास्तव ने बताया कि चारबाग स्टेशन पर चार स्थानों को चिह्नित किया गया है। यात्री नोट डालने के बाद एटीएम की तर्ज पर एक, दो, पांच व दस के सिक्के मशीन के माध्यम से निकाल सकेगा। उधर, इस सुविधा से रेल कर्मियों को भी राहत मिलेगी। इसके अलावा यह मशीनें स्टेट बैंक ऑफ इंडिया द्वारा सुल्तानपुर, रायबरेली, फैजाबाद, बनारस, अमेठी, सहित कई स्टेशनों पर लगाई जाएंगी।

रानीगंज के सियारसोल पोस्ट आफिस में रेलवे आरक्षण केन्द्र का उद्घाटन राज्य रेल मंत्री अधीर रंजन चौधरी द्वारा हावड़ा से ही किए जाने की सूचना पर मंगलवार को पोस्ट आफिस में आसनसोल रेलमंडल के रानीगंज के आरक्षण अधिकारी एस चटर्जी, अधिकारी एससी मल्लिक मौजूद थे। रेल और पोस्ट आफिस के संयुक्त प्रयास से यात्रियों की सुविधा के लिए इसे शुरू किया गया है। वर्तमान में सुबह 8 बजे से दोपहर 2 बजे तक यहां लोगों को आरक्षण की सुविधा मिलेगी।