ProUI

HYDERABAD : 
Hyderabad Metro Rail plans to intensify plantation and tree relocation drive during the monsoon.Following good response to the mass plantation programme of the metro under Vana Deeksha and Vana Prasadam schemes last year, plantation activity is being undertaken this year again, NVS Reddy, Managing Director of HMR said.About 60,000 saplings were planted last year in the city mainly on the campuses of educational institutions, research institutes, along the roads and in residential colonies. The survival rate is about 98 per cent. And about 700 trees were translocated with 100 per cent survival rate.A new feature in the current year is planting of some tall trees (about 15 feet) along the service roads and in colonies. Plants of religious significance like Ravi (Peepal), Medi (Cluster Fig), Marri (Banyan), Jammi (Bulrush), Christmas tree, Thuja, Sarvi (Casurina), Pogada (Mimusops), Kanuga (Pongamia) etc., are also being planted in places of worship having vacant space.

Under Vana Prasadam scheme, limited number of plants are being distributed free of cost at Metro Rail Bhavan to individuals, organisations and resident welfare associations.

On popular demand especially from women and senior citizens fruit bearing varieties like Usiri (Amla), Jama (Guava), Sapota (Chickoo), Panasa (Jackfruit), Nimma (Lime), Mango and flowering plants like Ganneru (Nerium), Mandara (hibiscus), Nandivardhanam (Moonbeam), Patcha Ganneru (Tecoma) etc., are also being distributed, Reddy said in a statement.

BHUBANESWAR: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday cleared the railway station of stray dogs, which were causing serious trouble to passengers during the rush hour. The East Coast railway (ECoR) officials requested the civic body, following TOI's report on the canine menace at the railway station earlier this month. About 25 stray dogs were taken away from the platforms. The railway officials said they coordinated with the BMC for curbing the dog menace. "In the first phase, the civic body took away nearly 50% of the stray dogs. In the next phase, we hope, the dog menace will be completely checked," said ECoR chief public relations officer J P Mishra. "We will continue to take up the matter with the BMC and launch a special drive jointly so that not a single dog is seen on the platform," he said.

Southern Railway released the suburban train timetable earlier this month, for the benefit of commuters travelling by EMUs.The 139-page timetable book costing Rs. 5 is available at all major suburban stations. “Commuters can contact the booking office for a copy of the timetable,” said a railway official.Timings of trains to and from Chennai Beach, Central, Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Arakonnam and Tirumalpur stations, among others are detailed. The book also has MRTS train timings and details of fares for each trip.Besides, the book also guides commuters on lodging a complaint and provides numbers of vigilance officers.

Southern Railway has announced changes in train services because of line block in connection with engineering works to be taken up between Thiruvennainallur and Parikkal in the Vriddhachalam – Villupuram section on July 24.

The works would be carried out from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Trains partially cancelled: The Madurai-Villupuram Passenger (56706) will run up to Vriddhachalam only on July 24. Train No. 56705

The Villupuram–Madurai Passenger (56705) will leave from Vriddhachalam on July 24.

Trains diverted: The Tiruchi – Chennai Egmore Pallavan Express (12606) will be diverted from Vriddhachalam via Cuddalore Port and will arrive 50 minutes late at Villupuram.

The Madurai – Chennai Egmore Vaigai Express (12636) will be diverted from Vriddhachalam via Cuddalore Port and will arrive 40 minutes late at Villupuram railway station.

The Chennai Egmore – Guruvayur Express (16127) will be diverted from Villupuram via Cuddalore Port and Vriddhachalam.

Delayed Departure: The Chennai Egmore – Madurai Vaigai Express (12635) scheduled to leave Chennai Egmore at 1.20 p.m. on July 24 will leave at 2.20 p.m., according to a Southern Railway press release here.

ITANAGAR: India's longest bridge coming up across the mighty Brahmaputra at Bogibeel in Assam is not only expected to be a lifeline for the Northeast, but will also strengthen the country's security.Scheduled to be completed in 2016, the 4.94 km rail-cum-road bridge, a product of the 1985 Assam Accord and being implemented by the North East Frontier Railway, will provide connectivity to upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and cut down the distance to the border with China by 10 hours.Railway officials said that the rail link would connect two existing railway networks running at south bank and north bank of the river.It starts from Chaulkhowa station and Moranhat station at south bank and joins in between Sisibargaon station and Siripani station of Rangiya-Murkongselek section in north bank.Right now it takes one and a half hours to cross the river, but once the bridge is inaugurated, the travel time will be reduced to a few minutes.Besides, movement of goods will also be possible on a larger scale.Railway officials said the bridge would strengthen national security by way of truncating distance to reach the China border during movement of troops and supplies.But not all are happy. As the completion of the bridge draws near, over 100 boatmen families are spending sleepless nights over fear that it will jeopardise their sources of income.

For Munna Singh, Brojen Doley, Rajesh Chowdhury and other majhis, it will be tough finding an alternative means of livelihood inheriting their profession from generations far into the past.

"I don't know what to do ....the fear of closing my ferry service always haunts me. How will I manage a regular income?" Munna Singh, who owns two country boats and is presently earning around Rs 15,000 per month, despairs.

Similar is the condition of Brojen Doley who owns a boat that ferries private vehicles of people from Arunachal Pradesh.

"I have no permit of the Inland Water Transport department of Assam to ferry passengers. I only managed a permit to ferry vehicles for only once a day, enabling me to earn a paltry amount," Doley said.

However, the chief engineer of the bridge project, Ajit Pandit, said that the boatmen's fear was unfounded.

"Even after the bridge is complete the ferry service will not be discontinued because there are many local people who will prefer river route to the land route in order to shorten distances to their homes," Pandit explained.

Besides, he said, once the bridge is complete, the economy of the area will improve and employment avenues will be created for the local people.

Pandit said the bridge, situated 17 km downstream of Dibrugarh city, would be the lifeline of the Northeast by opening connectivity between the north and south of the Brahmaputra river in the eastern region of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

The border of Arunachal Pradesh is just over 20 km from the northern bank.

The foundation of the bridge was laid in 2002 and the project was supposed to be completed in six years, but lack of funds and attention kept it idle till 2007 when it was given national status.

The national status meant that the Union Finance Ministry provided 75 per cent funds for the project, while 25 per cent was to be borne by the Railways.

Pandit said that besides funds, rains also proved a big stumbling block.

"In the city of Dibrugarh in Assam, it rains eight months a year. So any construction activity, especially on the Brahmaputra River, is a challenge," he explained.

Practically, his team gets to work for only four months in a year - from November to March.

The project flows from the Assam Accord signed in August 15, 1985, between the centre and the representatives of the All Assam Students Union and the Asom Gana Sangram Parishad that had spearheaded a decade-long movement against the influx of Bangladeshis into the northeastern state.

Talking to PTI at the project site, Pandit admitted to cost escalation as well. "The rise in the cost of cement and steel are also factors responsible for the cost escalation."

The construction work of the sub-structure of the bridge was awarded to Gammon India in April, 2008 while the work on the superstructure was awarded partially to Hindustan Construction Company, DSD, a German company, and Bangalore- based VNR.

Southern Railway has announced changes in train services because of line block in connection with engineering works to be taken up between Thiruvennainallur and Parikkal in the Vriddhachalam – Villupuram section on July 24.

The works would be carried out from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Trains partially cancelled: The Madurai-Villupuram Passenger (56706) will run up to Vriddhachalam only on July 24. Train No. 56705

The Villupuram–Madurai Passenger (56705) will leave from Vriddhachalam on July 24.

Trains diverted: The Tiruchi – Chennai Egmore Pallavan Express (12606) will be diverted from Vriddhachalam via Cuddalore Port and will arrive 50 minutes late at Villupuram.

The Madurai – Chennai Egmore Vaigai Express (12636) will be diverted from Vriddhachalam via Cuddalore Port and will arrive 40 minutes late at Villupuram railway station.

The Chennai Egmore – Guruvayur Express (16127) will be diverted from Villupuram via Cuddalore Port and Vriddhachalam.

Delayed Departure: The Chennai Egmore – Madurai Vaigai Express (12635) scheduled to leave Chennai Egmore at 1.20 p.m. on July 24 will leave at 2.20 p.m., according to a Southern Railway press release here.

Link portion of chennai-madurai in Chennai Egmore-Guruvayur express would be extended to tuticorin on july 31st....

NF Rly exam centre demanded at Barak Valley
Correspondent
BADARPUR, July 23 – The Democratic Youth Front of India (DYFI) has demanded a separate NF Railway examination centre and a recruitment cell at the Barak Valley.
At a sit-in demonstration in the Karimganj Railway Station recently, DYFI leaders alleged that local unemployed youths are being deprived by the Railway authorities. Candidates of the Barak Valley, who sit for Railway examinations in Guwahati, face a lot of harassment, they added. Therefore, the DYFI has decided to start a movement against the ‘unfair treatment’ by the Railways.

All-India leader and Tripura State DYFI president, Tapash Dutta alleged that the Railways have no specific principle for employment. The NF Railway is cheating candidates of the Barak Valley intentionally, which cannot be tolerated. Railway job aspirants from the Barak Valley, who go to Guwahati, face mental, physical and financial harassments, he alleged. The Railway authorities should immediately set up a separate examination centre and a recruitment cell at the Barak Valley to address this problem.

The DYFI also demanded the fulfilment of other demands including speedy completion of the BG construction works on the Lumding-Badarpur Hill Section to Silchar, early completion of the Badarpur-Agartala BG extension works and filling up of the vacant posts, especially in third and fourth-grade posts, by giving preference to local candidates from the Barak Valley.

Dutta also came down heavily on the State and Central Governments on the issue of BG line in the Lumding-Badarpur Hill Section. He said that a meeting was held between the NF Railway authorities and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar regarding the BG line issue recently. The Tripura Chief Minister stressed on the speedy completion of the BG construction works from Lumding-Badarpur Hill Section to Silchar. In the meeting, the NF Railway authorities assured Sarkar that the works would be completed by 2015. But the progress achieved so far indicates that there is not even a remote possibility that all the construction works could be completed by 2015, Dutta added.

Expressing serious concern over the slow progress of the works on the Lumding-Badarpur Hill Section BG conversion work, the DYFI leader said that the Central Government does not have the political will necessary for the completion of the BG works as soon as possible. He said, though the Central Government has already categorised this project as a ‘national project,’ it has not sanctioned sufficient money for the project. Due to the scarcity of funds, the construction works are not progressing at the desired pace which is regrettable, Dutta said.

Dutta directly blamed all the MLAs, MPs and ministers of the Barak Valley for not taking keen interest in the BG works. The DYFI leader alleged that these MLAs, MPs and ministers from the Barak Valley have always remained silent. They do not want to raise any sort of question in the Assembly or in the Parliament, as a result of which the Barak Valley BG construction works are progressing very slowly. So, in the greater interest of the Barak Valley and Tripura, a joint movement is going to be launched from August 7 at the Maligaon NF Railway Headquarters, he said.

"The DMRC has passed on this video clip to its Chief Security Commissioner (CSC) for investigation. The earlier video clips of similar nature are also under examination by the Cyber Crime cell of the Delhi Police.
DMRC also appeals to the public to maintain decorum, discipline and etiquette while traveling on the mass transit system"
-- Anuj Dayal Executive Director/ Corporate Communications/DMRC

NEW DELHI: Delhi government's bid to earn Rs 1000 crore from DMRC's third phase by selling it land, owned by various public sector undertakings under it, at market (circle) rates has been foiled by the urban development ministry. Turning down the government's proposal, the ministry has in a letter to chief secretary D M Spolia stated that if accepted, this proposal will lead to similar demands from other entities and states.The ministry has told Delhi government that if at all it wants these bodies to charge DMRC on the basis of market rates, the state government must compensate DMRC for the additional cost by giving it the amount in the form of either a grant or interest-free debt.In May this year, following a high-powered meeting chaired by Spolia, Delhi government had proposed to charge DMRC market rates for giving land that's owned by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) since these bodies have to generate their finances themselves without any support from the government."As such in view of the extant policy and practice, which is being followed for all Metro rail projects in the country, it may not be possible for MoUD to support the present contention of the GNCTD asking DMRC to pay (according to) market rate to various PSUs as this would open up similar demands from all other entities as well as states," reads the letter from Sudhir Krishna, secretary, urban development ministry, dated June 27, 2013.

The ministry cited the policy in the case of all Metro rail projects in the country, whether through the government funding route or through PPP. With the exception of Delhi, the entire cost of land is borne by the state government concerned as an interest-free subordinate debt or grant. In Delhi, since a considerable portion of land is owned by the central government, the cost of land for Delhi Metro is shared on a 50:50 basis between the central and state governments.

The PSUs in Delhi have to give their land to DMRC at concessional rates, in compliance with the Centre's orders. For instance, irrespective of the locality of the plot, DUSIB has to allot land on inter-departmental rates approved by MoUD at a rate of Rs 188.19 lakh per acre. However, the new Delhi government proposal had sought application of circle rates. This would have increased the cost of land in "A" category area by up to 35 to 40 times. Sources said DUSIB, which has land in Rajouri Garden that needs to be acquired by DMRC, had already sent the latter a proposal quoting the land price on the basis of circle rates.