ProUI

‘Operation Octopus’, a drive launched by the railways in Thiruvananthapuram division to book ticketless travellers, was carried out at Ernakulam junction and town stations on Saturday. The drive began at 6 am and continued till 11.30 am. It was first carried out at Ernakulam town station. Passengers who deboarded trains at the two railway stations were asked to show their tickets. Those who could not re-furbish their tickets were booked. Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Security Commissioner R K Tripathi led the drive which fined 350 ticketless travellers. According to railway officials, they collected up to Rs 1,04,880 as part of the drive. Those found travelling with irregular or expired season tickets were also booked. The drive was intensified as the railways got complaints that the number of ticketless travellers had shot up. Since there is an acute shortage of TTEs, ticket checks on trains have become a difficult process. Railway officials allege that this has given travellers an excuse to commute without tickets. RPF, government railway police and commercial department officials were roped in for the drive. The officials said they were planning to continue the drive in the days to come.

नागपूर, म.टा.प्रतिनिधी

प्रकृती बिघडलेल्या सहका-याला उपचारासाठी नागपुरात आणताना लोको पायलटचा (रेल्वे चालक) रविवारी मृत्यू झाला. प्रकाश बोडखे (वय ४२ , नरेंद्रनगर) असे मृतकाचे नाव आहे. बोडखे दक्षिण पूर्व मध्य रेल्वेत लोको पायलट , तर संजय भगत हे सहायक पायलट आहेत. दोघेही आज सकाळी ६ वाजता कामावर हजर झाले. त्यानंतर मेटपांजरा येथे लाइट इंजिन घेऊन ते निघाले. मार्गात भगत यांनी आपल्याला अस्वस्थ वाटत असल्याचे सांगितले. त्यामुळे भगत यांना घेऊन बोडखे २२१११ भुसावळ-खंडवा एक्स्प्रेसने नागपूरकडे निघाले. मात्र , त्यावेळी बोडखे यांच्याही छातीत दुखत होते. काही दूर गेल्यावर त्यांना उलटी झाली व ते बेशुद्ध पडले. भगत यांनी अधिकारी तसेच रेल्वे इस्पितळात याबाबत कळविले. गाडी नागपूरला येताच बोडखे यांना रेल्वे इस्पितळात नेण्यात आले. मात्र , तेथे डॉक्टरांनी त्यांना मृत घोषित केले. दरम्यान , या घटनेमुळे रेल्वे प्रशासन वर्तुळात हळहळ व्यक्त करण्यात येत आहे.

लखनऊ। छपरा से कानपुर अनवरगंज तक चलने वाली उत्सर्ग एक्सप्रेस दो अगस्त से फर्रुखाबाद तक जाएगी। इस ट्रेन के विस्तार से फर्रुखाबाद जाने वाले यात्रियों को राहत मिलेगी। ट्रेन के विस्तार के आदेश रविवार को जारी कर दिए गए। पूर्वोत्तर रेलवे के जनसंपर्क अधिकारी आलोक श्रीवास्तव ने बताया कि 18191 उत्सर्ग एक्सप्रेस छपरा से शाम 7:05 बजे छूटकर सुबह 7:20 बजे लखनऊ जंक्शन होते हुए दोपहर 12:20 बजे फर्रुखाबाद पहुंचेगी। इसी तरह 18192 उत्सर्ग एक्सप्रेस फर्रुखाबाद से दोपहर 1:35 बजे छूटकर शाम 4:40 बजे कानपुर, 6:25 बजे लखनऊ और अगले दिन सुबह 8:35 बजे छपरा पहुंचेगी।

Kochi: In the wake of the recent protests by season ticket holders over their right to travel in sleeper class coaches, the Railways has now come out with a clarification that certain day-trains running during the peak hours have been identified in which they would be allowed to travel between certain sections.

“The Railways receive many complaints regarding unauthorized occupation of reserved accommodation by commuters. Even the High Court had passed orders to regulate the entry of commuters in reserved coaches”, said the railway PRO.

“The said train witnesses heavy rush on every working day and we’d allotted two reserved coaches for season ticket travellers.

Now we have increased them to four coaches. We’ve also identified at least eight day trains in which they can travel”, the official said.

The trains are Hyderabad-bound Sabari Express (S-12 and S-13), Trivandrum-Mangalore Malabar Express (S-6 upto Kottayam), Mangalore-Trivandrum Malabar Express (S-5 & S-6 from Kottayam to Trivandrum), Alleppey-Chennai Express (S-7 Alleppey-Palghat), Trivandrum-Chennai superfast (S-10 & S-11 till Ernakulam) and the Alleppey-Bokaro Express (S-2 & 4; ST 1&3 Alleppey-Palghat).

This is in addition to the two fully unreserved trains – the 16303 Ernakulam - Trivandrum Vanchinad Express and 16341 Guruvayoor - Trivandrum Intercity Express which arrives at Trivandrum before 10 am.

ROHTAK: The bi-weekly Shatabdi train between Ludhiana and Delhi will run seven days a week, Railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge said here today.

The express train will also have a stoppage at Jind in Haryana, the Union minister told reporters here.

Kharge was here to lay foundation for Rs 181 crore Rohtak Railway bypass line.

The bypass would replace the old Rohtak-Gohana rail track starting from the railway station upto Makrauli Kalan village in the district.

The bypass would ease the traffic jams in the city. The minister said that with the shifting of this line, a third Rohtak-Samargopalpur line will be available which will facilitate straight route to Panipat.

"This will help the development of Rohtak city, because the earlier Rohtak-Makrauli line will be eliminated," Kharge said.

He appreciated the progress made by Haryana and said the state is producing sufficient foodgrains and "adequate railway network is required for its transporting."

He also thanked UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for entrusting him with the responsibility of Railway ministry and said that efforts are being made to improve the facilities for commuters.

Road minister Oscar Fernandes, Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rajya Sabha MP Shadilal Batra, Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda and Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar were present at the occasion.

Hooda said, "in 1957, Rohtak-Panipat railway line was provided with the efforts of his father late Ranbir Singh and at that time Hanumantaya was the Railway Minister".

"34 years back, Rohtak-Bhiwani railway line was constructed when Bansi Lal was the Chief Minister and after that no other rail project was considered for Haryana," the Chief Minister said.

"Rohtak-Jhajjar-Rewari railway line was sanctioned in 1997, when I was MP. This railway line is operational now. The work of Sonipat-Gohana-Jind railway line is in progress," he said.

Arunendra Kumar gave details about the new project. The alternative route Rohtak-Samargopalpur will provide a third line between the two stations along the main line and a new platform at Rohtak.

This will also eliminate a blind curve of 2 km and 8 existing level crossing gates.

A road will be developed in place of the old railway line from Rohtak to Makrauli. This will benefit about a dozen colonies, an official release said.

Kochi: In the wake of the recent protests by season ticket holders over their right to travel in sleeper class coaches, the Railways has now come out with a clarification that certain day-trains running during the peak hours have been identified in which they would be allowed to travel between certain sections.

“The Railways receive many complaints regarding unauthorized occupation of reserved accommodation by commuters. Even the High Court had passed orders to regulate the entry of commuters in reserved coaches”, said the railway PRO.

“The said train witnesses heavy rush on every working day and we’d allotted two reserved coaches for season ticket travellers.

Now we have increased them to four coaches. We’ve also identified at least eight day trains in which they can travel”, the official said.

The trains are Hyderabad-bound Sabari Express (S-12 and S-13), Trivandrum-Mangalore Malabar Express (S-6 upto Kottayam), Mangalore-Trivandrum Malabar Express (S-5 & S-6 from Kottayam to Trivandrum), Alleppey-Chennai Express (S-7 Alleppey-Palghat), Trivandrum-Chennai superfast (S-10 & S-11 till Ernakulam) and the Alleppey-Bokaro Express (S-2 & 4; ST 1&3 Alleppey-Palghat).

This is in addition to the two fully unreserved trains – the 16303 Ernakulam - Trivandrum Vanchinad Express and 16341 Guruvayoor - Trivandrum Intercity Express which arrives at Trivandrum before 10 am.

Kochi: In the wake of the recent protests by season ticket holders over their right to travel in sleeper class coaches, the Railways has now come out with a clarification that certain day-trains running during the peak hours have been identified in which they would be allowed to travel between certain sections.

“The Railways receive many complaints regarding unauthorized occupation of reserved accommodation by commuters. Even the High Court had passed orders to regulate the entry of commuters in reserved coaches”, said the railway PRO.

“The said train witnesses heavy rush on every working day and we’d allotted two reserved coaches for season ticket travellers.

Now we have increased them to four coaches. We’ve also identified at least eight day trains in which they can travel”, the official said.

The trains are Hyderabad-bound Sabari Express (S-12 and S-13), Trivandrum-Mangalore Malabar Express (S-6 upto Kottayam), Mangalore-Trivandrum Malabar Express (S-5 & S-6 from Kottayam to Trivandrum), Alleppey-Chennai Express (S-7 Alleppey-Palghat), Trivandrum-Chennai superfast (S-10 & S-11 till Ernakulam) and the Alleppey-Bokaro Express (S-2 & 4; ST 1&3 Alleppey-Palghat).

This is in addition to the two fully unreserved trains – the 16303 Ernakulam - Trivandrum Vanchinad Express and 16341 Guruvayoor - Trivandrum Intercity Express which arrives at Trivandrum before 10 am.

Sirsa:
Sirsa MP Ashok Tanwar’s wife Avantika Maken Tanwar today flagged off the Sirsa-Hisar-Ludhiana train from Sirsa railway station. The Railways had announced to regularise the train from today. Running between Hisar and Ludhiana earlier, the train was extended up to Sirsa for a trial run two months ago. Avantika said during his meeting with Railway Minister Mallikarjun Khadge in Delhi, Ashok Tanwar had demanded that this train be run regularly and Khadge had accepted the demand.Bhupesh Mehta, Sirsa urban unit president of the Congress, was also present on the occasion. Avantika offered sweets to the driver, guard and other staff members of the train.The train will halt on both ways at Jakhod Kheda, Mandi Adampur, Bhathu, Ding, Suchan Kotli and Bajekan stations. The special train would have seven compartments, including six of general category and one for the guards.Various social, religious and political organisations of Sirsa have expressed their gratitude for running the train on a regular basis.

MANGALORE: After Puttur Railway Yatri Sangha, the Kanyakumari District Railway User's Association (KKDRUA) has also joined the chorus urging Union Railway Minister to propose Mangalore railway division under South Western Railway (SWR), headquartered in Hubli.

The association wants sections of Konkan railway like Karwar up to Madgaon included in Mangalore division. P Edward Jeni, Secretary of association said Mangalore central one of the primary revenue earner for Southern Railway has got its divisional head quarters in the neighbouring Kerala state as it comes under Palakkad division of Southern Railway.

The Zonal Headquarters is located at Chennai in yet another neighbouring state of Karnataka. It's quite natural that however bigger may be the contribution of Mangalore, revenue wise, due to its administrative control located in other states, raw deal has been meted out to Mangalore,'' he said.

He alleged that Palakkad division has been eyeing Mangalore just for its revenue especially from the NMPT ( New Mangalore Port Trust) and also the Mangalore Junction, which is used as mere dump yard for the trains which used to primarily serve the Malabar region of Kerala. The number of from Mangalore towards Kerala side is a clear indication of the fact that Palakkad division is hardly interested in linking Mangalore with other interior parts of Karnataka,'' he further alleged.

As a case in point, he cited the example of Yesvantpur - Mangalore - Kannur express (via Mysore) is being operated to help Malabar region to have more train links with Bangalore. After lot of struggle a portion of that train was made to run in the opposite direction from Mangalore to Karwar, the district HQ of Uttara Kannada district which has been languishing for direct train connectivity with the state HQ. Even now one can see a weekly train from Mangalore to Yesvantpur being announced as to be operated via Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh (Kuppam) to Yesvantpur.

Thus, this train would be getting a unique identity in Indian railways of originating from the same state (Karnataka) and ending up in the same state (Karnataka) but being operated through three other different states,'' he rued indicating how Palakkad division proposes trains from Mangalore with the sole motive of catering to the Malabar region of Kerala as there are limited facilities like pit line, maintenance facilities in major railway stations in Malabar like Kozhikkode, Kannur etc. Jeni pointed out that due to this route from Mangalore- Hassan is hardly utilized, adding the reason cited for operating few passenger trains via Subrahmanya Road, Hassan section is that line is used mainly for freight traffic. This is not at all an acceptable reason as Mangalore is not at all connected with places in Karnataka like Hubli, the HQ of SWR, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Bidar, Raichur etc.

Sirsa:
Sirsa MP Ashok Tanwar’s wife Avantika Maken Tanwar today flagged off the Sirsa-Hisar-Ludhiana train from Sirsa railway station. The Railways had announced to regularise the train from today. Running between Hisar and Ludhiana earlier, the train was extended up to Sirsa for a trial run two months ago. Avantika said during his meeting with Railway Minister Mallikarjun Khadge in Delhi, Ashok Tanwar had demanded that this train be run regularly and Khadge had accepted the demand.Bhupesh Mehta, Sirsa urban unit president of the Congress, was also present on the occasion. Avantika offered sweets to the driver, guard and other staff members of the train.The train will halt on both ways at Jakhod Kheda, Mandi Adampur, Bhathu, Ding, Suchan Kotli and Bajekan stations. The special train would have seven compartments, including six of general category and one for the guards.Various social, religious and political organisations of Sirsa have expressed their gratitude for running the train on a regular basis.