ProUI

Regular toilets will be replaced by eco-friendly bio-toilets for disposing human waste at all stations of the Konkan Railway (KR), an official said here Wednesday. Two railway stations, Chiplun and Kankavali on the KR route, had earlier been selected for installing the country's first green toilets to bio-degrade night soil through technology developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). "The technology, while permitting eco-friendly and quicker disposal of human waste, is also economical. Passengers and locals at both Chiplun and Kankavali have appreciated the efforts of the railways," the official said. Encouraged by the public response, KR has now decided to set up such toilets at all the major stations on its network. The bio-toilet uses the DRDO's bio-digester technology, which is economical and can be implemented faster than the regular RCC (reinforced concrete cement) toilets. "The technology is 100 percent maintenance-free and allows complete elimination of pathogens without requiring the night soil to be disposed through sewage line and septic tank," the official explained. Since the need for septic tanks and sewage lines has been eliminated in this technology, the bio-toilets can be installed and ready for use within just 48 hours, compared to two months for the conventional toilets. Even the cost savings on bio-toilets are high, as much as 70 percent, compared to regular toilets. While a regular toilet costs around Rs.100,000, a bio-toilet can be put up at just Rs.30,000. The bio-digester requires only an initial one-time charging with anaerobic bacterial inoculums if it is in regular use. The bio-degradation of the night soil leads to generation of bio-gas which can be utilised for cooking. The clean, odour-less water extracted after bio-degradation can be recycled for irrigation in gardens and other such places. The DRDO bio-toilets are being widely utilised by the defence forces in remote locations. The Indian Railways signed a memorandum of understanding with the DRDO in 2010 to develop a bio-toilet for use in railway coaches to improve the environment in and around the railway infrastructure.

South Central Railway has temporarily augmented several trains with additional coaches to clear the extra rush of waitlisted passengers and meet the passenger demand for the period from 16thJune 2013 till 3rd July 2013 as per the details mentioned below:-

1. Tr.No. 17210/17209 Kakinada Town- Bangalore- Kakinada Town Seshadri Express augmented with o­ne additional AC-III Tier coach from 16th to 30th June 2013. The train will be augmented with o­ne more AC-III tier coach from 20th to 30thJune 2013. (total 2 additional AC-III tier coaches are being attached by the train)

2. Tr.No. 17415/17416 Tirupati-Kolhapur-Tirupati Haripriya Express augmented with two additional Sleeper Class coaches from 16th to 30th June 2013.

          3. Tr.No. 17230/17229 Hyderabad-Tiruvananthapuram-Hyderabad Sabari Express augmented with o­ne additional First AC cum AC-II tier coach from 16th to 30thJune 2013

          4. Tr.No. 02701/02702 Secunderabad-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus – Secunderabad special train augmented with o­ne AC-II tier and o­ne AC-III tier coaches from 16th June to 1stJuly 2013.

          5. Tr.No. 17018/17017 Secunderabad-Rajkot-Secunderabad Express augmented with o­ne AC-III tier coach from 17th June to 3rd July 2013.

          6. Tr.No. 17002/17001 Secunderabad- Sai Nagar Shirdi -Secunderabad Express augmented with o­ne AC-III tier coach o­n 21st and 28th June 2013 from Secunderabad and 22nd and 29th June 2013 from Sai Nagar Shirdi.



                  The total augmentation has comprised of two First AC cum AC-II tier coaches, two AC-II tier coaches, ten AC-III tier coaches and four Sleeper Class coaches by various trains. The augmented additional coaches have already been fed into the computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS), thereby resulting in ready availability of around 10,250 additional berths for the passengers which can effectively meet rail travel demand o­n the above popular trains during the period from 16th June to 3rd July 2013.

SRINAGAR, June 18: Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, president J&K Pradesh Congress Committee, visited Pahalgam today to dedicate the film produced by IRCON, a reputed Railway Construction Company, on the Railway Development in Jammu and Kashmir.
The DVDs of the films were distributed by the IRCON among the audience.
Prof Soz was accompanied by Bashir Ahmad Magrey, Mohd Abdullah Nadaf, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, Anayatullah Rather, Hilal Shah, Gulam Mohd Mir, Shaheena Nadaf and others. On this occasion Senior officers of IRCON, Khanna and Anand were also present.
While releasing the DVD of the  film,  Prof  Soz said that it was his dream to have  Kashmir on the Railway  map of India and  as the records of proceedings in the  Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha  will show  that he  had  struggled for extension of  Railway Line to Kashmir for all these years. He said  the Railway travel in Kashmir Valley from Qazigund to Baramulla has become a celebration for people and it is heartening that general trend is that people in Kashmir never try to travel without tickets.
Prof Soz further said  it was his fond hope that after Qazigund getting connected with Banihal shortly, the efforts are redoubled to connect Kashmir with Jammu and Delhi.
Prof Soz  also  said that there  will be a  day when Jammu will get connected to  Rajouri and  Poonch and Baramulla  will get connected with Kupwara  and Uri.

Central Railway has always been persistent in curbing ticketless / unauthorised travel through its massive checking drives. During the month of May 2013 a total of 2.57 lakh cases of ticketless / irregular travel including unbooked luggage have been detected in these drives, as against 1.40 lakh cases detected in May 2012. The amount realised from these cases in May 2013 is Rs. 13.75 crore as against Rs. 6.36 crore during the same period last year, thus showing a record increase of 116.19 %. A total of 4.24 lakh cases were detected in the financial year IN April & May 2013 as against 3.30 lakh cases detected in the corresponding period of previous financial year. The Amount realised from these cases during the first two months of this financial year in April & May 2013 is Rs. 22.15 crore as against Rs. 15.41 crore during same period in last financial year, thus showing an increase of 43.74 %.In addition to above, 186 cases of transfer of reserved tickets were also detected in the month of May 2013 and an amount of Rs 1.04 lakh realised besides confiscation of tickets worth Rs. 0.51 lakh.Central Railway appeals to the passengers to travel with proper and valid tickets in order to avoid inconvenience.

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Konkan Railway has decided to implement Monsoon Up direction Time Table with effect from 10/06/2013 to 30/06/2013.
Bi – Weekly Train No. 16337 / 16338 between Okha and Ernakulam express will be partially cancelled between Hapa and Okha with effect from 10/06/2013 to 30/06/2013.
The timings will not be changed over Western Railway of the trains which proceeds from Western Railway to Konkan Railway i.e., Up direction.
The schedule of the Monsoon timings of the trains which will be changed are as below :
Monsoon Timings of The Train No. 16312 Kochuveli To Bikaner


Station Arival Departure
Vasai Road 00.10 hrs. 00.15 hrs.
Vapi 02.36  hrs. 02.38  hrs.
Surat 04.27 hrs. 04.32 hrs.
Ankleshwar Jn. 05.08 hrs. 05.10 hrs.
Vadodara Jn. 06.20 hrs. 06.30 hrs.
Ahmedabad Jn. 09.15 hrs. 09.40 hrs.
Mahesana 10.53 hrs. 10.55 hrs.
Palanpur Jn. 12.35 hrs. 12.38 hrs.

Monsoon Timings of The Train No. 16334 Trivandrum To Veraval Express

Station Arival Departure
Vasai Road 00.10 hrs. 00.15 hrs.
Boisar 01.43  hrs. 01.45 hrs.
Valsad 03.09 hrs. 03.12 hrs.
Navsari 03.45 hrs. 03.47 hrs.
Surat 04.27 hrs. 04.32 hrs.
Ankleshwar Jn. 05.08 hrs. 05.10 hrs.
Vadodara Jn. 06.20 hrs. 06.30 hrs.
Anand Jn. 07.04 hrs. 07.06 hrs.
Maninagar 08.48 hrs. 08.50 hrs.
Ahmedabad Jn. 09.20 hrs. 09.45 hrs.
Viramgam Jn. 10.52 hrs. 10.55 hrs.
Surendranagar 11.54 hrs. 11.56 hrs.
Wankaner Jn. 13.27 hrs. 13.32 hrs.
Rajkot Jn. 14.31 hrs. 14.56 hrs.
Bhakti Nagar 14.55 hrs. 14.56 hrs.
Gondal 15.30 hrs. 15.31 hrs.
Navagadh 16.04 hrs. 16.05 hrs.
Junagadh 16.38 hrs. 16.40 hrs.
Keshod 17.41 hrs. 17.42 hrs.
Veraval 18.55 hrs. --

Monsoon Timings of The Train No. 16336 Nagercoil To Gandhidham Express

Station Arival Departure
Vasai Road 00.10 hrs. 00.15 hrs.
Valsad 03.09 hrs. 03.12 hrs.
Surat 04.27 hrs. 04.32 hrs.
Ankleshwar Jn. 05.08 hrs. 05.10 hrs.
Vadodara Jn. 06.20 hrs. 06.30 hrs.
Anand Jn. 07.04 hrs. 07.06 hrs.
Maninagar 08.48 hrs. 08.50 hrs.
Ahmedabad Jn. 09.20 hrs. 09.45 hrs.
Viramgam Jn. 10.52 hrs. 10.55 hrs.
Dhrangadhra 11.50 hrs. 11.52 hrs.
Maliyamiyana 13.13 hrs. 13.15 hrs.
Samakhiali 14.58 hrs. 15.00 hrs.
Bhachau 15.17 hrs. 15.19 hrs.
Gandhidham Jn. 16.15 hrs. --

Monsoon Timings of The Train No. 16338 Ernakulam Jn To Hapa Express

Station Arival Departure
Vasai Road 00.10 hrs. 00.15 hrs.
Valsad 03.09 hrs. 03.12 hrs.
Navsari 03.45 hrs. 03.47 hrs.
Surat 04.27 hrs. 04.32 hrs.
Ankleshwar Jn. 05.08 hrs. 05.10 hrs.
Vadodara Jn. 06.20 hrs. 06.30 hrs.
Anand Jn. 07.04 hrs. 07.06 hrs.
Maninagar 08.48 hrs. 08.50 hrs.
Ahmedabad Jn. 09.15 hrs. 09.40 hrs.
Viramgam Jn. 10.52 hrs. 10.55 hrs.
Surendranagar 11.54 hrs. 11.56 hrs.
Rajkot Jn. 14.31 hrs. 14.56 hrs.
Hapa 16.30 hrs. --

Monsoon Timings of The Train No. 19259 Kochuveli To Bhavnagar ExpressStation Arival Departure
Vasai Road 00.10 hrs. 00.15 hrs.
Surat 04.27 hrs. 04.32 hrs.
Ankleshwar Jn. 05.08 hrs. 05.10 hrs.
Vadodara Jn. 06.20 hrs. 06.30 hrs.
Anand Jn. 07.04 hrs. 07.06 hrs.
Nadiad 07.21 hrs. 07.23 hrs.
Ahmedabad Jn. 09.15 hrs. 09.40 hrs.
Joravarnagar 12.08 hrs. 12.09 hrs.
Botad 13.10 hrs. 13.12 hrs.
Dhola 13.50 hrs. 13.51 hrs.
Sihor 14.16 hrs. 14.17 hrs.
Bhavnagar 15.30 hrs. --
Monsoon Timings of The Train No. 12287 Kochuveli To Dehradun ExpressStation Arival Departure
Vasai Road 15.50 hrs. 15.55 hrs.
Surat 19.48 hrs. 19.53 hrs.
Vadodara Jn. 21.52 hrs. 22.02 hrs.
Monsoon Timings of The Train No. 12483 Kochuveli To Amritsar ExpressStation Arival Departure
Vasai Road 15.50 hrs. 15.55 hrs.
Surat 19.48 hrs. 19.53 hrs.
Vadodara Jn. 21.52 hrs. 22.02 hrs.

Monsoon Timings of The Train No.12431 Trivadrum Central To Hazarat Nizamuddin Rajdhani ExpressStation Arival Departure
Vasai Road 22.30 hrs. 22.35 hrs.
Vadodara Jn. 03.33 hrs. 03.43 hrs.

Puducherry Railway Projects Coordination Committee comprising government officials and engineers inspected all the 25 known locations in Karaikal region of the Union Territory where a road crosses the proposed alignment of Peralam- Karaikal new line project sanctioned in Railway Budget of 2013-14.

The new line is to be laid on the same route as the old railway line which existed during the French period, but was subsequently removed by the Southern Railways after Karaikal became part of the Indian Union.

During the inspection by the team on Tuesday,  it was observed that part of the alignment is now used by the agriculturists as rural road and some encroachments are observed in the urban limits, according to Gopal Dalmia, member of the Coordination Committee.

It is evident that the New Line Project is not a revival of the old MG line or a gauge conversion of a dormant route. It is a full- fledged new line on the land that is still available. All the road crossings have to be addressed afresh, he said.

In some places a Limited Height Subway (LHS) might be the best solution while at other locations these may not be the best option due to their proximity to water channels. The railways may willingly construct the subway, but keeping it free from flooding will be the State responsibility, suggested the committee.  

There are locations which are suited for Road Over Bridge (ROB) and they have to be investigated in detail before the site can be selected for ROB, said Dalmia

The Thirunallar halt station in the former days was a rudimentary side platform accessed from the north. On inspection it was observed that this station needs to be planned well, considering the number of pilgrims visiting the shrine. Ambagarattur and Pattecouddy station old sites were visited. Both the locations need to be planned with 25 years horizon.

There were several locations where electric high tension and low tension over head lines across the alignment. At two locations power grid lines also cross. The crossing of cables also needs to be addressed.

Much water has flowed down the Arsalar since the MG line was uprooted. The BG Line has to be considered as New Line Project. The railways have already cleared up the vegetation from much of the old formation.

‍For the convenience of the rail passengers and to increase the passenger carrying capacity Railway Has decided to increase the passenger carrying capacity  of 12985/12986 Jaipur-Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Jaipur Double    Decker And 12059/12060 Kota Hazrat Nizamuddin Jan Shatabdi Express Trains o­n temporary basis as per the under-mentioned  programme:


The 12985/12986 Jaipur-Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Jaipur Double    Decker Trains will be augmented  by attaching o­ne additional Executive chair car from 21.06.2013 to 18.09.2013 from Jaipur and Delhi.

12059/12060 Kota Hazrat Nizamuddin-Kota Jan Shatabdi Express Train will be augmented  by attaching o­ne additional AC Chair Car from 21.06.2013 to 01.07.2013 from Kota and Hazrat Nizamuddin.

The other features like timings, route, stoppages, composition etc. will remain as unchanged.

NEW DELHI: The rail traffic on Old Yamuna Bridge, which was stopped on Wednesday noon, was restored at 10.40am on Thursday. The decision was taken by senior railway officers, including the DRM, after the water receded to a "permissible'' limit. Regular train service will, however, be allowed under strict monitoring and under restricted speed over the 145-year-old Yamuna Bridge, a senior Northern Railway official said. "We are running trains at a speed of 5-10km/hr on the bridge,'' said a spokesperson. On Wednesday, services of over 70 trains were affected following the rising water-level in Yamuna. "All railway motormen have been informed of the situation. The water-level had touched 207.32m on Wednesday. It was at 206.83m - two metres above the danger mark - at 2pm on Thursday. The road traffic is yet to be restored on the bridge and it will be out of bounds till Friday morning, said a senior traffic police officer.

The traffic police confirmed about the massive waterlogging from the Yamuna into the Ring Road, which caused traffic jams between Chandigram Akhara and Kashmere Gate ISBT.

"Most vehicles preferred taking the extreme right carriageway, thereby reducing space of a large section of vehicles,'' said a senior traffic cop. The water however, had receded by evening and the temporary stop on heavy vehicles on Wazirabad Road was thereby lifted.

Tripunithura is a fast growing satellite town of Kochi city and provides shelter to thousands of people working in and around Ernakulam. The commuters of this area have to go to Ernakulam Town Railway Station (since some of the trains do not pass through Ernakulam Junction) travelling more than 15 km. If a halt is allowed at the Tripunithura railway station for all express trains, traffic congestion at the city roads can be minimised to a certain extent. Even though Tripunithura railway station has two platforms that can accommodate 24 bogies each, the railway station is still underutilised.

--A. Seshadri, President, Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Resident’s Associations, Central Zone.

District Collector

P.I. Sheikh Pareeth:

The District Administration will discuss the matter with the authorities concerned for exploring the possibility of allowing halt at Tripunithura for all express trains not touching Ernakulam South Railway. But, Tripunithura Railway Station will have more rail connectivity once the Kochi Metro service becomes operational. The present approved proposal for Kochi Metro Rail is from Aluva to Pettah and there is no railway station or railway line at Pettah and since there is a Railway Station at Tripunithura, the District Administration will take up the matter for extension of Kochi Metro Rail up to Tripunithura. Since the Government has agreed in principle to extend Kochi Metro rail up to Tripunithura in the first phase itself, the District Administration will pursue the matter further in this respect.

The railway track doubling project between Bangalore and Mysore has achieved a significant milestone and inched a step closer to completion with the conclusion of the work between Maddur and Mandya.

The statutory inspection will be conducted by Sathish Kumar Mittal, Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Southern Circle, Bangalore, on June 27 and speed trials will be conducted on the new double track between Maddur and Mandya stations between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“During the speed trial, trains will run at a speed in excess of 100 kmph and subsequently, regular train services will be introduced,” according to a press release.

People have been cautioned not to cross the new double line during the speed trials as it was fraught with risk and could endanger their lives. Trespassers are liable for prosecution, the release added.

The completion of the 19-km stretch between Maddur and Mandya is reckoned to be an important high point in the project as it will significantly reduce the running time of the trains in the section.

Railway officials said that this will provide a clear path for trains obviating the need to halt for incoming trains to pass at crossings.

Trains, at present, have a free run on the double track from Bangalore up to Settihalli. Beyond Settihalli, work on a stretch of 12 km remains incomplete and the line cannot be commissioned until the major bridge across the river Shimsha is opened for traffic, according to a railway official associated with the project.

But for this stretch between Settihalli and Maddur, the track doubling work between Bangalore and Mandya has been completed. Incidentally, the Railway Budget 2013-14 had stipulated a timeframe for completion of the work between different sections and as per the timeline, the Settihalli and Maddur section is slated for completion during this fiscal (2013-14).

However, there are major challenges confronting the Railways from the Mysore end.

Doubling work has been completed only till Naganahalli (8 km) and the work between Byadarahalli-Pandavapura section (10 km) and Mandya and Yeliyur (8 km) are targeted for completion by March 31, 2014.

The major hurdle is to shift the 19th century armoury of Tipu Sultan at the Srirangapatna railway station.

The completion of the two major bridges across the river Cauvery at Srirangapatana will be synchronised with the completion of the pending work and the track doubling on the entire section between Bangalore and Mysore may be ready by mid-2014.