ProUI

തിരുവനന്തപുരത്തു നിന്ന് മുംബൈയിലേക്ക് വരികയായിരുന്ന നേത്രാവതിയില്‍ പാളത്തിലേക്ക് തള്ളിനിന്ന പാറതട്ടി കൊങ്കണ്‍ പാതയില്‍ ഗതാഗതം മുടങ്ങി. ചൊവ്വാഴ്ച കാലത്ത് പത്തു മണിയോടെ അഡാവ്‌ലിയയ്ക്കും വിലാവ്‌ഡെയ്ക്കും ഇടയിലായിരുന്നു സംഭവം. വണ്ടിയുടെ എന്‍ജിനില്‍ തട്ടിയ പാറ പിന്നീട് പിന്നിലുള്ള അഞ്ചു ബോഗികളിലും ഉരഞ്ഞു നിന്നു. സംഭവത്തില്‍ ആര്‍ക്കും പരിക്കില്ലെന്ന് റെയില്‍വേ അറിയിച്ചു. പുറത്ത് മഴ പെയ്യുന്നതിനാല്‍ വാതില്‍പ്പടിയില്‍ യാത്രക്കാര്‍ ഇല്ലാതിരുന്നതിനാലാണ് അപകടം ഒഴിവായതെന്ന് രത്‌നഗിരിയിലെ റെയില്‍വേ പ്രൊട്ടക്ഷന്‍ ഫോഴ്‌സ് ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥര്‍ പറഞ്ഞു.

ഈ പ്രദേശത്ത് പാറ പാളത്തിലേക്ക് വീഴാതിരിക്കാന്‍ കമ്പിവലയിട്ടിരുന്നു. കനത്ത മഴയില്‍ നിലം പതിച്ച പാറയുടെ ഒരു ഭാഗം പാളത്തിലേക്ക് നീണ്ടു കിടന്നു. നേത്രാവതിയുടെ എന്‍ജിനില്‍ തട്ടിയ പാറ പുറകിലുള്ള ജനറല്‍, എ.സി. കമ്പാര്‍ട്ടുമെന്റുകളിലും ഉരഞ്ഞു. മൂന്നു മണിക്കൂര്‍ പണിപ്പെട്ട് പാറ നീക്കിയശേഷമാണ് വണ്ടി മുംബൈയ്ക്കു തിരിച്ചത്. ഇതുമൂലം ദാദര്‍-മഡ്ഗാവ് ജനശതാബ്ദി എക്‌സ്​പ്രസ്സ്, ഗോവ-നിസാമുദ്ദീന്‍ സമ്പര്‍ക്കക്രാന്തി തുടങ്ങി നിരവധി വണ്ടികള്‍ വൈകി.

'നേത്രാവതിയുടെ വലതു ഭാഗത്താണ് പാറ ഉരഞ്ഞത്. വണ്ടിയുടെ വാതില്‍ക്കല്‍ ആരെങ്കിലും നിന്നിരുന്നെങ്കില്‍ തീര്‍ച്ചയായും അപകടം പറ്റിയേനെ. അഞ്ചു ബോഗികളുടെ വാതില്‍ പടികള്‍ ചതഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ട്. ലോക്കോ പൈലറ്റ് പെട്ടെന്ന് വണ്ടി നിര്‍ത്തിയത് ഭാഗ്യമായി -'ഒരു ആര്‍.പി.എഫ്. ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു.

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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CHANGE IN RAILWAY REFUND RULES:
REVISED REFUND RULES WILL COME INTO EFFECT FROM 1ST JULY 2013         
.. ..         
Ministry of Railways has revised and amended Refund Rules in a very comprehensive manner and notified them which shall come into force with effect from 1.7.2013. The amendments made in the Refund Rules are aimed at simplification, efficiency in processing and reduction of bogus refund claims.
            Railway Passengers (Cancellation of ticket and Refund of fare) Rules, 1998 have not been substantially revised in the last 15 years during which period a large number of changes have taken place in the ticketing system of Indian Railways.  Firstly, Computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) as well as Computerised Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) have proliferated. Reservation through internet has also been introduced through which 45% of the total reserved tickets are issued. Integrated Train Enquiry System -- 139 is functional through which ticket status can be obtained through SMS. The above developments warranted that the refund rules be revised comprehensively.
            The major changes in the existing rules and the amendments in refund rules are as under:-
Unused (unreserved) tickets o­n which no reservation has been made:

Existing rule
Amended rule
If a ticket o­n which no reservation of a seat or berth has been made is presented to the station master for cancellation refund of fare shall be made o­n every such ticket after deducting the clerkage.
(i) within three hours after the actual departure of the train for which the ticket is issued or
(ii) for any ticket valid for the whole day, within three hours after the actual departure of the last train of the day for the destination station
If a ticket o­n which no reservation of a seat or berth has been made is presented for cancellation, refund of fare shall be made o­n every such ticket after deducting the clerkage.
(i)The ticket shall be presented for cancellation within three hours of issue of ticket.
(ii) In case of tickets issued in advance the ticket is presented upto 2400 hours of the day preceding the day of journey. 
Unused tickets o­n which reservation has been made:
(i)      if the ticket is presented for cancellation more than forty eight hours instead of the existing 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train, a minimum per passenger cancellation charge shall be deducted at the flat rate of rupees o­ne hundred and twenty for air-conditioned first class/executive class, rupees o­ne hundred for air-conditioned-II tier/first class, rupees ninety for air-conditioned III-tier/ 3 economy/air-conditioned chair car, rupees sixty for sleeper class and rupees thirty for second class.
(ii)        if the ticket is presented for cancellation between forty eight hours and upto six hours instead of existing 24 hours and upto 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, cancellation charge shall be twenty five per cent of the fare subject to a minimum of the cancellation charge. 
(iii)      if the ticket is presented for cancellation within six hours instead of existing 4 hoursbefore the scheduled departure of the train and upto two hours irrespective of distance instead of existing 3/6/12 hours for distance 200 kms/200-500 kms/500 Kms and above after the actual departure of the train, the cancellation charge shall be fifty per cent of the fare subject to a minimum of the cancellation charge.
(iv)    No refund shall be granted o­n the reserved ticket if it is surrendered for cancellation after two hours of the actual departure of the train.                     
(v)      In case, o­n a party ticket or a family ticket issued for travel of more than o­ne person, some persons have confirmed reservation and others are o­n waiting list, full refund of fare, less clerkage, shall be admissible for confirmed passengers also provided that the entire ticket is surrendered for cancellation within six hours instead of existing 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train and upto two hours instead of existing 3 hours after actual departure of the train”.

            Unused waitlisted or RAC tickets:–
Existing rule
Revised  rule
If the ticket is presented for cancellation upto3/6/12 hours for distance 200 kms/200-500 kms/500 Kms and above after the actual departure of the train, except deduction of clerkage;
Provided that for night trains leaving between 21.00 hours and 06.00 hours (actual departure), refund shall be admissible at the station within the time limits specified above or within first four hours after the opening of reservation office, whichever is later.
If a Waitlisted/RAC ticket is presented for cancellation, refund of fare shall be admissible after deducting the clerkage.
(i) The ticket is presented for cancellation upto three hours after the actual departure of the train irrespective of the distance.
(ii) The passenger may get the tickets cancelled from any PRS counters or the designated current counters.
(iii) No refund of fare shall be granted o­n RAC ticket /Waitlisted ticket after three hours of the actual departure of the train.
(iv) In case no current counters are available at journey originating station for night trains leaving between 21.00 hours and 06.00 hours(actual departure , refund shall be admissible at the stationwithin first two hours after the opening of reservation office.
(v) In remote and hill areas as identified by the zonal Railways with the prior approval of the General Managers and print in their Time Tables for train leaving between 1900 hours and 0600 hours (actual departure) refund shall be admissible at the station within first two hours after the opening of reservation/booking office, in case there is no reservation counters/booking office/ current counters. Available in that area.
Cancellation of e- tickets.-
·    The e- ticket may be booked and cancelled through internet and the refund of fare shall be credited to the customer’s account after deducting the charges applicable.
·    In case of a confirmed e-ticket, refund of fare shall be granted in accordancewith rule for unused tickets o­n which reservation has been made. In case of RAC e-ticket, refund of fare shall be granted in accordance with rule for unused waitlisted and RAC tickets.
·        In case of  the waitlisted e-ticket o­n which status of all the passengers is o­n waiting list even after preparation of reservation charts, names of all such passengers booked o­n that  Passenger Name Record (PNR) shall  be dropped from the reservation chart and  refund of fare shall be credited to the customer’s account  after deducting the clerkage.
·        In case o­n a party e-ticket or a family e-ticket issued for travel of more than o­ne person, some persons have confirmed reservation and others are o­n the list of RAC and waiting list, then in case of passengers o­n RAC or waitlisted not travelling, a certificate has to be obtained from the ticket checking staff to that effect and refund of fare shall be processed o­nline through TDR, indicating the details of the certificate issued by ticket checking staff.         
·        The o­nline TDR shall be filed upto seventy two hours of actual arrival of the train at passenger’s destination and the original certificate issued by the ticket checking staff is to be sent through post to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). The fare shall be refunded by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to the customer’s account after due verification.
·        In case of e-tickets (confirmed or RAC), if the reservation charts have been  prepared, o­nline TDR is required to be filed for obtaining refund. No refund of fare shall be admissible o­n e- ticket having confirmed reservation in case the request for refund is filed o­nline after two hours of the actual departure of the train.
·        No refund of fare shall be admissible o­n RAC e-tickets in case the request for refund is filed o­nline after three hours of the actual departure of the train.
Refund o­n Tatkal  tickets:
·        No refund of fare shall be admissible o­n confirmed Tatkal ticket.
·        In case of Tatkal ticket o­n waitlist, refund of fare shall be granted in accordance with rule for unused waitlisted or RAC tickets.
·        In case o­n a party Tatkal ticket or a family Tatkal ticket issued for travel for more than o­ne person, some persons have confirmed reservation and others are o­n waiting list, full refund of fare, less clerkage, shall be admissible for confirmed passengers also provided that the entire Tatkal ticket is surrendered for cancellation within six hours before the scheduled departure of the train or upto two hours of the actual departure of the train.
Postponement or preponement of journey o­n a reserved, RAC or waitlisted ticket.
            The postponement or preponement of journey o­n confirmed or RAC or waitlisted ticket shall be allowed in the same class and for the same destination instead of any longer distance or any higher class by the same train or by any other train for any subsequent days,  subject to condition that the ticket is surrendered during the working hours of reservation office and at least forty eight hours instead of existing 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train in which originally booked.
Non-commencement or missing of journey due to late running of trains. -
No cancellation charge or clerkage shall be levied and full fare shall be refunded to all passengers holding reserved, RAC and waitlisted tickets, if the journey is not undertaken due to late running of the train by more than three hours of the scheduled departure of the train from the station commencing the journey subject to condition that the ticket is surrendered upto the actual departure of the train instead of existing 3/6/12 hours for distance 200 kms/200-500 kms/500 Kms and above after the actual departure of the train
·in case of e-tickets, the TDR  is filed o­nline before the actual departure of  the train for availing full refund.
·      In case the ticket is cancelled or surrendered or if the request for refund of fare is filed  o­nline after the actual departure of the train, no refund of fare shall be admissible.
Lost, misplaced, torn or mutilated tickets: -
            If the reservation status of a lost, misplaced, torn or mutilated ticket, at the time of receipt of the application for issuance of a duplicate ticket for the purpose of undertaking journey, is confirmed or RAC and that the duplicate ticket is sought before preparation of reservation chart of the concerned train, the station master shall issue a duplicate ticket in lieu of the original ticket o­n payment of  rupees fifty  per passenger in case of second and sleeper class and  rupees o­ne hundred  per passenger for other classes instead of existing clerkage charge.
Application for refund of Passenger Reservation System (PRS) tickets in other circumstances:-             
            For refund of fare under circumstances other than those specified in these rules or under circumstances like ‘bandh’ or agitations or floods,  etc., the passengers could not reach the reservation counter or station or current counters for cancellation of tickets, in those cases, a TDR  shall be issued to the passenger and the passenger may apply for refund of fare within ten days instead existing 90 days from the day of commencement of journey to the Chief Commercial Manager (Refunds) of the railway administration under whose jurisdiction the TDR issuing station comes, enclosing the original TDR. The TDR shall be issued o­nly upto three days instead of existing 30 days after the scheduled departure of the train.

26-06-2013
Bhubaneswar
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CARRIAGE REPAIR WORKSHOP PRESS BRIEF BY CWM
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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
Bhubaneswar
.. ..

CHANGE IN RAILWAY REFUND RULES:
REVISED REFUND RULES WILL COME INTO EFFECT FROM 1ST JULY 2013         
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Ministry of Railways has revised and amended Refund Rules in a very comprehensive manner and notified them which shall come into force with effect from 1.7.2013. The amendments made in the Refund Rules are aimed at simplification, efficiency in processing and reduction of bogus refund claims.
            Railway Passengers (Cancellation of ticket and Refund of fare) Rules, 1998 have not been substantially revised in the last 15 years during which period a large number of changes have taken place in the ticketing system of Indian Railways.  Firstly, Computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) as well as Computerised Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) have proliferated. Reservation through internet has also been introduced through which 45% of the total reserved tickets are issued. Integrated Train Enquiry System -- 139 is functional through which ticket status can be obtained through SMS. The above developments warranted that the refund rules be revised comprehensively.
            The major changes in the existing rules and the amendments in refund rules are as under:-
Unused (unreserved) tickets o­n which no reservation has been made:

Existing rule
Amended rule
If a ticket o­n which no reservation of a seat or berth has been made is presented to the station master for cancellation refund of fare shall be made o­n every such ticket after deducting the clerkage.
(i) within three hours after the actual departure of the train for which the ticket is issued or
(ii) for any ticket valid for the whole day, within three hours after the actual departure of the last train of the day for the destination station
If a ticket o­n which no reservation of a seat or berth has been made is presented for cancellation, refund of fare shall be made o­n every such ticket after deducting the clerkage.
(i)The ticket shall be presented for cancellation within three hours of issue of ticket.
(ii) In case of tickets issued in advance the ticket is presented upto 2400 hours of the day preceding the day of journey. 
Unused tickets o­n which reservation has been made:
(i)      if the ticket is presented for cancellation more than forty eight hours instead of the existing 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train, a minimum per passenger cancellation charge shall be deducted at the flat rate of rupees o­ne hundred and twenty for air-conditioned first class/executive class, rupees o­ne hundred for air-conditioned-II tier/first class, rupees ninety for air-conditioned III-tier/ 3 economy/air-conditioned chair car, rupees sixty for sleeper class and rupees thirty for second class.
(ii)        if the ticket is presented for cancellation between forty eight hours and upto six hours instead of existing 24 hours and upto 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train, cancellation charge shall be twenty five per cent of the fare subject to a minimum of the cancellation charge. 
(iii)      if the ticket is presented for cancellation within six hours instead of existing 4 hoursbefore the scheduled departure of the train and upto two hours irrespective of distance instead of existing 3/6/12 hours for distance 200 kms/200-500 kms/500 Kms and above after the actual departure of the train, the cancellation charge shall be fifty per cent of the fare subject to a minimum of the cancellation charge.
(iv)    No refund shall be granted o­n the reserved ticket if it is surrendered for cancellation after two hours of the actual departure of the train.                     
(v)      In case, o­n a party ticket or a family ticket issued for travel of more than o­ne person, some persons have confirmed reservation and others are o­n waiting list, full refund of fare, less clerkage, shall be admissible for confirmed passengers also provided that the entire ticket is surrendered for cancellation within six hours instead of existing 4 hours before the scheduled departure of the train and upto two hours instead of existing 3 hours after actual departure of the train”.

            Unused waitlisted or RAC tickets:–
Existing rule
Revised  rule
If the ticket is presented for cancellation upto3/6/12 hours for distance 200 kms/200-500 kms/500 Kms and above after the actual departure of the train, except deduction of clerkage;
Provided that for night trains leaving between 21.00 hours and 06.00 hours (actual departure), refund shall be admissible at the station within the time limits specified above or within first four hours after the opening of reservation office, whichever is later.
If a Waitlisted/RAC ticket is presented for cancellation, refund of fare shall be admissible after deducting the clerkage.
(i) The ticket is presented for cancellation upto three hours after the actual departure of the train irrespective of the distance.
(ii) The passenger may get the tickets cancelled from any PRS counters or the designated current counters.
(iii) No refund of fare shall be granted o­n RAC ticket /Waitlisted ticket after three hours of the actual departure of the train.
(iv) In case no current counters are available at journey originating station for night trains leaving between 21.00 hours and 06.00 hours(actual departure , refund shall be admissible at the stationwithin first two hours after the opening of reservation office.
(v) In remote and hill areas as identified by the zonal Railways with the prior approval of the General Managers and print in their Time Tables for train leaving between 1900 hours and 0600 hours (actual departure) refund shall be admissible at the station within first two hours after the opening of reservation/booking office, in case there is no reservation counters/booking office/ current counters. Available in that area.
Cancellation of e- tickets.-
·    The e- ticket may be booked and cancelled through internet and the refund of fare shall be credited to the customer’s account after deducting the charges applicable.
·    In case of a confirmed e-ticket, refund of fare shall be granted in accordancewith rule for unused tickets o­n which reservation has been made. In case of RAC e-ticket, refund of fare shall be granted in accordance with rule for unused waitlisted and RAC tickets.
·        In case of  the waitlisted e-ticket o­n which status of all the passengers is o­n waiting list even after preparation of reservation charts, names of all such passengers booked o­n that  Passenger Name Record (PNR) shall  be dropped from the reservation chart and  refund of fare shall be credited to the customer’s account  after deducting the clerkage.
·        In case o­n a party e-ticket or a family e-ticket issued for travel of more than o­ne person, some persons have confirmed reservation and others are o­n the list of RAC and waiting list, then in case of passengers o­n RAC or waitlisted not travelling, a certificate has to be obtained from the ticket checking staff to that effect and refund of fare shall be processed o­nline through TDR, indicating the details of the certificate issued by ticket checking staff.         
·        The o­nline TDR shall be filed upto seventy two hours of actual arrival of the train at passenger’s destination and the original certificate issued by the ticket checking staff is to be sent through post to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). The fare shall be refunded by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to the customer’s account after due verification.
·        In case of e-tickets (confirmed or RAC), if the reservation charts have been  prepared, o­nline TDR is required to be filed for obtaining refund. No refund of fare shall be admissible o­n e- ticket having confirmed reservation in case the request for refund is filed o­nline after two hours of the actual departure of the train.
·        No refund of fare shall be admissible o­n RAC e-tickets in case the request for refund is filed o­nline after three hours of the actual departure of the train.
Refund o­n Tatkal  tickets:
·        No refund of fare shall be admissible o­n confirmed Tatkal ticket.
·        In case of Tatkal ticket o­n waitlist, refund of fare shall be granted in accordance with rule for unused waitlisted or RAC tickets.
·        In case o­n a party Tatkal ticket or a family Tatkal ticket issued for travel for more than o­ne person, some persons have confirmed reservation and others are o­n waiting list, full refund of fare, less clerkage, shall be admissible for confirmed passengers also provided that the entire Tatkal ticket is surrendered for cancellation within six hours before the scheduled departure of the train or upto two hours of the actual departure of the train.
Postponement or preponement of journey o­n a reserved, RAC or waitlisted ticket.
            The postponement or preponement of journey o­n confirmed or RAC or waitlisted ticket shall be allowed in the same class and for the same destination instead of any longer distance or any higher class by the same train or by any other train for any subsequent days,  subject to condition that the ticket is surrendered during the working hours of reservation office and at least forty eight hours instead of existing 24 hours before the scheduled departure of the train in which originally booked.
Non-commencement or missing of journey due to late running of trains. -
No cancellation charge or clerkage shall be levied and full fare shall be refunded to all passengers holding reserved, RAC and waitlisted tickets, if the journey is not undertaken due to late running of the train by more than three hours of the scheduled departure of the train from the station commencing the journey subject to condition that the ticket is surrendered upto the actual departure of the train instead of existing 3/6/12 hours for distance 200 kms/200-500 kms/500 Kms and above after the actual departure of the train
·in case of e-tickets, the TDR  is filed o­nline before the actual departure of  the train for availing full refund.
·      In case the ticket is cancelled or surrendered or if the request for refund of fare is filed  o­nline after the actual departure of the train, no refund of fare shall be admissible.
Lost, misplaced, torn or mutilated tickets: -
            If the reservation status of a lost, misplaced, torn or mutilated ticket, at the time of receipt of the application for issuance of a duplicate ticket for the purpose of undertaking journey, is confirmed or RAC and that the duplicate ticket is sought before preparation of reservation chart of the concerned train, the station master shall issue a duplicate ticket in lieu of the original ticket o­n payment of  rupees fifty  per passenger in case of second and sleeper class and  rupees o­ne hundred  per passenger for other classes instead of existing clerkage charge.
Application for refund of Passenger Reservation System (PRS) tickets in other circumstances:-             
            For refund of fare under circumstances other than those specified in these rules or under circumstances like ‘bandh’ or agitations or floods,  etc., the passengers could not reach the reservation counter or station or current counters for cancellation of tickets, in those cases, a TDR  shall be issued to the passenger and the passenger may apply for refund of fare within ten days instead existing 90 days from the day of commencement of journey to the Chief Commercial Manager (Refunds) of the railway administration under whose jurisdiction the TDR issuing station comes, enclosing the original TDR. The TDR shall be issued o­nly upto three days instead of existing 30 days after the scheduled departure of the train.

NAGPUR: Even as heavy rains on Tuesday night brought miseries for passengers at Nagpur station, railway officials braved the downpour to ensure that passing trains do not go off-track.As rains lashed the city, water from adjoining flyovers and the roadsides entered the circulating area on the west side of the station. It subsequently entered the station, water logging tracks on platform numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4, where most of the passing trains are admitted. The waiting area near the current ticket booking counters, the office of the station manager and his deputy were also flooded.As the situation went haywire, panic buttons were pressed and senior officials including divisional railway manager (DRM) Brijesh Dixit and additional DRM Uday Borwankar along with departmental heads rushed to the station.

"The last train to somehow leave the station was at 9pm. As the heavy downpour continued, the drains overflowed, causing a bigger problem. Submergence of tracks led to the automatic signals controlling train movement going out of order," said a railway official.

The water logging on tracks affected at least half a dozen express trains between 10pm and 1.30am. Some trains, including Nagpur-Secunderabad, Nizamuddin-Yashwantpur, Howrah-CSTM, Nizamuddin-Trivendrum, Hyderabad-Jaipur and Nagpur-Bilaspur Shivnath, were delayed by 30 to 60 minutes. Some trains were stopped at Ajni, Godhni and Kalamna railway stations.

"It was a peculiar situation as tracks were completely submerged. This disabled the signalling circuits, which are automatically controlled from the route relay interlocking (RRI) cabin. We had to run the trains manually by clamping points. Track patrolling was also intensified," Borwankar told TOI.

There were at least 50 supervisors from health, engineering, signalling, electrical and operating departments at work through the night. The operating department employees had to search for the points on the waterlogged tracks braving rains to ensure smooth movement of traffic. Normalcy was finally restored around 5.30am on Wednesday.

Following is the text of Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s address (in Hindi) on the occasion of the dedication of Banihal - Qazigund Rail Line to the nation in Jammu and Kashmir today:

“आज हम इंजीनियरिंग के एक ऐसे हैरतअंगेज़ नमूने को क़ौम और मुल्‍क के नाम वक्फ़ करने जा रहे हैं जिसे रेलवे के तकनीकी माहिरीन और कारकुनान ने अज़ीमतरीन हिमालय से तराशा है। यह बिलाशुबह एक बहुत बड़ा यादगार मौका है।

जम्मू-ऊधमपुर-कटरा-काज़ीगुण्ड-श्रीनगर-बारामूला रेल राब्ता, एक क़ौमी ख्‍़वाब है। आपमें से कुछ लोग जानते हैं कि ये ख्‍़वाब किसी और ने नहीं बल्कि महाराजा प्रताप सिंह ने आज से बहुत साल पहले 1898 में देखा था। तब से यह ख्‍़वाब तमाम दुश्वारियों के रास्ते से गुज़रा है। इस हकीकत के बावजूद कि इस राब्ते के लिए एक प्रोजेक्ट को आज से काफी पहले यानी 1905 में ही मंजूरी मिल गई थी, इसे अमलीजामा अभी तक नहीं पहनाया जा सका। मुल्क की तकसीम के बाद जम्मू भी बक़िया भारतीय रेलवे नेटवर्क से कटकर रह गया था। 1971 में जम्मू को तो भारतीय रेलवे के बाकी नेटवर्क से एक ब्रॉडगेज लाइन के ज़रिए पठानकोट के रास्ते से जोड़ा था, ये श्रीमती इंदि‍रा गांधी का एक सपना था जो उन्‍होंने पूरा कि‍या लेकिन, जम्मू के शुमाल की जानिब की लाइन पर कोई पेशरफ्त नहीं हो सकी।

आख़िरकार श्रीमती इंदिरा गांधी जी ने इस बेहद अहम लाइन पर 1983 में काम शुरू करवाया। हम तब से अब तक एक लम्बा सफर तय कर चुके हैं और मुझे बहुत खुशी है कि हमारे पुराने ख्‍़वाब को अमलीजामा पहनाने का काम बहुत अच्छे ढंग से तकमील की तरफ आगे बढ़ रहा है। इस अहम और बिलाशुबह खूबसूरत रेलवे प्रोजेक्ट के बहुत से हिस्से मुकम्मल हो चुके हैं। मैं बज़ाते खुद सन् 2005 में इस रेलवे राब्ता के जम्मू-ऊधमपुर हिस्से के इफ्तेताह से वाबिस्ता रहा हूं। बादअजां 2008 में अनन्तनाग और माज़होम के दरम्यान रेल राब्ता कायम हो गया। माज़होम-बारामूला सेक्शन 2009 में मुकम्मल हुआ और इसके बाद काज़ीगुण्ड-बारामूला के दरम्यान 119 किलोमीटर तवील रेलवे लाइन बिछाई गई।

NAGPUR: Even as heavy rains on Tuesday night brought miseries for passengers at Nagpur station, railway officials braved the downpour to ensure that passing trains do not go off-track.As rains lashed the city, water from adjoining flyovers and the roadsides entered the circulating area on the west side of the station. It subsequently entered the station, water logging tracks on platform numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4, where most of the passing trains are admitted. The waiting area near the current ticket booking counters, the office of the station manager and his deputy were also flooded.As the situation went haywire, panic buttons were pressed and senior officials including divisional railway manager (DRM) Brijesh Dixit and additional DRM Uday Borwankar along with departmental heads rushed to the station.

"The last train to somehow leave the station was at 9pm. As the heavy downpour continued, the drains overflowed, causing a bigger problem. Submergence of tracks led to the automatic signals controlling train movement going out of order," said a railway official.

The water logging on tracks affected at least half a dozen express trains between 10pm and 1.30am. Some trains, including Nagpur-Secunderabad, Nizamuddin-Yashwantpur, Howrah-CSTM, Nizamuddin-Trivendrum, Hyderabad-Jaipur and Nagpur-Bilaspur Shivnath, were delayed by 30 to 60 minutes. Some trains were stopped at Ajni, Godhni and Kalamna railway stations.

"It was a peculiar situation as tracks were completely submerged. This disabled the signalling circuits, which are automatically controlled from the route relay interlocking (RRI) cabin. We had to run the trains manually by clamping points. Track patrolling was also intensified," Borwankar told TOI.

There were at least 50 supervisors from health, engineering, signalling, electrical and operating departments at work through the night. The operating department employees had to search for the points on the waterlogged tracks braving rains to ensure smooth movement of traffic. Normalcy was finally restored around 5.30am on Wednesday.

लांजा- सतत पाऊस असूनही सुरळीत चाललेल्या कोकण रेल्वेच्या वाहतुकीला मंगळवारी गालबोट लागले. तुफानी पावसामुळे तालुक्यातील आडवली व विलवडे रेल्वेस्थानकादरम्यान असलेल्या बेर्डेवाडी बोगद्यानजीक दरड कोसळून भलामोठा दगड रेल्वे ट्रॅकवर आला. या वेळी नेत्रावती एक्स्प्रेस येत होती. मात्र ट्रॅकमन आणि मोटरमनच्या प्रसंगावधानामुळे संभाव्य अपघात टळला. संततधार पावसामुळे सकाळी सव्वानऊच्या सुमारास बेर्डेवाडी बोगद्याजवळ १.०५ क्युबिक मीटर दरड रेल्वे ट्रॅकवर कोसळली. या ठिकाणी असणा-या डोंगराचा रेल्वे ट्रॅकला धोका पोहोचू नये यासाठी खबरदारीचा उपाय म्हणून लोखंडी संरक्षक जाळी बसवण्यात आली आहे. मात्र ही जाळी ऊन व पावसामुळे जीर्ण झाल्याने दरडीला रोखू शकली नाही. रेल्वे प्रशासनाने दरड बाजूला करण्यासाठी युद्धपातळीवर काम हाती घेण्यात आले. पावसामुळे यात अडचणी येत होत्या. अखेर अडीच तासांत ही दरड बाजूला करण्यात आली व दुपारी १२ वाजता रेल्वे सेवा सुरळीत झाली. या घटनेचा फटका कोकण रेल्वेला बसला. जनशताब्दी एक्स्प्रेसही रत्नागिरी स्थानकात थांबवण्यात आली. या घटनेमुळे नेत्रावती, जनशताब्दीसह सावंतवाडी-दिवा पॅसेंजर, गोवा संपर्क क्रांती एक्सप्रेस गाड्या विलंबाने धावत होत्या.

Asia’s second largest tunnel across the Pir Panjal mountain will connect the landlocked Kashmir Valley with Banihal town of the Jammu region. It will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Built at a cost of Rs.1,300 crore, the tunnel will reduce the distance between Qazigund town in south Kashmir's Anantnag district and Banihal town by 17 km. It will be an all-weather surface link.