ProUI

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired a meeting on the progress of infrastructure development in the north-eastern region.Among those present at the meeting were finance minister, civil aviation minister, railway minister, minister for road transport and highways, telecom minister, minister for power, minister for DONER and the deputy chairman of the planning commission.Railway, road, airport, power and telecom projects in the region were reviewed in the meeting. The focus was to speed up implementation of ongoing projects and also to ensure electronic connectivity. The deputy chairman of the planning commission reported that eight states of the region grew at 9.95 percent during the XI plan period, well above the national average of 8 percent. The finance ministry would give an additional ₹400 crore for the completion of the three critical railway projects in the north-east by March 2014.The three projects are the Harmati-Naharlagun project to provide the first rail connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh, the Dudhnoi-Mendipathar project to connect Meghalaya, and the Rangapara-North Lakhimpur project. 

The railway ministry committed that the first trial runs will begin on these lines in January 2014. The finance ministry will also provide up to ₹200 crore for two more projects i.e. the Lumding-Silchar gauge conversion and the Bogibeel Bridge. Also, additional funds from the NLCPR would be provided for Intra-State Transmission line networks in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim

An Empowered Committee will be set up to monitor progress on all infrastructure projects in the region. 

The prime minister also directed the Planning Commission to call a meeting of all the chief ministers of the north-eastern states to improve inter-state coordination for speedy completion of the infrastructure projects.

Alappuzha: Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, K.C.Venugopal said that all rail level crossings passing through the Alappuzha Parliamentary constituency would be manned soon.Talking to reporters here on Saturday, after chairing a meeting of railway authorities, Venugopal said that 101level crossings out of a total of 103 in the constituency had already been manned.“There are only two left and that too will be manned shortly. Underpasses will be constructed at ten level crossings. When that happens this will turn into a constituency with fully manned rail level crossings,” he said.Venugopal said that steps for acquiring the land for the rail wagon factory promised in the 2011 Union Railway budget would begin soon. The Railway authorities would hand over the letter related to land acquisition on Monday. “Land acquisition will begin urgently,” he said.

The Minister said that the State PWD officials told the meeting that the approach road to Alappuzha railway station at a cost of Rs 23 lakh and the one to Ambalappuzha railway station at a cost of Rs 13 lakh had been completed.The works of approach roads at a cost of Rs 18 lakh for Kayamkulam, Rs 25 lakh for Thuravoor and Rs 19 lakh for Karunagappally had started. The VIP lounge works at Alappuzha station had been completed, he added.

Of the works for the doubling of the railway line from Harippad to Ambalappuzha, and the modernisation of the Ambalappuzha railway station would be taken up initially. The Railway authorities in the State had sought more funds for platform extension in Ambalappuzha railway station.

The Minister said that the Railways had come up with the drawings of the Rail Over Bridge (ROB) in Ezhuppunna and similar works for the ROB at Krishnapuram would begin soon. The tender processes had been completed for the works of setting up escalators at Alappuzha Railway Station. “The works will start in two weeks,” he said.

The Minister instructed officials to look into providing a roof for the platforms at Kayamkulam railway station and the difficulties that passengers undergo because of only one platform at Ambalappuzha.

Railway Thiruvananthapuram Division Railway Manager, Rajesh Agrawal, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Denni Thomas, District collector, N.Padmakumar and Additional Divisional Magistrate (ADM), K.P. Thampy were also present at the meeting.

मुंबई - शुक्रवारी पावसाने उपनगरीय रेल्वेची चांगलीच परीक्षा घेतली. त्यामुळे प्रवाशांचे मात्र हाल झाले. अनेकांना रेल्वे रुळावरून भर पावसात पायपीट करावी लागली, तर अनेक जण स्थानकातच तासन् तास लोकलची वाट पाहात होते. त्यात इंडिकेटर्स आणि उद्घोषणाही बंद होत्या. रेल्वे स्थानकाबाहेरील रस्त्यांवर आणि परिसरात पाणी साचल्याने पुढे जाण्याचा मार्गही उरला नव्हता. त्यामुळे अनेकांनी कार्यालयात जाण्याऐवजी मिळेल त्या वाहनाने घर गाठणेच पसंत केले.
मध्य रेल्वेची धीम्या मार्गावरील सेवा पूर्णत: कोलमडली होती. ठाणे, कळवा, मुंब्रा आणि दिवा स्थानकात रेल्वे रुळांवर पाणी साचल्याने कल्याणहून ठाण्याच्या दिशेने जाणा-या सर्वच लोकल जलदगती मार्गावर वळवण्यात आल्या. त्यामुळे कळवा, मुंब्रा स्थानकात अनेक प्रवासी लोकलची वाट पाहात ताटकळत उभे होते. अनेकांनी रस्त्यांने ठाणे गाठण्याचा प्रयत्न केला.
मात्र रिक्षा आणि अन्य वाहने उपलब्ध नसल्याने काहींनी पायपीट करत ठाणे गाठले. कळवा स्थानकाच्या बाहेरही पाणी साचले होते. त्यामुळे स्थानकात येण्याचा मार्गही नव्हता. जे स्थानकात होते त्याना कोणतीही माहिती दिली जात नव्हती, असे दीप्ती जोशी यांनी सांगितले. दरम्यान ठाणे स्थानकात मोठी गर्दी होती. त्यातच गाडय़ा जवळपास अर्धा ते पाऊण तास उशिराने येत होत्या.
विरारमधल्या प्रवाशांचे तर मोठे हाल झाले. दुपारी जवळपास दोन तास विरारहून एकही गाडी चर्चगेटकडे रवाना झाली नाही. नालासोपारा स्थानकात पाणी साचले असल्याने विरापर्यंत अनेक गाडय़ा रुळांवरच अडकून पडल्या होत्या. त्यामुळे वसईवरून अनेक जण रुळावरून मार्ग काढत विरारला पोहोचले अशी महिती सुधीर सकपाळ यांनी दिली. शिवाय त्यांनी पकडलेली लोकल विरारहून गोरेगावला तब्बल दोन तासांनी पोहोचली. त्यातच पावसाचा जोर जास्त असल्याने वसई, विरार आणि नालासोपारा भागांत रिक्षा सेवाही ठप्प झाली होती. त्यामुळे प्रवाशांच्या अडचणीत भरच पडत होती.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired a meeting on the progress of infrastructure development in the north-eastern region.Among those present at the meeting were finance minister, civil aviation minister, railway minister, minister for road transport and highways, telecom minister, minister for power, minister for DONER and the deputy chairman of the planning commission.Railway, road, airport, power and telecom projects in the region were reviewed in the meeting. The focus was to speed up implementation of ongoing projects and also to ensure electronic connectivity. The deputy chairman of the planning commission reported that eight states of the region grew at 9.95 percent during the XI plan period, well above the national average of 8 percent. The finance ministry would give an additional ₹400 crore for the completion of the three critical railway projects in the north-east by March 2014.The three projects are the Harmati-Naharlagun project to provide the first rail connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh, the Dudhnoi-Mendipathar project to connect Meghalaya, and the Rangapara-North Lakhimpur project. 

The railway ministry committed that the first trial runs will begin on these lines in January 2014. The finance ministry will also provide up to ₹200 crore for two more projects i.e. the Lumding-Silchar gauge conversion and the Bogibeel Bridge. Also, additional funds from the NLCPR would be provided for Intra-State Transmission line networks in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim

An Empowered Committee will be set up to monitor progress on all infrastructure projects in the region. 

The prime minister also directed the Planning Commission to call a meeting of all the chief ministers of the north-eastern states to improve inter-state coordination for speedy completion of the infrastructure projects.

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.

MYSORE: Growing pressure at Mysore railway station could be eased, helping thousands of commuters to use the railway facilities if Mysore MP Adagooru H Vishwanath has his way.The MP is seeking railway minister M Mallikarjuna Kharge to approve a plan to develop a railway station at Metagalli, 4km from the Mysore railway station, to facilitate more travellers. The idea is to develop an additional railway station in the city to ease pressure at the centrally located and landlocked Mysore railway station.

The new location at Metagalli-Karakushala Nagar junction has ample space for development of the new lines. According to the MP, senior officials of the Mysore division of South Western Railway have approved the location in principle.

The new spot, which was inspected by the MP along with senior railway officials, is close to six-lane Outer Ring Road and abuts industrial and IT belts in the city. At present, Mysore division is using the space for cargo movement.

Vishwanath, who held a discussion with the railway authorities at divisional railway manager's office, told reporters that he will meet Kharge and senior executives of the railway ministry and get the project sanctioned. "There is growing pressure on Mysore railway station, and it cannot take additional traffic. The other option is to develop another railway station in the city to ease traffic and also get additional trains to the tourist hub," he added.

The MP said that he will seek the minister to sanction funds for railway station proposed at Metagalli. Though the Mysore railway station has attended to passengers' needs for over a century, it cannot stretch any more, given that it is landlocked. "We have to think about an alternative," he added.

The team visited BM Sri Nagar and Metagalli and also paid a visit to Chamarajpuram railway station, where the railway authorities are proposing to take up works to extend amenities to passengers.

The newly built two-storey utility building at Mysore railway station has come under the scanner with former minister and Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait questioning the officials' judgment in using the prime land. According to him, the space was reserved for laying a road, but was used to build the complex. "How can the officials be so callous? Now they are delaying D Devaraj Urs memorial hall at Dasappa Circle junction abutting the railway station, seeking the land reserved for the project. This will not do," he told the officials during a meeting of MP and railway authorities. He asked the officials to allow the construction of the building.

ग्वालियर.चेन्नई से नई दिल्ली की ओर जा रही जीटी एक्सप्रेस में शनिवार की सुबह डाका पड़ गया। आगरा से मथुरा के बीच कीथम स्टेशनके पास बदमाशों ने यह वारदात की। उस समय ट्रेन में न तो जीआरपी स्टाफ था, न अटेंडेंट और न ही टीसी। बी-2 कोच में यात्रियों को पीटने और लूटने के बाद बदमाश फायरिंग करते हुए ट्रेन से उतरकर अंधेरे में गायब हो गए। आगरा से तड़के 3.33 बजे ट्रेन के रवाना होने के बाद बदमाशों ने मथुरा से पहले चेन पुलिंग कर ट्रेन को जंगल में रोका। शादी से लौट रहे दो परिवार की महिलाओं से हथियार दिखाकर लाखों रुपए के जेवरात लूट लिए। यात्रियों से करीब एक करोड़ रुपए की नकदी और जेवरात लूटकर बदमाश फरार हो गए। ट्रेन के मथुरा रेलवे स्टेशन पहुंचने पर यात्रियों ने रेलवे प्रशासन को इसकी सूचना दी। मामले को गंभीरता से न लेते हुए ट्रेन रवाना कर दी गई तो यात्रियों ने चेन पुलिंग कर ट्रेन रोकी और हंगामा कर दिया। मथुरा पुलिस के अफसर स्टेशन पर पहुंचे और मामला दर्ज किया। ग्वालियर के मुरारी ने दिखाया साहस लुटने से बच गए सात लोग। जीटी एक्सप्रेस में सवार ग्वालियर के हरिशंकरपुरम निवासी सुरेश अरोरा से बदमाश जहां 25 हजार रुपए और सोने की चेन लूटकर ले गए, वहीं व्यावसायी मुरारी शर्मा ने साहस और चतुराई से बदमाशों का सामना किया। बी - 2 कोच की बर्थ 17 पर यात्रा कर रहे मुरारी से एक बदमाश ने जेवर व नकदी मांगी। मुरारी ने कहा कि तुम्हारा एक साथी पहले ही सामान ले गया है। यह सुनकर बदमाश ने उन्हें धमकाने के लिए कट्टे से फायर किया, लेकिन मुरारी ने बिना घबराए अपनी बात दोहराई। इसी बीच ट्रेन चल दी और बदमाश ट्रेन से नीचे कूद गए। मुरारी के हिम्मत दिखाने से उनके आस-पास के सात अन्य यात्री भी लुटने से बच गए।

The railway officials have agreed in-principle for a new railway station near
the Mysore New Goods Terminal at Metagalli.

After a meeting with the team of elected representatives, Divisional railway Manager, South Western Railway, Vinod Kumar, here, on Saturday, agreed to bring the demand to the notice of higher officials to set up the new railway station at Metagalli.

Mysore and Kodagu MP A H Vishwanath, Chamaraja MLA Vasu and N R MLA Tanveer Sait and ex-MLA M Satyanarayana urged for the new station, which would help many commuters of surrounding areas.

The team, along with Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, Commissioner of Mysore City Corporation P G Ramesh, Commissioner of Mysore Urban Development Authority C G Betsurmath, Chief Engineer of SWR C M Ranganath and other officials inspected the goods terminal near Metagalli after inspecting the Chamarajapuram Railway station. Vasu said, the new railway station at Metagalli would help residents of Metagalli, Hebbal Industrial Area, Kumbarakoppal, Vijayanagar and Belagola.

The place now is in a dilapidated condition and it could be converted into a railway station. He said, establishment of a new station would also be an advantage to ease traffic flow near the main Railway station.

Vasu mentioned of the funds released for widening of roads at B M Sri Nagar and N R Constituency. A total of Rs 15 crore has been released for the purpose. Most of the roads in the localities are in a pathetic condition, which forces ambulances to take a detour during emergencies.

“The issue was brought to the notice of Vinay Kumar Sorke, Minister for Urban Development, during his last visit to Mysore. The department has released Rs six crore for Chamaraja constituency and Rs nine crore for Narasimharaja,” he added.

Nurm projects

Vishwanath, meanwhile, took the officials to task and said, many projects under JnNURM first phase were not up to the mark due to the apathy of officials of various departments. He alleged lack of coordination among the officers and instructed them to be careful during the works under the second phase. “A meeting would be held on August 2 with officers of all departments as well as experts regarding the works,” he added.

He stressed on the requirement of a footbridge at Chamarajapuram Railway Station. The MP said, the plan has not materialised due to the presence of the Law Court complex and opposition by K G Koppal residents. “Steps would be taken after holding a meeting with the residents of K G Koppal and judges,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tanveer Sait alleged that the railway officials had failed to provide hi-tech facilities at the Railway Station, which has a history of 150 years. He stressed on the need for a train from Mysore to Salem. Though the platforms at the station was increased to six from two, no facilities have been provided for passengers. The department has encroached upon the road for commercial purpose against the plan, he alleged.

Sait said, the proposed D Devaraj Urs Bhavan, on the land adjacent to the railway station was still in the pipeline owing to hurdles posed from the department. “There has been no response from the higher officers to our letters,” he added.

४0 तासांचा ब्लॉक : अतवृष्टीमुळे वाहतूक विस्कळीत,१0 गाड्या रद्द
नागपूर : मध्य रेल्वेच्या वर्धा जिल्ह्यातील सिंदी रेल्वेस्थानकापासून एक कि.मी. अंतरावर रूळाखालील माती व गिट्टी वाहून गेल्याने काल (दि.१९) रात्रीपासून मध्य रेल्वेची वाहतूक विस्कळीत झाली. (दि.२0) रेल्वे रूळाच्या दुरुस्तीचे काम युद्धपातळीवर सुरू असले तरी वाहतूक सुरळीत होण्याकरिता ४0 तास लागतील, असा अंदाज रेल्वेच्या सूत्रांनी व्यक्त केला. दरम्यान, नागपूरहून सुटणार्‍या १0 गाड्या आज रद्द करण्यात आल्या असून ७४ गाड्यांच्या मार्गात बदल करण्यात आला आहे.
काल सायंकाळी झालेल्या अतवृष्टीने वर्धा ते नागपूर रेल्वे मार्गावरील पिपरा गावाजवळ बोर नदीच्या पुरामुळे ३00 ते ४00 मीटर अंतरावरील अप-डाऊन रूळाखालील गिट्टी, माती वाहून गेली. यामुळे रेल्वेची प्रवासी व माल वाहतूक ठप्प झाली आहे. रुळाखाली १0 फूट खड्डे पडले आहेत. घटनेची माहिती मिळताच ‘डीआरएम’ दीक्षित अधिकार्‍यांसह घटनास्थळी पोहोचले. ३00 कामगारांनी युद्धस्तरावर काम सुरू केले. २४ रेल्वेगाड्या इटारसी, खंडवा, भुसावळमार्गे वळविण्यात आल्या. रात्री ८ वाजताच्या सुमारास ही घटना उघडकीस आली व रेल्वे प्रशासनाच्या पायाखालची वाळूही सरकली. वेळीच माहिती मिळाल्याने दुर्घटना टळली. रेल्वेच्या दोन विशेष गाड्या वरिष्ठ अधिकार्‍यांच्या मार्गदर्शनात नागपूरहून तंत्रज्ञ, माती, खडी, गिट्टी व स्लीपर्स घेऊन घटनास्थळी दाखल झाल्या. नागपूरहून निघालेली हावडा-अहमदाबाद ही गाडी सिंदी बोरखेडी रेल्वे स्थानकादरम्यान थांबविण्यात आली होती. अन्य चार रेल्वेगाड्या जागोजागी खोळंबल्याने प्रवाशांची गैरसोय झाली. दुरुस्ती कामात भुसावळ, बल्लारशाह, नागपूर येथील रेल्वेची यंत्रणा कामाला लागल्याचे रेल्वे सुत्रांनी सांगितले. ४0 तासांचा ब्लॉक असला तरी रेल्वेची वाहतूक सुरळीत होण्याकरिता किमान तीन दिवस लागण्याची शक्यताही वर्तविण्यात आली आहे. मध्य रेल्वेसह दक्षिण रेल्वेची वाहतूकही विस्कळीत झाली आहे. यामुळे हजारो प्रवाशांना बडनेरा, वर्धा, नागपूर व अन्य लहान-मोठय़ा स्थानकांवर ताटकळावे लागत आहे.
दरम्यान अमरावती जिल्ह्यात आज सायंकाळी सात वाजता खंडवा ते अकोला नॅरोगेज पॅसेंजरच्या इंजिनवर धारणीनजिक धूळघाट ते तलाई गावादरम्यान दरड कोसळली. या गाडीतून सुमारे ६00 प्रवाशी प्रवास करीत होते. (लोकमत न्यूज नेटवर्क)
नरखेड रेल्वे मार्गावर चार गाड्या
=कालपासून बडनेरा ते नागपूर दरम्यान जाणार्‍या रेल्वेगाड्या नरखेड मार्गाने सोडण्यात आल्या. आज कोल्हापूर-गोंदिया (महाराष्ट्र एक्स्प्रेस), अहमदाबाद-चैन्नई, मुंबई-हावडा (गीतांजली) व नागपूर-अहमदाबाद (प्रेरणा एक्स्प्रेस) या चार गाड्या नरखेड मार्गे सोडण्यात आल्या. अमरावती-जबलपूर एक्स्प्रेस, भुसावळ-नागपूर व भुसावळ-वर्धा पॅसेंजर रद्द करण्यात आली. रात्रीच्या वेळेस धावणार्‍या गाड्यासुद्धा रद्द करण्यात आल्या आहेत. काही गाड्या रद्द तर काहींचे मार्ग बदलविण्यात आले. नरखेड मार्गे नागपूर तर इटारसी-भुसावळ मार्गे काही रेल्वे गाड्या सोडल्या जात आहेत.
अमरावती-मुंबई
एक्स्प्रेसवर तोबा गर्दी
मुंबईकडे जाणारी गोंदिया-मुंबई, हावडा-मुंबई शालिमार एक्स्प्रेस, हावडा-मुंबई (गीतांजली एक्स्प्रेस) या गाड्या वर्धा, बडनेरा मार्गे धावल्या नाहीत. त्यामुळे मुंबईला जाणार्‍या प्रवाशांनी आज अमरावती-मुंबई एक्स्प्रेसवर एकच गर्दी केली. ‘नो रुम’ आरक्षण खिडक्यावर कायम होते. वर्धा, पुलगाव, धामणगाव व चांदूररेल्वे येथील अनेक प्रवाशांनी अमरावती प्लॅटफार्मवर मुंबईकडे जाण्यासाठी गर्दी केली होती. ही गाडी ‘हाऊसफुल्ल’ धावली.

The railway officials have agreed in-principle for a new railway station near
the Mysore New Goods Terminal at Metagalli.

After a meeting with the team of elected representatives, Divisional railway Manager, South Western Railway, Vinod Kumar, here, on Saturday, agreed to bring the demand to the notice of higher officials to set up the new railway station at Metagalli.

Mysore and Kodagu MP A H Vishwanath, Chamaraja MLA Vasu and N R MLA Tanveer Sait and ex-MLA M Satyanarayana urged for the new station, which would help many commuters of surrounding areas.

The team, along with Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, Commissioner of Mysore City Corporation P G Ramesh, Commissioner of Mysore Urban Development Authority C G Betsurmath, Chief Engineer of SWR C M Ranganath and other officials inspected the goods terminal near Metagalli after inspecting the Chamarajapuram Railway station. Vasu said, the new railway station at Metagalli would help residents of Metagalli, Hebbal Industrial Area, Kumbarakoppal, Vijayanagar and Belagola.

The place now is in a dilapidated condition and it could be converted into a railway station. He said, establishment of a new station would also be an advantage to ease traffic flow near the main Railway station.

Vasu mentioned of the funds released for widening of roads at B M Sri Nagar and N R Constituency. A total of Rs 15 crore has been released for the purpose. Most of the roads in the localities are in a pathetic condition, which forces ambulances to take a detour during emergencies.

“The issue was brought to the notice of Vinay Kumar Sorke, Minister for Urban Development, during his last visit to Mysore. The department has released Rs six crore for Chamaraja constituency and Rs nine crore for Narasimharaja,” he added.

Nurm projects

Vishwanath, meanwhile, took the officials to task and said, many projects under JnNURM first phase were not up to the mark due to the apathy of officials of various departments. He alleged lack of coordination among the officers and instructed them to be careful during the works under the second phase. “A meeting would be held on August 2 with officers of all departments as well as experts regarding the works,” he added.

He stressed on the requirement of a footbridge at Chamarajapuram Railway Station. The MP said, the plan has not materialised due to the presence of the Law Court complex and opposition by K G Koppal residents. “Steps would be taken after holding a meeting with the residents of K G Koppal and judges,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tanveer Sait alleged that the railway officials had failed to provide hi-tech facilities at the Railway Station, which has a history of 150 years. He stressed on the need for a train from Mysore to Salem. Though the platforms at the station was increased to six from two, no facilities have been provided for passengers. The department has encroached upon the road for commercial purpose against the plan, he alleged.

Sait said, the proposed D Devaraj Urs Bhavan, on the land adjacent to the railway station was still in the pipeline owing to hurdles posed from the department. “There has been no response from the higher officers to our letters,” he added.