ProUI

A 11-km railway tunnel across the Pir Panjal mountain range, inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday, is not only the longest such in India but an engineering marvel and a "dream come true" for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

It took seven years for thousands of men, most of them highly-trained and skilled in tunnel building, who braved geographical constraints and inclement weather to build the all-weather tunnel. Some of the tunnel boring machinery - an improved Austrian version - has been used for the first time on such a large scale in the country during the laying of the tunnel.

A three-metre-wide road has also been provided inside the tunnel for maintenance and relief and rescue operations in the event of any eventuality.

"The tunnel has been made water-proof by providing a continuous PVC membrane between the primary and secondary lining. It is equipped with state-of-the-art air quality monitoring, communications, fire-fighting and emergency rescue systems," an engineer at the site told IANS, not wishing to be identified.

Built at a cost of Rs.1,300 crores ($213 million), the tunnel has reduced the surface distance between the Qazigund town in the Valley and Banihal town in the Jammu region by 18 km, besides providing an all-weather surface link between the two regions.

The over 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu highway, till today the only surface link between the landlocked Valley and the rest of the country, would often remain closed for days without end in the winter months due to heavy snowfall on the Banihal sector of the highway.

"That experience is now a thing of the past for the people of Jammu and Kashmir," Congress President Sonia Gandhi told a jubilant public rally here when an eight-coach train was flagged off from here to Qazigund.

The tunnel had been a dream for the people of the state and not many believed it would become operational in their lifetime.

"I had been hearing of a railway tunnel that would connect us with the Valley and the people there with Banihal and other parts of the country. Today, I have seen the dream come true before my own eyes," Siraj-ud-Din, 70, who was part of the jubilant crowd that saw history being made as the train cruised from here through the tunnel to the Valley, told IANS.

Others in the Valley are hopeful their horticultural produce would be carried at lower costs and without any hassles through the tunnel in the future.

"The tunnel is going to reduce the transportation cost for our fruit to terminal markets in the country and also ensure that it reaches in time , whether it is raining or snowing," Mushtaq Ahmad, who has a large apple orchard in north Kashmir's Sopore town, told IANS.

Guwahati: The Railway Ministry has revised and amended Refund Rules in a comprehensive manner and notified them to come into force from July 1, said a Northeast Frontier Railway release has said.
The amendments are aimed at simplification, efficiency in processing and reduction of bogus refund claims, N-F Railway Chief Public Relations Officer S Hajong said in a press release here.
The Railway Passengers (Cancellation of ticket and Refund of fare) Rules, 1998 had not been substantially revised in the last 15 years when a large number of changes took place in the ticketing system of Indian Railways, Hajong said.
The proliferation of computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS), computerised Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), reservation through internet, Integrated Train Enquiry System warranted that the Refund Rules be revised comprehensively, he said.
The major changes in the existing rules and the amendments in Refund Rules were different for reserved tickets, Unused (unreserved) tickets, tickets issued in advance, reserved unused tickets, various air-conditioned class tickets, party ticket or a family ticket, RAC, E-tickets, Tatkal tickets, etc.

नाथद्वारा स्टेशन पर मूलभूत सुविधाओं और रैक की व्यवस्था नहीं होने से ओखा वाली ट्रेन नहीं चल पा रही है। पूर्व रेल मंत्री व कांग्रेस के मौजूदा राष्ट्रीय महासचिव डॉ. सी.पी. जोशी व केंद्रीय शहरी गरीबी उन्मूलन मंत्री डॉ. गिरिजा व्यास का प्रयास है कि ओखा तक शीघ्र ट्रेन चलाकर नाथद्वारा आने वाले गुजराती वैष्णवों को सुविधा दी जाए। इस साप्ताहिक ट्रेन की घोषणा रेल बजट में की गई थी।

केंद्रीय मंत्री बनने के बाद उदयपुर आकर वापस दिल्ली लौटते समय डॉ. व्यास ने जयपुर में उत्तर पश्चिम रेलवे के महाप्रबंधक आर.सी.अग्रवाल से नाथद्वारा-ओखा ट्रेन शीघ्र चलाने तथा मावली से बड़ी सादड़ी आमान परिवर्तन के लिए बजट आबंटन कर काम शुरू कराने का आग्रह किया था।



कांग्रेस के राष्ट्रीय महासचिव डा. सी.पी. जोशी ने रेल मंत्रालय के कार्यकाल के दौरान ओखा ट्रेन चलाने और नाथद्वारा के मंडियाना स्टेशन से नाथूवास तक रेल लाइन ले जाने के लिए सर्वे आदेश दिए थे। जानकार कह रहे हैं कि पूर्व रेल मंत्री डॉ. जोशी की नाथद्वारा कस्बे के नाथूवास तक ट्रेन चलाने की घोषणा तभी फलीभूत हो पाएगी जब वे रेल मंत्रालय पर दबाव बनाए रखेंगे। नाथूवास तक रेल लाइन न होने से मावली से मंडियाना के बीच दो वर्ष पूर्व 33 करोड़ की लागत से बिछाई गई बड़ी रेल लाइन अनुपयोगी पड़ी है।


व्यवस्था
अफसर कर रहे हैं मंथन कहां होगा रख-रखाव

नाथद्वारा से ओखा ट्रेन चलाने के लिए एसी तथा नॉन एसी डिब्बों की फिलहाल कोई व्यवस्था नहीं है। स्थानीय रेल मंडल अजमेर में भी रैक उपलब्ध नहीं हैं। मंडल अधिकारियों ने रेल कोच फैक्ट्री या अन्य स्थानों से कोच मंगवाने की व्यवस्था नहीं की है।

परिसंचालन अधिकारियों का कहना है कि किसी तरह से जोड़ तोड़ कर डिब्बे जुटाकर रैक तैयार कर लिया जाए तो भी उनके रखरखाव की कोई प्लानिंग नहीं की गई है। उदयपुर व अजमेर के रेल अधिकारी तय नहीं कर पाए हैं कि इस साप्ताहिक ट्रेन के डिब्बों का रखरखाव कहां होगा।

ट्रेन चलाने के प्रारंभिक स्टेशन नाथद्वारा में तकनीकी एवं यात्री सुविधाओं का अभाव है। चाय नाश्ते की कैंटीन, एसी श्रेणी का वेटिंग रूम, ऑनलाइन रिजर्वेशन, लगेज एवं पार्सल बुकिंग, क्लॉक रूम, रेलवे पुलिस चौकी खोलनी होगी। ट्रेन के आने जाने के समय डिब्बों की तकनीकी जांच, ट्रेन लाइटिंग व एसी मेकेनिक की व्यवस्था करनी होगी।


विकल्प

उदयपुर या द्वारिका में कर सकते हैं देखभाल

नाथद्वारा स्टेशन पर पिट लाइन (वॉशिंग लाइन) तथा कैरिज कारखाना न होने से ओखा ट्रेन का रैक रखरखाव के लिए उदयपुर लाया जा सकता है। ट्रेन का खाली रैक नाथद्वारा से मावली होकर उदयपुर तक 60 किलोमीटर दूर लाने और 60 किलोमीटर वापस ले जाने का संचालन भार रेलवे पर पड़ेगा।

उदयपुर सिटी स्टेशन पर पिट लाइनों की पहले से कमी है जिसके चलते बांद्रा ट्रेन का नियमित संचालन नहीं हो पा रहा है। पिट लाइन व संसाधनों की कमी के कारण खजुराहो एक्सप्रेस का रखरखाव खजुराहो स्टेशन पर शिफ्ट करने की कार्रवाई चल रही है। ओखा स्टेशन पर भी ट्रेन रैक के रखरखाव के इंतजाम नहीं हैं। ओखा से 25 किलोमीटर दूर स्थित द्वारिका स्टेशन तक खाली रैक ले जाकर रखरखाव कराया जा सकता है।


आदेश मिलेंगे तो सुविधाओं का विकास होगा
॥नाथद्वारा से ओखा ट्रेन शुरू करने के आदेश रेलवे बोर्ड से प्राप्त नहीं हुए हैं। ट्रेन का रखरखाव व यात्री सुविधाओं को लेकर जो आदेश बोर्ड से प्राप्त होंगे उसके तहत सुविधाओं का विकास किया जाएगा।
आर.सी.अग्रवाल, महाप्रबंधक उत्तर पश्चिम रेलवे

रेलवे ट्रेक पर हादसों में कैसे कमी लाई जाए ताकि वन्य जीवों की जान सुरक्षित रहे इसके लिए मोतीचूर में राजाजी नेशनल पार्क व रेलवे अधिकारियों की बैठक हुई । बैठक में सुरक्षा व्यवस्था को बेहतर बनाने के लिए मंथन किया गया।
बुधवार को मोतीचूर वन विश्राम भवन में आयोजित बैठक में रेलवे ट्रेक पर वन्य जीवों खासकर हाथी की सुरक्षा को लेकर विचार विमर्श हुआ। अधिकारी इस बात को लेकर चिंतित दिखे कि रेलवे ट्रैक पर गश्त के बावजूद हादसे हो रहे हैं। यह बात भी सामने आई कि सबसे अधिक दुर्घटनाएं सुबह के समय, रेल चालक व गश्त में होने वाली लापरवाही से हुई हैं। गश्ती टीम का रेल चालक से सीधे वाकी टाकी से न जुड़ा होना भी परेशानी पैदा करता है। पार्क निदेशक एस पी सुबुद्धि ने बताया कि रेलवे ट्रैक पर हाथी की सुरक्षा व्यवस्था को बेहतर बनाने के लिए विचार विमर्श हुआ जिसमें वर्तमान दिक्कतों को देखते हुए नये सुझाव रखे गये। चालक से गश्ती टीम का सीधे संवाद कायम करने, वन कर्मी को रेलवे सिग्नल टार्च देने ताकि ट्रैक पर हाथी के होने की स्थिति में वह भी रेल को रूकने का इशारा कर सके और रेल इंजन डिब्बे में हरिद्वार से एक वन कर्मी को बैठाने जैसे कई नये सुझाव सामने आये हैं जिनको अंतिम स्वीकृति के लिए डीआरएम मुरादाबाद को भेजा जायेगा। बैठक में रायवाला, मोतीचूर, हरिद्वार, कांसरो व देहरादून रेलवे स्टेशन अधिकारियों सहित राजाजी पार्क के अधिकारी मौजूद रहे।
----------------------
मोतीचूर में देखा गया घायल हाथी
रायवाला: बीते शुक्रवार को रायवाला के समीप काठगोदाम एक्सप्रेस की चपेट में आने से घायल हुआ हाथी मोतीचूर रेंज में कोयलपुरा के पास देखा गया। वन अधिकारियों ने उसके स्वस्थ होने का दावा किया है। पार्क निदेशक एसपी सुबुद्धि ने बताया कि घायल हाथी पर नजर रखी जा रही है। बुधवार को हाथी कोयलपुरा के पास देखा गया। चोट ज्यादा गंभीर नही है और अब वह स्वस्थ हो रहा है।

सीनी स्टेशन पर लगाई गई विज्ञान प्रदर्शनी छोटे-बड़े एवं छात्र-छात्राओं के लिये आकर्षण का केंद्र बनी है। हर रोज दर्शकों की भीड़ उमड़ रही है। बुधवार को कुल 6331 दर्शकों ने साइंस एक्सप्रेस का परिभ्रमण किया, जबकि प्रथम दिन मंगलवार को 3891 दर्शक पहुंचे थे। जानकारी हो कि साइंस एक्सप्रेस एक विशेष रूप से डिजाइन की गई 16 एसी कोच ट्रेन में स्थापित एक अभिनव मोबाइल प्रदर्शनी है, जो अक्तुबर 2007 से पूरे भारत में भ्रमण कर रही है। देश में चार सफल चरणों के बाद 2012 से यह ट्रेन साइंस एक्सप्रेस-जैव विविधता स्पेशल के रूप में चल रही है। यह ट्रेन 9अप्रैल 2013 को दिल्ली से चली और वर्तमान चरण में यह ट्रेन 9 अप्रैल से 28 अक्टूबर 2013 तक के अपने सफर के दौरान भारत में 67 स्थलों की यात्रा करेगी। प्रत्येक स्थान पर 3-4 दिनों के लिये रुकेगी और प्रदर्शनी खुली रहेगी। साइंस एक्सप्रेस में प्रदर्शनी का मुख्य उद्देश्य भारत की अद्वितीय जैव-विविधता, जलवायु परिवर्तन और समाज के विभिन्न वर्गो के बीच संबंधित मुद्दों पर विशेष रूप से छात्रों में जागरूकता पैदा करना है। सीनी में यह ट्रेन मंगलवार को पहुंची और जिले के पुलिस अधीक्षक इंद्रजीत माहथा एवं अपर उपायुक्त सीके सिंह ने इसका उद्घाटन किया। सीनी में यह ट्रेन गुरुवार तक रहेगी।

With highest number of cases registered in 2012, Maharashtra topped the list of most unsafe states for railway commuters in the country.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 4,062 cases were registered by the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Maharashtra in 2012.

While Uttar Pradesh stood second with 2,782 cases, Bihar secured the third position with 2,222 cases.

The GRP in Tripura, meanwhile, registered only 10 cases last year, the lowest in the country.

Of the 4,062 cases registered in Maharashtra, 3,070 were of thefts.

The state’s contribution to the thefts in the country last year was 21.5%.

According to the police, they are taking steps to curb incidents of thefts on trains.

In October 2012, the Kurla GRP had arrested a former bar dancer who took to thefts and earned enough to send one of her daughters to a Panchganibased boarding school.

Yasmin Shaikh, 26,the accused, was booked in 18 cases in the past.

“The railway police personnel constantly patrol railway stations and local trains. Closed circuit television cameras, too, have been put up, making it difficult for criminals to escape,” said a senior official from the Mumbai GRP, on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

According to the statistics, 513 cases of robberies were registered with the Maharashtra GRP last year, apart from 88 cases of assault and seven cases of causing death due to negligence.

“Compared to 2011, there has been a 2.5% drop in the number of cases registered by the Maharashtra GRP in 2012. While 4,168 cases were registered in 2011, 4,062 cases were registered last year. The number was 3,896 in 2010,” said another official.

Prabhat Kumar, commissioner for GRP Mumbai, said, “Despite witnessing some serious incidents of crime against women in the recent past, the railway authorities are not taking enough measures.”

“A proposal of deploying 100 women police constables needs urgent approval from the railway authorities, but has been pending with them since almost a year,” said Kumar.

New Delhi: One of the best ways to see India is to undertake a train journey, and the Shatabdi Express - the heart of Indian railways - is one such rail network that offers one of the best options for domestic travellers, says travel guide book Lonely Planet.

After enabling curious Indian travellers to experience the world via outbound travel guides specifically designed for Indian travellers last year, Lonely Planet is exploring the domestic Indian market with its new series of 'pocket travel guides'.

The first in the series of pocket books titled, "Holidays by Shatabdi" was recently launched in the capital as a guide to destinations easily reachable by Shatabdi from Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai being next in the series.
"After the launch of our Lonely Planet for the Indian Traveller series last year and Short Escapes travel guides series in March 2013, we decided to tap those tourists who use the services of Shatabdi Express to travel to destinations in the sub-continent," says Sesh Sheshadri, General Manager, Lonely Planet India.

"Shatabdi Express being one of the most popular trains in this genre was first on our mind when we decided to come out with a guide for train travellers.'Holidays by Shatabdi' enables travellers to make the most of their trips by visiting destinations near the city. The first in the series is for travellers who board Shatabdi from Delhi," he added.

Also on the agenda are a set of books that can take the cinema loving tourist to places inside the country that have a Bollywood connection.

"The 'Bollywood Escape' series will focus on places which are known for some bollywood connection, be it a shooting spot for any movie or something other," Sheshadri told PTI.

According to him, whenever we think about luxury travelling from Indian railways the international tourists zero down on options like Deccan Queen, Maharaja Express or Palace on wheels.

"But we cannot ignore the domestic travellers for whom Shatabdi can also be an option for luxury and comfortable travelling, " he said adding, "the domestic market is much bigger considering the number of Indian rail travellers every year and hence our effort is to provide the travellers, the benefit of travelling with authentic information.
The guide being pocket size is a quick read for anyone on the go and enables travellers to make the most of their time by exploring destinations close to Delhi. The travel guide lists all the must see tourist destinations with comprehensive details about places to stay, food, and shopping.

Priced at Rs. 140 each, the guide also features value-for-money suggestions for travellers along with expert travel tips and advice. It gives a detailed picture of fun filled activities for all interests and age groups.

Compiled by a team of five travel writers including Juhi Saklani, Karuna Ezara Parikh, Parvati Sharma, Puneetinder Kaur Sindhu and Sarah Islam, the guides are produced in full colour and packed with photographs to inspire the readers to pack up their bags and board Shatabdi.

Indian Railways Undertakes Comprehensive Revision of its Refund Rules

The 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 asComputerised 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.....

see more ....

With highest number of cases registered in 2012, Maharashtra topped the list of most unsafe states for railway commuters in the country.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 4,062 cases were registered by the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Maharashtra in 2012.

While Uttar Pradesh stood second with 2,782 cases, Bihar secured the third position with 2,222 cases.

The GRP in Tripura, meanwhile, registered only 10 cases last year, the lowest in the country.

Of the 4,062 cases registered in Maharashtra, 3,070 were of thefts.

The state’s contribution to the thefts in the country last year was 21.5%.

According to the police, they are taking steps to curb incidents of thefts on trains.

In October 2012, the Kurla GRP had arrested a former bar dancer who took to thefts and earned enough to send one of her daughters to a Panchganibased boarding school.

Yasmin Shaikh, 26,the accused, was booked in 18 cases in the past.

“The railway police personnel constantly patrol railway stations and local trains. Closed circuit television cameras, too, have been put up, making it difficult for criminals to escape,” said a senior official from the Mumbai GRP, on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

According to the statistics, 513 cases of robberies were registered with the Maharashtra GRP last year, apart from 88 cases of assault and seven cases of causing death due to negligence.

“Compared to 2011, there has been a 2.5% drop in the number of cases registered by the Maharashtra GRP in 2012. While 4,168 cases were registered in 2011, 4,062 cases were registered last year. The number was 3,896 in 2010,” said another official.

Prabhat Kumar, commissioner for GRP Mumbai, said, “Despite witnessing some serious incidents of crime against women in the recent past, the railway authorities are not taking enough measures.”

“A proposal of deploying 100 women police constables needs urgent approval from the railway authorities, but has been pending with them since almost a year,” said Kumar.

New Delhi: One of the best ways to see India is to undertake a train journey, and the Shatabdi Express - the heart of Indian railways - is one such rail network that offers one of the best options for domestic travellers, says travel guide book Lonely Planet.

After enabling curious Indian travellers to experience the world via outbound travel guides specifically designed for Indian travellers last year, Lonely Planet is exploring the domestic Indian market with its new series of 'pocket travel guides'.

The first in the series of pocket books titled, "Holidays by Shatabdi" was recently launched in the capital as a guide to destinations easily reachable by Shatabdi from Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai being next in the series.
"After the launch of our Lonely Planet for the Indian Traveller series last year and Short Escapes travel guides series in March 2013, we decided to tap those tourists who use the services of Shatabdi Express to travel to destinations in the sub-continent," says Sesh Sheshadri, General Manager, Lonely Planet India.

"Shatabdi Express being one of the most popular trains in this genre was first on our mind when we decided to come out with a guide for train travellers.'Holidays by Shatabdi' enables travellers to make the most of their trips by visiting destinations near the city. The first in the series is for travellers who board Shatabdi from Delhi," he added.

Also on the agenda are a set of books that can take the cinema loving tourist to places inside the country that have a Bollywood connection.

"The 'Bollywood Escape' series will focus on places which are known for some bollywood connection, be it a shooting spot for any movie or something other," Sheshadri told PTI.

According to him, whenever we think about luxury travelling from Indian railways the international tourists zero down on options like Deccan Queen, Maharaja Express or Palace on wheels.

"But we cannot ignore the domestic travellers for whom Shatabdi can also be an option for luxury and comfortable travelling, " he said adding, "the domestic market is much bigger considering the number of Indian rail travellers every year and hence our effort is to provide the travellers, the benefit of travelling with authentic information.
The guide being pocket size is a quick read for anyone on the go and enables travellers to make the most of their time by exploring destinations close to Delhi. The travel guide lists all the must see tourist destinations with comprehensive details about places to stay, food, and shopping.

Priced at Rs. 140 each, the guide also features value-for-money suggestions for travellers along with expert travel tips and advice. It gives a detailed picture of fun filled activities for all interests and age groups.

Compiled by a team of five travel writers including Juhi Saklani, Karuna Ezara Parikh, Parvati Sharma, Puneetinder Kaur Sindhu and Sarah Islam, the guides are produced in full colour and packed with photographs to inspire the readers to pack up their bags and board Shatabdi.