ProUI

Patna : Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Wednesday alleged that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the union railway minister in 2002 had deferred a probe into the setting on fire of Sabarmati Express at Godhra station to save Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"Nitish Kumar deferred an inquiry into the Godhra incident after Narendra Modi approached him. Had Nitish ordered a probe, things would have been different," Lalu Prasad told reporters here.

The Godhra incident had led to widespread riots in Gujarat in 2002.

The former Bihar chief minister said Nitish Kumar cannot escape the responsibility for the riots in Gujarat. "Silence of Nitish Kumar on the issue as the railway minister tells a different story," he said.

Pointing out that it was he who ordered a probe into the Godhra incident when he became the railway minister, Lalu Prasad said: "It is a big question as to why Nitish Kumar did not order a probe into such a serious case."

His comments came a day after Nitish Kumar defended himself against allegations by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which blamed him for the 2002 Gujarat riots.

"I was railway minister then (in 2002) and my responsibility was the safety of trains, not to maintain law and order. It was the state government's responsibility," Kumar said here Tuesday after BJP leaders blamed him for the riots after he targeted Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi without naming him.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal chief also said that Nitish Kumar lost once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove himself as a secular leader when after the Gujarat riots he did not quit as the railway minister in the National Democratic Alliance government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Nitish Kumar has repeatedly been targeted by Lalu Prasad for not ordering a probe into the burning of the train at Godhra in which over 50 people died.

Travelling experience on the world’s fourth largest railway network, the Indian railways, is all set to change for the better, if things go as planned.   The Times of India reports that the Indian Railways together with RailYatri.in is working towards introducing services like providing alert messages on a passenger's phone, in case of a delay or cancellation of trains. It also plans to introduce wake-up calls for passengers. Not just this, RailYatri and the Centre of Railway Information Systems (CRIS) are in the process of developing an app to offer real-time information on the position of trains and their expected time of arrival in various stations.    Quoting Manish Rathi, CEO and co-founder of RailYatri.in, the report adds, "We're looking at providing services like wake-up calls and informing passengers if there are any changes in the schedule of the train they are booked in like delays or cancellations through SMS or phone calls."He added, "It can even be to alert someone on the position of a train so they can receive their family at the station on time." Rathi also said that they are working towards "fine-tuning some features" on the app that they are working on to ensure that it works on iPhones, Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices.    If plans take shape, then it’ll earn the Indian Railways some major brownie points, considering how popular this mode of travel is with the average traveller.    Passengers travelling from Delhi to Kolkata on the Rajdhani train recently got the ability to access Internet thanks to a proper Wi-Fi connectivity setup onboard. It is blissful, considering once you enter the hinterland, even sustained cellular connectivity can be an issue.   Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal recently launched the facility on the Rajdhani train at the New Delhi station. "Many passengers feel the need to access internet while travelling," a railway official told IANS.   The report goes on to say that passengers will be given login and password credentials for the duration of the journey, based on their tickets and identity cards. It is as yet unknown whether this Wi-Fi duration will take into account delays caused by technical snags or bad scheduling. But we would be highly surprised if it doesn’t, given the regularity with which such delays occur.    Railway sources also said that the Rajdhani experience will be used as a pilot run for a more widespread Wi-Fi connectivity on trains. The service will reportedly be introduced on 50 train services, including Shatabdi and Duronto trains, if and when it proves to be a successful venture.    Passengers will be able to access email and browse the web with a maximum download speed of 4Mbps and a max upload speed of 512Kbps. It must be noted that you may get much lower speeds than that because the bandwidth is shared between all the passengers on the train. However, in case demand for bandwidth becomes high, the network will prioritise activities like email access over downloads or video streaming.    Internet access on the trains is possible thanks to a two-way satellite hybrid with 2G/3G and Wi-Fi. This consists of an onboard satellite-tracking antenna, a multi-band antenna and Wi-Fi broadcasting equipment. The satellite-tracking antenna is placed in one of the power-generating coaches with the primary broadband link established via satellite. In case of non-availability of satellite, the multi-access router switches from satellite to 2G/3G spectrum to achieve 99 percent connectivity. Wi-Fi radios are provided outside each coach and the bandwidth is further distributed inside the coaches through indoor access points.   At the 2013 Railway Budget, the Railway Ministry also announced a plan to modernise coaches and the railway service in general. Besides bringing in wireless connectivity to select trains, the ministry is also planning to revamp the IRCTC ticketing website with a view to providing a hassle-free booking experience for customers

When India went online yesterday morning, the country was greeted by a Google doodle of a steam train curling around a palm-flanked setting, its engine bursting through the first "o". A deliberately old-fashioned frame contained the image, which marked the 160th anniversary of Indian Railways. It looked like a postcard from the past. The railways may still fondly be referred to as "the lifeline of the nation" (and more often than usual this week). The truth, though, is that many middle-class Indians have deserted trains for budget airlines, citing filth, lengthy journeys and a desire for the cleanliness and efficiency of flying. In response, the railway ministry has introduced standardised menus across its Rajdhani and Shatabdi services – rendering many chai and pakora vendors defunct – a new fleet of Duronto speed trains, and increased services. Since the 1950s, almost 40 per cent of the network has been electrified, and only a handful of steam trains remain – morphed into little more than museums-on-wheels. However, Indian Railways, although making year-on-year losses from passenger services, has adjusted fares accordingly so that even the poorest members of society can afford to travel. Commuters, families, students and tourists comprise the bulk of passengers, the last group often drawn to the luxury trains that few Indians will ever experience, or heritage services that journey down memory lane. Related Articles Rail travel in India 26 Feb 2013 India: five trains, 2,300 miles 14 Mar 2012 India: Riding the rails – with 13 million others 12 Sep 2008 Extracts from 'Sunrise on the Southbound Sleeper' 04 Nov 2011 India's Maharajas' Express rail journey 22 May 2010 Journeys fit for a Maharaja 15 Jan 2012 It was on April 16 1853, beneath the sound of a 21-gun salute, that the first passenger train left Boree Bunder in Bombay and embarked upon the 21-mile journey to Thane, pulled by three steam engines named Sindh, Sultan and Sahib. Built by the British in order to open up commerce, transport the armed forces and link the people of a rapidly expanding nation, the railways changed the lives of Indians, growing to transport almost 25 million passengers a day – and bring the West and the East closer together. In Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days, Phileas Fogg only sets off after discovering that the new section of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway between Rothal and Allahabad reduces the time taken to circle the globe. It was his journey that inspired my own exploration of the country. After marvelling at the intricate network rippling out to the edges, I spent four months travelling around India in 80 trains. Much as I enjoyed sitting in open doorways with a cup of tea and a bent paperback, whiling away the days, I soon realised that it was not the most efficient or hygienic way to travel every day. A journey from New Delhi to Mumbai took a minimum of 19 hours, compared with two hours by plane. Open toilets not only reeked but led to premature corrosion of the tracks and an increased likelihood of accidents. I could see the system was in need of an overhaul. The British shied away from constructing certain sections of the railways, owing to geographical challenges, leaving it to Indian engineers to bore through crumbling hillsides, and endure flash floods, landslides and the dangers of digging through soft tunnels that often collapsed on them. Even to this day, the beautiful south-western Konkan railway is often closed during the monsoon season, and plans to extend the network in the Himalayan foothills are continuously hindered by rain and landslides. Yet Indian Railways has an inexplicable allure. Many of us have memories, stories or even romantic fantasies about India's trains. Some have grandparents who rode the stream trains to boarding school in Shimla; some spent a gap year gazing through the barred windows of a sleeper-class carriage; some travelled only in their armchair, with Paul Theroux or Ruskin Bond. India's trains are in a league of their own, and their charm, I hope, will keep them chugging for another 160 years. Monisha Rajesh is the author of Around India in 80 Trains, published by Nicholas Brealey, £10.99.

Chandigarh:
After a wait of 12 years, the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link will finally be made operational from April 19. The first train from Chandigarh to Amritsar via Ludhiana using the new track will shorten the journey from Chandigarh to Ludhiana by half an hour. Earlier, the journey between the two cities via Sirhind used to take two hours.The train from Chandigarh will now pass through Mohali, Kharar, Junction Morinda, New Morinda, Khamano, Samrala, Lallkalan, Sahnewal and Dhandar before reaching Ludhiana. Divisional railway manager PK Sangi said the department had received a communication to advance the departure from Chandigarh to 5.30 pm from 6.50 pm.He said the department was yet to receive the copy of the safety certificate from the Chief Commissioner of Rail Safety (CCRS) but was expected to be received by tomorrow.As the timing of the train has been revised, the passengers who have already booked their tickets will be informed through telephone, text messages and notices, which will be put up at the railway station and reservation counters.The Chandigarh-Ludhiana link was announced in the Union Railway Budget of 2000. The work on the project was started by Northern Railway in 2001 but due to fund delays and operational hurdles, the work remained held up. Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had announced that the link would be made operational by March 31.The project had been divided into three phases. The 45-km first phase from Chandigarh to New Morinda via Mohali and Kharar was completed in 2006. Trains like the Amritsar Duronto and the Jan Shatabdi were already running on this section. The 14-km third phase from Sahnewal to Ludhiana was completed in November, 2012. The 51-km second phase between New Morinda and Sahnewal has now been completed.

Journey so far

2000: The Chandigarh- Ludhiana link cleared in the Union Railway Budget

2001:  Work begins on the project

2006: First phase from Chandigarh to New Morinda completed. Trains like the Amritsar Duronto and the Jan Shatabdi were already running on this section

Nov, 2012: Third phase from Sahnewal to Ludhiana completed

April, 2013: The 51-km second phase between New Morinda and Sahnewal has now been completed

For more details, kindly visit news link.

Shri D.P. Pande, General Manager, South Central Railway called o­n Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan, Hon’ble Governor of Andhra Pradesh today (17th April, 2013) as a measure of courtesy.

Chandigarh:
After a wait of 12 years, the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail link will finally be made operational from April 19. The first train from Chandigarh to Amritsar via Ludhiana using the new track will shorten the journey from Chandigarh to Ludhiana by half an hour. Earlier, the journey between the two cities via Sirhind used to take two hours.The train from Chandigarh will now pass through Mohali, Kharar, Junction Morinda, New Morinda, Khamano, Samrala, Lallkalan, Sahnewal and Dhandar before reaching Ludhiana. Divisional railway manager PK Sangi said the department had received a communication to advance the departure from Chandigarh to 5.30 pm from 6.50 pm.He said the department was yet to receive the copy of the safety certificate from the Chief Commissioner of Rail Safety (CCRS) but was expected to be received by tomorrow.As the timing of the train has been revised, the passengers who have already booked their tickets will be informed through telephone, text messages and notices, which will be put up at the railway station and reservation counters.The Chandigarh-Ludhiana link was announced in the Union Railway Budget of 2000. The work on the project was started by Northern Railway in 2001 but due to fund delays and operational hurdles, the work remained held up. Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had announced that the link would be made operational by March 31.The project had been divided into three phases. The 45-km first phase from Chandigarh to New Morinda via Mohali and Kharar was completed in 2006. Trains like the Amritsar Duronto and the Jan Shatabdi were already running on this section. The 14-km third phase from Sahnewal to Ludhiana was completed in November, 2012. The 51-km second phase between New Morinda and Sahnewal has now been completed.

Journey so far

2000: The Chandigarh- Ludhiana link cleared in the Union Railway Budget

2001:  Work begins on the project

2006: First phase from Chandigarh to New Morinda completed. Trains like the Amritsar Duronto and the Jan Shatabdi were already running on this section

Nov, 2012: Third phase from Sahnewal to Ludhiana completed

April, 2013: The 51-km second phase between New Morinda and Sahnewal has now been completed

मेदिनीनगर : जबलपुर-हावड़ा डाउन शक्तिपुंज एक्सप्रेस 14 से 20 अप्रैल तक परिवर्तित मार्ग से होकर चलेगी। अप हावड़ा-जबलपुर एक्सप्रेस के मार्ग में परिवर्तन नहीं किया गया है। डाउन में उक्त ट्रेन गढ़वा रोड से डेहरी, गया होते हावड़ा को जाएगी। स्थानीय यात्री गढ़वा रोड स्टेशन से ट्रेन पकड़ सकते हैं। जानकारी के अनुसार धनबाद रेलवे स्टेशन पर टीआर का काम चल रहा है।

VISAKHAPATNAM:East Coast Railway Sports Association (ECoRSA) defeated Metro CC by nine wickets in the first division clubs league of the VDCA here on Wednesday.In the institutions league, Naval Dockyard beat Andhra Medical College by two wickets in a low-scoring match while Brandix defeated VCPTL by nine wickets.The scores: I Div. clubs: Metro CC 102 in 33.1 overs (D.S.K.S. Nikhil 43, P.A.V.N. Raju three for 16) lost to E.Co.R.S.A. 107 for one in 18.3 overs (R.P. Anil 52, K. Kumaraswamy 31).Institutions league: Andhra Medical College 118 in 20 overs (M. Pravin 36, Venkatesh three for 22) lost to Naval Dockyard 119 for eight in 16.3 overs (Sai Pradeep three for nine); VCTPL 107 for seven in 20 overs (Uday Bhaskar Reddy 34, Anand Kumar 26) lost to Brandix 108 for one in 14.4 overs (Sajith 66 n.o., Chandrasekhar 41 n.o.). — Special Correspondent

Central Railway

Press Release

38 SPECIAL TRAINS BETWEEN DADAR AND SAWANTWADI ROAD

Central Railway has decided to run 38 special trains between Dadar – Sawantwadi to clear the extra rush of Passengers during summer rush. The details are as under –

01003 Special train will leave Dadar at 07.50 hrs o­n every Sunday, Tuesday and Friday from 21.4.2013 to 2.6.2013 (19 trips) and will arrive Sawantwadi Road at 20.15 hrs same day.

01004 Special train will leave Sawantwadi Road at 05.00 hrs o­n every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 22.4.2013 to 3.6.2013 (19 trips) and will arrive Dadar at 16.00 hrs same day.

HALTS: Thane, Panvel, Roha, Mangaon, Khed, Chiplun, Sangmeshwar Road, Ratnagiri, Adavali, Vilawade, Rajapur Road, Vaibhavwadi Road, Kankavali, Sindhudurg, Kudal and Zarap

COMPOSITION: o­ne AC chair Car, 8 Second Class seating, 2 General Second Class and 2 General Second Class cum guard’s brake vans.

RESERVATION: Bookings open from 19.4.2013.

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Date: April 17, 2013.

This news comes to you from the Public Relations Department, Central Railway, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai.

1 Hindi Press Release (210 KB)