ProUI

A writ petition was filed in the Kerala High Court on Thursday seeking a directive to Railways to take steps to prevent the unhygienic preparation, handling, and supply of food at railway stations and on board trains.The petition was filed by D.B. Binu, a High Court lawyer.He said it was observed during his trips that the food was prepared, stored, and supplied to travellers and the public in extremely unhygienic conditions both on trains and at eateries on platforms.He said the personnel who were engaged in preparation, handling, and supply of food for Railways did not have health cards and even proper uniforms, gloves, chef hats, nameplates, etc. Since the personnel did not wear nameplates, it was difficult to identify those supplying food.

He said the drinking water provided on the trains and platforms was contaminated and not purified as per specific hygiene standards.

nauthorised street-food vendors often boarded trains at different stations. The Railways were not taking any action against them.

As engineering works related to the commissioning of double-line section between Valadi and Kallakudi Palanganatham was under way the following changes have been made in the train services from July 5 to 10.A statement from the Southern Railway states that the Tiruchi — Cuddalore Port Junction Passenger would be cancelled on both ways from July 5 to 10. The Tiruchi — Lalgui Passenger would be cancelled on July 6.The Madurai — Villupuram Passenger would be partially cancelled on both ways on July 10.The Madurai — Chennai Egmore Express would be diverted on both ways via Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai and Thanjavur on July 10. The statement further says that alternative arrangements have been made for the passengers who have confirmed tickets in the above trains. — Special Correspondent

‘Bellary-Hospet region hampered by lack ofthrough trains’

With M. Mallikarjun Kharge taking over as the Minister for Railway, there are high expectations among people in the Bellary-Hospet-Koppal and Gadag regions about improvement in train facilities.“Despite the Hospet-Bellary sector yielding high freight revenue to the Hubli division of South Western Railway, the region has been languishing without proper passenger train facilities for several years. Mr. Kharge should respond to our aspirations by providing better train facilities,” Y. Yamunesh, member of the Divisional Rail Users’ Consultative Committee, Hubli division, has said.According to him, the freight revenue earnings from the Bellary-Hospet sector, on account of transportation of iron ore and other industrial products, was the main source of revenue for the Hubli division. Although the freight revenue had increased enormously over the years, the region had been deprived of proper rail facilities and amenities, especially with regard to the introduction of through trains between Chennai and Mumbai, via Bellary, Hospet, Koppal and Gadag, completion of the Kottur-Harihar rail line and introduction of passenger train facilities, among other things, he said.Babulal Jain, member of the Zonal Rail Users’ Consultative Committee (ZRUCC), expressed the hope that Mr. Kharge would fulfil the long-pending demands of the people. Formation of two new divisions (Gulbarga and Mangalore), which are presently in South Central Railway and Southern Railway, and making them part of South Western Railway, initiating steps to ensure that the entire State came under one jurisdiction, introduction of through trains between Chennai and Hubli via Guntakal, Bellary, Hospet, Gadag, and expeditious completion of the survey of new lines and providing funds for implementing them are among other major issues Mr. Kharge is expected to prioritise.A through train between Chennai and Hubli, according to Mr. Jain, was a long-cherished dream of the people of this region, which had not been realised so far owing to non-cooperation from South Central Railway. “The area surrounding Bellary, Hospet and Koppal is covered with a large number of industries, besides being a large mining belt. Providing adequate train facilities is essential for industrialists and people who come in search of jobs,” Mr. Jain has stated in a letter to Mr. Kharge.So far, Koppal, Hospet and Bellary regions had no through train services for Gulbarga, he said.He has urged Mr. Kharge to initiate steps, besides providing adequate funds, to complete several new rail lines proposed between Munirabad and Mahboobnagar, Hubli and Ankola, Raidurga and Tumkur, Gadag and Haveri, Alamatti and Yadgir, Bijapur and Shahabad, Bagalkot and Kudichi, Belgaum and Dharwad (via Kittur), Bidar and Gulbarga, Bidar and Humnabad, and Humnabad and Gulbarga.He has also requested that inter-city express services be introduced between Hospet and Bangalore.

As engineering works related to the commissioning of double-line section between Valadi and Kallakudi Palanganatham was under way the following changes have been made in the train services from July 5 to 10.A statement from the Southern Railway states that the Tiruchi — Cuddalore Port Junction Passenger would be cancelled on both ways from July 5 to 10. The Tiruchi — Lalgui Passenger would be cancelled on July 6.The Madurai — Villupuram Passenger would be partially cancelled on both ways on July 10.The Madurai — Chennai Egmore Express would be diverted on both ways via Villupuram, Mayiladuthurai and Thanjavur on July 10. The statement further says that alternative arrangements have been made for the passengers who have confirmed tickets in the above trains. — Special Correspondent

‘Bellary-Hospet region hampered by lack ofthrough trains’

With M. Mallikarjun Kharge taking over as the Minister for Railway, there are high expectations among people in the Bellary-Hospet-Koppal and Gadag regions about improvement in train facilities.“Despite the Hospet-Bellary sector yielding high freight revenue to the Hubli division of South Western Railway, the region has been languishing without proper passenger train facilities for several years. Mr. Kharge should respond to our aspirations by providing better train facilities,” Y. Yamunesh, member of the Divisional Rail Users’ Consultative Committee, Hubli division, has said.According to him, the freight revenue earnings from the Bellary-Hospet sector, on account of transportation of iron ore and other industrial products, was the main source of revenue for the Hubli division. Although the freight revenue had increased enormously over the years, the region had been deprived of proper rail facilities and amenities, especially with regard to the introduction of through trains between Chennai and Mumbai, via Bellary, Hospet, Koppal and Gadag, completion of the Kottur-Harihar rail line and introduction of passenger train facilities, among other things, he said.Babulal Jain, member of the Zonal Rail Users’ Consultative Committee (ZRUCC), expressed the hope that Mr. Kharge would fulfil the long-pending demands of the people. Formation of two new divisions (Gulbarga and Mangalore), which are presently in South Central Railway and Southern Railway, and making them part of South Western Railway, initiating steps to ensure that the entire State came under one jurisdiction, introduction of through trains between Chennai and Hubli via Guntakal, Bellary, Hospet, Gadag, and expeditious completion of the survey of new lines and providing funds for implementing them are among other major issues Mr. Kharge is expected to prioritise.A through train between Chennai and Hubli, according to Mr. Jain, was a long-cherished dream of the people of this region, which had not been realised so far owing to non-cooperation from South Central Railway. “The area surrounding Bellary, Hospet and Koppal is covered with a large number of industries, besides being a large mining belt. Providing adequate train facilities is essential for industrialists and people who come in search of jobs,” Mr. Jain has stated in a letter to Mr. Kharge.So far, Koppal, Hospet and Bellary regions had no through train services for Gulbarga, he said.He has urged Mr. Kharge to initiate steps, besides providing adequate funds, to complete several new rail lines proposed between Munirabad and Mahboobnagar, Hubli and Ankola, Raidurga and Tumkur, Gadag and Haveri, Alamatti and Yadgir, Bijapur and Shahabad, Bagalkot and Kudichi, Belgaum and Dharwad (via Kittur), Bidar and Gulbarga, Bidar and Humnabad, and Humnabad and Gulbarga.He has also requested that inter-city express services be introduced between Hospet and Bangalore.

: N. Jegatheesan, president, Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has been elected as member of Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee of Southern Railway, according to a press statement issued here on Thursday.

After Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Banaglore, Chennai and Kolkata now it’s the turn of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, to have metro train. Lucknow’s population has been rapidly growing over the past few years because of the migration of population from sub-urban areas. Presently the population of Lucknow is over 5 million. The Uttar Pradesh government after much deliberation has now given the final approval to metro train’s mega project. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav recently had a meeting with the Japan International Co-operation Agency’s India chief Shinya Ejima and Deputy Chief Representative Ichiguchi Tomohide where they discussed the implementation of the project. The agency has a rich experience in executing metro projects in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Banaglore, Chennai and Kolkata. Sources said the World Bank Association and the JICA has expressed willingness to bankroll the project. Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Javed Usmani told Arab News the Cabinet has approved the 23-km long first phase from Chaudhari Charan Singh International Airport to Munshi Pulia. It would be built at a cost of between Rs. 70 to Rs. 80 billion. The work is expected to start by the end of this year and will be completed in three to four years. He said the state government has send a formal proposal to the Centre to include Lucknow Metro in ‘The Metro Railways (Construction of Work) and Metro Railway (Operation and Maintenance) Acts’ a prerequisite for the work to begin. Out of three phases the project for the first phase will only get implemented after the Central government gives its nod to the state proposal to provide it the necessary statutory backing. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has drafted the Detailed Project Report (DPR) revised its blueprint by reducing the length of the underground track from seven to three kilometers, bringing down the cost of the proposal corridor by Rs. 10 billion. The total cost of Rs.150 billion is to be provided on a 50-50 basis by the Centre and the state government. Both the partners would contribute 20 percent each as equity while the balance will be raised through loan. A sub-committee constituted by the state government under Secretary Housing Rajiv Agarwal will suggest measures for raising funds.

After Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Banaglore, Chennai and Kolkata now it’s the turn of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, to have metro train. Lucknow’s population has been rapidly growing over the past few years because of the migration of population from sub-urban areas. Presently the population of Lucknow is over 5 million. The Uttar Pradesh government after much deliberation has now given the final approval to metro train’s mega project. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav recently had a meeting with the Japan International Co-operation Agency’s India chief Shinya Ejima and Deputy Chief Representative Ichiguchi Tomohide where they discussed the implementation of the project. The agency has a rich experience in executing metro projects in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Banaglore, Chennai and Kolkata. Sources said the World Bank Association and the JICA has expressed willingness to bankroll the project. Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Javed Usmani told Arab News the Cabinet has approved the 23-km long first phase from Chaudhari Charan Singh International Airport to Munshi Pulia. It would be built at a cost of between Rs. 70 to Rs. 80 billion. The work is expected to start by the end of this year and will be completed in three to four years. He said the state government has send a formal proposal to the Centre to include Lucknow Metro in ‘The Metro Railways (Construction of Work) and Metro Railway (Operation and Maintenance) Acts’ a prerequisite for the work to begin. Out of three phases the project for the first phase will only get implemented after the Central government gives its nod to the state proposal to provide it the necessary statutory backing. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has drafted the Detailed Project Report (DPR) revised its blueprint by reducing the length of the underground track from seven to three kilometers, bringing down the cost of the proposal corridor by Rs. 10 billion. The total cost of Rs.150 billion is to be provided on a 50-50 basis by the Centre and the state government. Both the partners would contribute 20 percent each as equity while the balance will be raised through loan. A sub-committee constituted by the state government under Secretary Housing Rajiv Agarwal will suggest measures for raising funds.

Lucknow seems to be looking up to Chennai to give shape to its own dream of having a metro rail system. A two-member team of the specially constituted cell for Lucknow Metro Rail left for the capital of Tamil Nadu on Thursday to study their setup. “Chennai started work on its metro rail in 2008. Its project parameters in terms of roads, traffic conditions and the size are almost similar to the one proposed by us,” a senior official associated with the project said. Apart from sending a formal proposal for funding to the central government’s Ministry of Urban Development (MOUD), an immediate task at hand for the officials is to get the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation registered and outline its management structure.While the MOUD secretary would be its ex-officio chairman, the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) is expected to have a senior IAS officer (principal secretary rank) at the helm as its managing director, who will be assisted by over a dozen other directors drawn from various streams.“The R14,500 crore Chennai Metro Rail is expected to complete its first 23-kilometer phase, which happens to be the length of our corridor also, by 2013-15. The state and central government, each have contributed 20 per cent and the remaining 60 per cent they have taken as a loan from Japanese International Cooperative Agency (JICA),” said the official.

And if sources are to be believed, Lucknow would be emulating Chennai for bankrolling its own project, as JICA is known to charge the lowest interest rate on its loan.

The team would be back on Saturday after which it would submit a report to the state government.

Last month, housing secretary Rajeev Aggarwal, who happens to be the head of the panel on Lucknow metro rail, too had visited Chennai to examine their setup.

“We have gathered all the information and details and expect to dispatch a formal proposal to MOUD within a fortnight,” said the official.

PUNE: Train passengers in Pune can look forward to increased connectivity to Mumbai, Solapur, Chennai, Puducherry, Karaikal, Hyderabad and Delhi over the next few months.A close look at the revised all-India railway time-table published on July 1 has at least seven new trains connecting cities in the north and the south of the country that would benefit Puneites. All these trains will be introduced in the next few months, before next March.As many as 67 trains were announced in the railway budget this year, but not a single one originated from Pune. Rail commuters had to take solace in the two trains passing through Pune -- Mumbai-Solapur Express which was to run six days a week, and another weekly train between Mumbai and Hubli.But train connection to several cities in the north and south of the country from Pune just got better. Railway commuters travelling to Mumbai have been consistently making a demand for a train to Mumbai between 10 am and 1 pm. The new intercity train between Solapur and Mumbai will fulfil this wish. The train, which will start from Solapur, will leave Pune at 10.35 am to reach Mumbai at 2.45 pm via Panvel.It will have second class seating, and AC chair car coaches. The Mumbai-Solapur intercity train will leave Mumbai at 1.15 pm and reach Pune at 5.45 pm, before proceeding to Solapur after a 15-minute halt in Pune.An additional superfast train between Pune and Solapur, Hutatma Express, whose timing has been revised, will leave Pune at 2.05 pm to reach Solapur at 6.20 pm. From Solapur, the Hutatma Express will leave at 10 am to arrive in Pune at 2.15 pm. This train was not announced in the railway budget.Trains to Delhi are always in demand. The biweekly Chandigarh-Yeswantpur (Bangalore) Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express, announced in the railway budget, will go via Pune, to Delhi and Bangalore.Another biweekly train announced in the railway budget was between Mumbai and Kakinada. This train will also go via Pune, providing connectivity to Secunderabad (Hyderabad), Guntur and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.The present train between Lokmanya Tilak terminus and Vishakapatnam (going from Pune), which runs only twice a week, will be made into a daily train. The timing will be revised once the Mumbai-Kakinada train is introduced.The time-table also lists a new weekly train between Mumbai and Karaikal (a beach town in Puducherry) which will go via Pune, and connect it to Chennai and Puducherry. The date for the introduction of this new train will be announced later.