ProUI

A recent study of railways shows that the trains continue to be the most preferred medium for long distance travel in India.The survey conducted by RailYatra.in shows that 76 percent travellers in India prefer trains for long distance travel, while 50 percent people take trains to visit their hometowns and cities."It is now reaffirmed by this study that railway is the lifeline of the Indian travellers," said Manish Rathi, chief executive officer of RailYatri.in.Not only for long distance travel, trains have also emerged as the popular mode of transport for daily commutation.RailYatri.in provides the Indian railway passengers personalised real time updates on their journey through internet, email, text messages and voice messages.

रेल्वेच्या प्रवासी भाडय़ामध्ये सहा महिन्यांपूर्वी मोठी वाढ झाल्यानंतर आता पाठोपाठ तिकीट रद्द करण्यासाठीही पूर्वीपेक्षा खूप अधिक रक्कम खर्च करावी लागणार आहे. तसेच तुम्ही कोणत्या वर्गाने प्रवास करणार होतात त्यानुसार तिकीट रद्द करताना ठरावीक रक्कम यापुढे कापून घेतली जाणार आहे.
आजवर प्रत्यक्ष प्रवासाच्या वेळेआधी २४ तासपर्यंत तिकीट रद्द केल्यास पूर्ण पैसे परत मिळत असत. मात्र आता प्रवासाच्या वेळेच्या ४८ तास आधी आरक्षण रद्द केल्यासच जास्तीत जास्त रक्कम परत मिळू शकणार आहे. यापुढे रद्द करण्यात येणाऱ्या तिकिटांच्या रकमेतून प्रतिप्रवासी ठरावीक रक्कम थेट कापून घेतली जाणार आहे.
प्रवाशांनी ४८ ते सहा तास या दरम्यान तिकीट रद्द केल्यास तिकिटाच्या २५ टक्के रक्कम अधिक वरील रक्कम कापली जाणार आहे. ही मर्यादा आधी २४ ते चार तास अशी होती. तर प्रवासाच्या सहा ते दोन तास आधी तिकीट रद्द करण्यात आल्यास ५० टक्के रक्कम कापून घेतली जाईल. गाडी निघून गेल्यानंतर दोन तास अथवा त्यानंतर तिकीट रद्द केल्यास यापुढे काहीच पैसे मिळणार नाहीत. तसेच संपूर्ण कुटुंबाने किंवा एखाद्या ग्रूपने आरक्षण केले असेल आणि त्यांच्यापैकी काहीच जणांचे आरक्षण नक्की झाले असेल, तर अशा वेळी प्रवासाच्या सहा तास आधी किंवा गाडी सुटल्यानंतर दोन तासांपर्यंत तिकीट रद्द केल्यास त्यांना जास्तीत जास्त रक्कम परत मिळेल.
वेटिंग आणि रिझव्‍‌र्हेशन अगेस्ट कॅन्सलेशन (आरएसी) या दोन प्रकारांमध्ये काही नाममात्र शुल्क कापून रक्कम परत केली जाईल. मात्र त्यासाठी तीन तास आधी तिकीट रद्द करणे आवश्यक आहे.
सुधारीत 'कपात' दर
* वातानुकूलित प्रथम श्रेणी -प्रति व्यक्ती १२० रुपये
* वातानुकूलित टू टायर - प्रति व्यक्ती १०० रुपये
* वातानुकूलित थ्री टायर चेअरकार- प्रति व्यक्ती ९० रुपये
* शयनयान श्रेणी - प्रति व्यक्ती ६० रु.
* द्वितीय श्रेणी -  प्रति व्यक्ती ३० रुपये

After successful completion of yard works in Tiruchi and Thanjavur railway stations, Southern Railway has taken up the track strengthening works on the 46 km railway line between Ponmalai and Thanjavur. The work is scheduled to be carried out on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 25 to September 18, said a release from Tiruchi Railway division on Monday.The work involves laying additional pre-stressed concrete (PSC) sleepers in the entire section. On completion, the sleeper density on the section will increase from the present 1,310 sleepers per km. to 1,660 sleepers per km. The work is primarily meant to increase the speed of the goods trains running on this section, resulting faster traffic clearance, minimised congestion and improve passenger train movement in the section. Increasing the sleeper density of tracks will also improve the reliability of the track, thereby improving track safety.Strengthening works will be taken up on non-peak hours – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Advanced track relaying train has already arrived from Track Machines Depot, Chennai. The work has been planned to have minimum inconvenience to passengers, the release said.

The first train connecting the Kashmir valley with the southern Jammu region has begun its journey in Indian-administered Kashmir.The newly-built 18km (11-mile) stretch connects Banihal in Jammu with Qazigund in the valley.However, Banihal is yet to be connected to India's huge railway network.Officials say that is likely to happen in 2017 when the Banihal station will be linked with Udhampur, 121km (75 miles) away.The ambitious train project aims to link the region with India's vast railway network, easing travel between Srinagar and the rest of the country.It also aims to provide an all-weather surface link between Srinagar and Jammu region where the present road link frequently gets cut in bad weather.The new stretch is added to the 118km (73-mile) train line that already runs through the valley, connecting Baramullah in the north with Qazigund in the south.

Multi-million dollar tunnel

The train link will eventually connect all of Jammu and Kashmir with India's vast rail network The train was flagged off by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday.

For the launch, the station at Banihal was decorated with flowers and garlands, and an eight-coach train, carrying schoolchildren and officials, travelled to Qazigund in 25 minutes.

The train passes through an 11km multi-million dollar tunnel which cuts through the Pir Panjal mountain range.

On Tuesday, PM Singh and Mrs Gandhi laid the foundation of a power project in Kishtwar.

Separatists observed a two-day strike to coincide with their visit, saying the Kashmir dispute could not be resolved by economic grants and infrastructure projects.

On the eve of the prime minister's two-day visit to the disputed territory, militants killed eight soldiers in the deadliest such attack there in five years.

Kashmir, claimed by both India and Pakistan, has seen an armed insurgency against Indian rule since 1989.

In recent years violence has abated from its peak in the 1990s, but the causes of the insurgency are still far from resolved.

After a lull in violence for a few years, militant activity has risen in recent weeks, with busy marketplaces often targeted.

Two policemen were shot and killed by militants in Srinagar over the weekend.

26-06-2013
Bhubaneswar
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CARRIAGE REPAIR WORKSHOP PRESS BRIEF BY CWM
.. ..
The Carriage Repair Workshop (CRW) at Mancheswar of East Coast Railway, o­ne of the most modern coach repairing workshop of Indian Railways has achieved new milestone of productivity by overhauling Linke Holfmann Busch (LHB) coaches, which is the first of its kind in the history of Mancheswar Carriage Repair Workshop.
Shri S. K. Pankaj, Chief Workshop Manager in a Press Brief said that, earlier, these coaches were being repaired in West Bengal, Haryana and in Uttar Pradesh etc. Complete overhauling of bogies, air brake system and roof mounted Air-conditioning system including Poly Urethane (PU) paintings, interior and renewal of berths of LHB coaches has been repaired and sent for passenger carrying. In a few months time, the entire Rajdhani/Duronto rakes will now be repaired at Mancheswar and need not be sent to far-off workshops. This will help in better availability of coaches and problems can be better monitored.
PRESS BRIEFS:
CARRIAGE REPAIR WORKSHOP, MANCHESWAR

INTRODUCTION:

Carriage Repair Workshop, Mancheswar (CRW/MCS), a young and dynamic establishment under East Coast Railway, discharges the key responsibility of periodic overhauling of all Mail/Express/Passenger & departmental coaches of East Coast Railway. Establishment of the workshop has helped East Coast Railway to achieve self-sufficiency in maintenance of passenger carrying and other coaching vehicles.

Construction of CRW/MCS was sanctioned by Railway Board in Works Programme 1977-78. Prof. Madhu Dandavate, the then Hon’ble Minister of Railways, laid the foundation stone o­n 26.05.1978. The Workshop was commissioned with the beginning of corrosion repairs o­n 12.11.81, in presence of Shri K. N. Pandey, the then Hon’ble Minister of Railways.
The first off POH coach was turned out from the shop o­n 31.12.1983 in presence of Shri C. K. Jaffer Sharief, the then Hon’ble Minister of State for Railways. Mancheswar workshop will be celebrating 30 years of its operation in December 2013.
       
          Railway Board has sanctioned major work vide Pink Book item No. 328 of 2008-09 at a cost of Rs.25.00 Crores to take the installed capacity of the workshop to 150 coaches per month. Construction work is under progress and is expected to be completed by March 2013.
IMPORTANT MILESTONES:

26.05.1978
Foundation Stone laid by Prof. Madhu Dandavate, the then Hon’ble Minister of Railways.
12.11.1981
The workshop was commissioned with the beginning of Corrosion repair by Shri K. N. Pandey, the then Hon’ble Minister of Railways.
31.12.1983
First Off-POH Coach was turned out by Shri C. K. Jaffer Sharief, the then Hon’ble Minister of State for Railways.
01.09.2003
Group Incentive Scheme was introduced in the workshop.
31.03.2004
MCSW reached the milestone of 100 coach outturn in a month.
31.03.2005
The workshop reaches the milestone of 1000 coach outturn in a year by turning out 1092 coaches in 2004-05.
01.11.2009
Switch over to 18 month periodicity POH & IOH of Bogies.
01.02.2012
POH of BBS Duronto Coaches of Hybrid design
30.04.2013
Highest ever outturn of 134 Coaches (111 POH & 23 IOH)
29.05.2013
First LHB coach turned out from MCSW


INFRASTRUCTURE:

vLand:
§Total area                                  =      314 Acres
§Workshop area                                    =      121 Acres
§Colony/Service Buildings                =      193 Acres
§Covered area in the workshop                =      38,550 Sq. Mts.
vPermanent way inside the workshop:            =      14 Kms.
vPower Supply:
§Receiving voltage                        =      33 KV.
§Connected Load                          =      7500 KW.
§Contract Demand                        =      1059 KVA.
§Standby Diesel Generator Set.                =      500 KVA.
vElectronic gate attendance system: Mancheswar workshop is among first few workshops to have electronic gate attendance system. This has made the task of recording attendance of staff reliable and efficient. Staff employed for manual recording of attendance was released for carrying out productive work.

vWater Supply: The workshop has 3 ground water pumping stations to supply water to workshop and colony.

vCRW/MCS has a self-contained residential colony with 708 quarters. Mancheswar colony also has Kendriya Vidyalaya, Oriya Medium Primary, Upper Primary and High Schools, Railway Institute and Officers’ Club to cater to the educational and entertainment requirement.

vThe Scouts & Guides and the East Coast Railway Sports Association have active units        at Mancheswar.

vECoRWWO/MCS runs nursery school (Shishu Niketan), dance school and      school of fine arts in addition to a number of other activities.

ACTIV ACTIVITIES

§POH of ICF Coaches , Hybrid Coaches & LHB Coaches.
§AC Coaches (Roof Mounted).
§Corrosion Repair & Refurbishment.
§Supply of Bogies for IOH to Divisions.
§IOH of Coaches of Bhubaneswar Depot
§Special Repair to Coaches.
§Supply of Wheel sets to Divisions.
§RSP works.
GROUP INCENTIVE SCHEME:GROUP INCENTIVE SCHEME:

§To improve productivity through staff motivation, The GIS scheme introduced o­n 01.09.2003, was adopted o­n the basis of the GIS scheme in Carriage Repair Shop, Tirupati.

§Mancheswar workshop, which was turning out 60 coaches per month before introduction of GIS, has turned out 111 coaches in April’13.

RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS:

§Highest level of Productionrecorded in April, May 2013. In April’13 workshop outturn was 134(111POH & 23 IOH),In May’13 outturn was 126(106 POH &20 IOH)

§Highest productivity level of 70% incentive recorded in April & May 2013.

§Coach POH increased by 40% in April and 33% in May compared to last year average

§AC coach POH increased by 28% in April & May compared to last year average.

§Corrosion Repair of Coachesincreased by over 60% in April & May compared to last year average.

§IOH of Bogies increased by 60% & 40% in April & May respectively as compared to corresponding period of  last year.

§Monitoring of cycle time(Traffic in to Traffic out) has been started. This has helped the workshop in projecting correct cycle time of POH.Cycle time has been continuously reducing over past few months as a result of intense monitoring.

§Improvement in working environment

§Refurbishing of coaches

§Emergency lighting arrangements: - 34 coaches have been fitted with Emergency Light in 2013-14.

§Implementation of MMIS(Material management information system) module

§E-Procurement: -Mancheswar Depot has the distinction of being the first Depot over Indian Railways to implement e-Procurement.

§Engineering improvements in workshop and colony

§Provision of road signage

§Renovation of Children park

CAPACITY EXPANSIO CAPACITY EXPANSION: CAPACITY EXPANSION:

§At present capacity of Mancheswar workshop is100 POH capacity of workshop has been 100 coaches (90 non-AC + 10 AC coaches) per month.
§Railway Board has sanctioned  major work vide Pink Book item No. 328 of 2008-09 at a cost of Rs.25.00 Crores to augment the installed capacity of the workshop to 150 coaches per month.
§Revised Estimate  ( 38 Crore) has been  sent to Railway Board for sanction to accommodate special facilities  for maintenance of LHB coaches.
§Civil Construction is under Progress 
Expected completion by  MARCH’14.
Conidal shell – Total 17 shell, 11 shell under final
stage of construction.
Expansion of Store Depot – under final stage of construction.
Connecting tracks, pits, flooring etc. would be taken up shortly.
QUALITY / SAFETY 

§All the overhauled coached and bogies turned out from the workshop is checked by independent Neutral Train Examiner. Mancheswar Workshop has ensured Zero NTXR rejection right since August 2001 for POH of coaches.
§Shot/grit blasting of bogie components started in September ’11 to expose the bare metal surface for crack detection.
§Interior panels (decorative thermosetting resin bonded plastic sheet) were earlier replaced as and when they were found in damaged condition. To improve appearance and aesthetics of coaches, panels are being changed o­n age cum condition basis. No patch repairs of panels are allowed o­n passenger coaches being turned out from the workshop.
§Provision of Stainless Steel Panel & Detachable Stainless steel mesh in Pantry Car
§Intensive corrosion repair
§Special Repair to Body Bolster of Coach
§Fire Safety
Workshop has fire tender, water hydrants, Fire extinguishers and open water tanks to fight fire.
FUTURE VISION :

Augmentation of POH capacity to 150 coaches per month:
§Work for augmenting the POH capacity to 150 coaches per month has been sanctioned by the Railway Board vide Pink Book item no: 328 of 2008-09.

§Procurement of machineries and civil construction work is under advance stage.

§The work is expected to be completed by March 2014.

Development of facility to undertake POH of LHB shell and air spring bogies:
§Indian Railways is switching over to LHB design steel shell and ICF bogie with air spring.

§The workshop started POH of hybrid coaches (Duronto) in February 2012.

§The workshop started maintenance of LHB coach (Rajdhani) in May 2013.

ISO certification:
Mancheswar workshop is under implementation of upgraded version of QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM i.e. ISO 9001:2008 and is expected to be completed by 31/08/2013.
An Environmental Management System (EMS) under ISO 14001 is a structured approach to addressing the environmental bottom line.
Developing the concept further, the workshop proposes to audit, review and modify its maintenance practices so as to be a ISO 14000, OHSAS 18000 certified workshop.
Green energy:
Solar Panels are proposed to be installed above administrative building and staff canteen to harvest solar energy.
We are also planning to use Bio-diesel in our fork lifter & D. G. Set.
Expansion to cater the demand for locomotive & Freight wheels:
The workshop is also developing infrastructure for supply of wagon and locomotive wheel to divisions.
A work has already been sanctioned at the cost of Rs.57.7 lakhs to develop facility for freight wheels.

26-06-2013
Secunderabad
.. ..
Tirupati - Adilabad - Tirupati Krishna Express Temporarily Augmented With Additional Coaches
.. ..
South Central Railway has temporarily augmented Tr.No.17405/17406 Tirupati – Adilabad – Tirupati Krishna Express with o­ne additional AC Chair Car and o­ne Sleeper Class Coach from 27th to 30th June 2013 to clear the extra rush / waitlisted passengers.

The augmented additional coaches have already been fed into the computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS). This Sleeper Class coach with 72 berths capacity will clear 576 additional passengers during these four days. Similarly with 73 seating capacity, this AC Chair Car will clear 584 additional passenger during these four days.

26-06-2013
Secunderabad
.. ..
Tirupati - Adilabad - Tirupati Krishna Express Temporarily Augmented With Additional Coaches
.. ..
South Central Railway has temporarily augmented Tr.No.17405/17406 Tirupati – Adilabad – Tirupati Krishna Express with o­ne additional AC Chair Car and o­ne Sleeper Class Coach from 27th to 30th June 2013 to clear the extra rush / waitlisted passengers.

The augmented additional coaches have already been fed into the computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS). This Sleeper Class coach with 72 berths capacity will clear 576 additional passengers during these four days. Similarly with 73 seating capacity, this AC Chair Car will clear 584 additional passenger during these four days.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday that the new rail tunnel linking the troubled Kashmir Valley and Jammu region will help develop Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing hundreds in Urdu here in Jammu region after inaugurating the rail link, Manmohan Singh said: "Today, we are dedicating a marvellous and wonderful feat of engineering crafted across the Himalayas."

He added: "Despite difficult geographical conditions and adverse weather, this longest tunnel in the country has been completed within seven years.

"This is not just an engineering marvel, but an all weather link between the valley and the rest of Jammu and Kashmir.

"This will usher in a new era in the development of the state, providing welfare and employment to the people here."

The prime minister said the products of the Kashmir Valley, including handicrafts and fruits, would reach the rest of India through this railway link as will products from the rest of the country to the valley.



The rail bridge between Udhampur and Banihal would be the highest railway bridge in the world.

He said the rail tunnel was a part of his UPA government's commitment to develop Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the state had got in recent times 14 new colleges, nine ITIs and five India Reserve Police battalions, providing employment to locals.

"I want to assure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that (my) government will extend all possible support for the development of the people here."

As he spoke in Urdu, Manmohan Singh struck a chord with the people at the rally. He was cheered each time he spoke about ushering development in the state.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi told the rally that the "hardships faced by the people of the state during the winter months are now a thing of the past.

"Today's inauguration of the all weather link between Jammu and the valley is a part of the UPA's commitment to the peace and progress of the people here."

Gandhi said the National Conference-Congress government in the state had done commendable work in the last five years.

"The people in Kashmir are fed up with violence. They want peace and development.

"The large turnout of people during the Panchayat elections in the state is a proof of the people's desire for peace and development.

"I know very well that painful incidents happen here occasionally, but our democracy has enough scope to sort out issues through dialogue and negotiations."

Manmohan Singh and Gandhi will fly to Udhampur army base on their way to New Delhi.

NEW DELHI: Only three months ago, this ambitious railway project was described by the CAG as a link "only within Kashmir, rather than to Kashmir". The Pir Panjal tunnel, due to be inaugurated on Wednesday by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, will still not connect the Kashmir valley with the national railway network.

The difference made by the tunnel is limited: the 145 km railway track in Kashmir, crossing the Pir Panjal range, has finally touched the Jammu region. It has however done so in a small town called Banihal, which in the 2001 census had a population of less than 3,000. The remaining 142 km of track connecting Banihal to Udhampur is nowhere near completion.

Though the Kashmir half of the project, most of which is on the flat surface of the valley, has been executed in 11 years, the Jammu part, running through a treacherous mountainous terrain, has been bedeviled by "poor planning" which, according to the CAG, caused losses to the tune of Rs 3,258 crores.

"The more critical section of the project between Katra and Banihal (117 kms) has been progressed only up to 12 to 14 per cent, and as complexities unfold during execution, the final cost of the project may rise manifold," the CAG said, in its report released in March.

In the project outlay of Rs 19,565 crores, the Kashmir part was estimated to cost Rs 5,340 crores while the corresponding estimate for the Jammu part was almost three times higher at Rs 14,225 crores.

The problems holding back the Jammu half of the project launched in 2002 arose largely from the flawed plan of skirting the landslide-prone Himalayas on the mountain slopes. This is a far cry from the Kashmir half of the project, where a 11 km tunnel has been built to cross the Pir Panjal barrier, insulating the track from the vagaries of nature.

For the more difficult terrain in the Jammu region, the Railways should have carried out a detailed survey of the area before deciding on the alignment, the CAG said. "This alignment passes through various thrust areas and fault lines in the Himalayas making the line vulnerable to seismic disasters. However, the Railways failed to carry out geo-technical investigations of the proposed alignment in a hitherto unexplored territory and relied entirely on aerial maps and satellite imagery."

When questioned by the CAG, the Railways replied that they pursued investigation and construction simultaneously for achieving "quick visibility of progress of work". The CAG report observed that the Railways were however silent on the implications of following "a high-risk strategy with a high probability of becoming counter-productive". This indicated "total disregard of professional norms and inability of the Railway Board in enforcing compliance with the standards laid down in the engineering code."

This project has also been the subject of a PIL filed by advocate Prashant Bhushan before the Delhi high court. On May 8, it issued a notice to the Railways on the petition seeking a review of the Jammu part of the project by an independent committee of experts. This was because, as the high court said in its 2010 verdict, the board's own review was found to have been "scuttled" by two of its members, preventing consideration of a better alternative. The board is due to file its reply by the next hearing on July 24.

The Government Railway Police (GRP) recovered a bag containing Rs. 68,400 and handed it over to its rightful owner.Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday the GRP’s Superintendent of Police Ch. Shyam Prasad said that a bag was found unclaimed in the S8 coach of Prashanti Nilayam bound Prashanti Express on Monday. Suspicious of the bag, an alert ticket collector of the South Central Railway alerted the GRP office at Narsaraopet. On checking, the bag it was found that apart from containing a few clothes, an identity card and a book it contained cash to the tune of Rs. 68,400.It so happened, that Padmakar Rao working as Assistant Commercial Tax officer at Srikakulam was travelling from Srikakulam to Visakhapatnam with the cash for the treatment of one of his relative in Visakhapatnam. By mistake while disembarking the train he picked up another similar looking bag in hurry.The bag travelled unclaimed till Narsaraopet, where it caught the attention of the TC and he alerted the GRP officials. The concerned inspector Satyanarayana after taking possession of the bag informed the HO at Vijayawada.

Subsequently, after investigating the leads the identity of the owner was established and he was called to Vijayawada and the bag was handed over.

Talking to The Hindu , Padmakar Rao said that he was a relieved man, as the hard earned money was meant to be used for the treatment of a relative. The Additional Divisional Railway Manager of SCR S. Subba Rao and GRP DSP S. Rajasekhara Rao were present.