ProUI

Vehicular traffic on the Thanthimara Street came to a standstill after the railway gatekeeper, R.S. Mariappan, who was drunk, did not open the railway gate for more than half an hour in Virudhunagar on Friday evening.Railway sources said that road users, who lost patience after waiting for the passage of a goods train, called the Virudhunagar Station Manager, the Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF).Station Manager R. Sethuraman, who went to the railway gate, found Mariappan lying on the ground and talked incoherently. He was handed over to the Railway Protection Force and a reliever was posted to operate the gate. Railway sources said that Mariappan was placed under suspension.

(EFFECTIVE FROMIst JULY 2013.)

Bangalore : As Indian railways entered its 160th year, southern western railway organized a photo exhibition showcasing rare moments of the railway journey and putting it on display in southern India's Bangalore city. The photographs were put on display after a careful selection and consideration from the archives of Indian railways, to treat the eyes of railway fans. More than 100 rare photographs were displayed in the exhibition, reviving the nostalgia of passengers with ancient trains, engine and political dignitaries like Mahatma Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi making their journeys. The photographs were divided into different varieties and according to the era. Meanwhile, railway authorities claimed that the exposition portrayed the journey of Indian railways. This exposition would be held all over India, educating people about the importance of the Indian railways. The photographs, which encompassed all the fundamental aspects of the railways, spoke of a long gone era, credited with enhancing the present.

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation on Saturday invited people to design logo for the metro rail in the city. It also announced Rs 20,000 award for the best designed logo. The decision has been taken to ensure public participation in the metro project and to get the best possible design. RajivAgarwal, chairperson of the Metro Cell, said that while designing the logo people should keep in mind history and culture of Lucknow and also modern advancements taking place in the country. He said that the designed logo can be sent through email to cmc.lko2013@gmail.com latest by July 15. A committee will examine the entries and select the best logo, he added. The state government had on Thursday approved the first phase of metro rail project in the city. It had formed the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LMRC) to oversee the construction work. The LMRC has also been given the task to finalise the logo. The first phase of the metro will cover 23 kms in the city.

As many as 50 per cent of those screened at the free diabetes and hypertension camp for railway passengers and employees by Southern Railway at the Pettah railway station here on Friday were diagnosed with diabetes. Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Agarwal inaugurated the camp.

Vehicular traffic on the Thanthimara Street came to a standstill after the railway gatekeeper, R.S. Mariappan, who was drunk, did not open the railway gate for more than half an hour in Virudhunagar on Friday evening.Railway sources said that road users, who lost patience after waiting for the passage of a goods train, called the Virudhunagar Station Manager, the Railway Police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF).Station Manager R. Sethuraman, who went to the railway gate, found Mariappan lying on the ground and talked incoherently. He was handed over to the Railway Protection Force and a reliever was posted to operate the gate. Railway sources said that Mariappan was placed under suspension.

Southern Railway has announced that the Lalgudi–Tiruchi–Lalgudi passenger (76803/04) will be cancelled from June 30 to July 10 in view of the engineering works related to the commissioning of double line section between Valadi and Kallakudi Palanganatham, a release said.

(EFFECTIVE FROMIst JULY 2013.)

Indian Railways employees are going on a major strike in October involving about 1.4 million workers across the country, effectively sending shockwaves to a nation that has not seen any such major strike in the last four decades.The railways is the largest employer and its labour union – the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) – has asked all its 1.4 million workers to strike work seeking implementation of Pay Commission recommendations.AIRF general secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra said the government has failed on its commitments. “We believe in industrial peace, but since we are not considered relevant by the government of the day, we have been forced to show our relevance by resorting to an indefinite strike,” Mishra told ET.Last time the railways took up such major strike in 1974 led by George Fernandes who was the AIRF leader. In fact, the 1974 railway strike was a massive one that forced Indira Gandhi to declare emergency that changed the face of the country.

It remains to be seen how the constituent railway unions respond. “There will have to be a secret ballot where all employees would vote for or against the strike call,” insists Mishra about their support.

said, adding that the AIRF was confident of other unions joining its movement as they have been party to the negotiations with the government and the railway ministry on several issues which have not been resolved.

Since the Communist parties and the Bhartiya Janata Party have relative control on these unions, besides the Congress, parleys between the political parties would be crucial now to resolve the issue.

Moreover, the government can move the apex court to declare the strike void as it is an essential service and any strike that disrupts key services to the citizens can be declared illegal by the government. Even one day’s strike would mean loss of billions of rupees, besides huge dismay to millions of travellers across the country.

It appears strange that the mighty Indian Railways has decided to shoot at railway touts from the shoulders of hapless passengers. It has admitted this while issuing orders that a passenger can now get a full refund only if he/she cancels his/her ticket at least 48 hours prior to departure, against the existing 24 hours.It tries to justify the change in rules by explaining this will put curbs on touts selling cancelled tickets at black-market rates at the last moment. It will also give more decision-making time to those who need to travel at the last moment. It has announced several other changes, such as requiring that claims for refunds be made within 10 days of the train’s departure, as against the prevailing 90 days.While the Railways does have the right to frame its own rules, it seems unfair to passengers who are forced to cancel planned journeys at the last minute due to some unforeseen reasons. There seems to be no rationale even for other changes like slashing the timeframe for making refund claims. These changes smack of nothing less than the arrogance of a monopolist, as the Railways has no competition and rail travellers are a captive market as most have no other means of long-distance travel.
It would have been better if the Railways focused more on making long-distance rail travel less tedious and more pleasurable. Despite all the talk, the food and hygiene on board need considerable improvement. This is what the Railways should concentrate on.