ProUI

The CAG discovered crores of rupees vanished at the Railways due to the twin-freight policy! There is a need to be practical in plugging loopholes in freight rate, which leads to such malpractices   The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has discovered the tip of the freight iceberg when they carried out a test audit recently, according to media reports. Apparently, this has been going on for a couple of years now. Initial reports indicate that because of the existence of twin-freight rate policy, a large number of merchants have ‘managed’ to pay the lower rate on the pretext of supplies for domestic use, but actually used it for export shipments! The Railways charge lower rate for transportation of iron ore to domestic steel makers, and a much higher rate (three times actually) for export cargo. Incredible! India, at its worst!   This has been done without supplying mandatory documents, such as affidavits and indemnity bonds. According to CAG test audit, the recoverable freight dues, for actual export shipments effected, is estimated at Rs17,000 crore, which they suspect could be much more.   At the moment, multiple agencies of the Central Bureau of Investigation are working on this fraud on under invoiced freight (difference between export and domestic rates) that may show the recoverable freight could be in excess of Rs50,000 crore when the investigations are completed.   How the merchants of iron ore managed to get rakes and despatch the goods to its destination is a mystery and one can only surmise that this mammoth operation involving some 400 rakes, without ‘insider’ help, is just not possible.   CAG preliminary report indicates that a minimum of 126 parties obtained the rakes, without the proper documents and managed to lift and despatch the ore. This is only possible, thanks to the unstinted co-operation extended by railway staff in getting rake allocation, loading at site and moving the ore to its port destination for onward shipments.   Obviously, the whole bunch of staff at the port, from entry point to inspection, loading and verification of the required export documents have been in cahoots with merchants, for this to happen.   The CBI has been carrying out the investigations for sometimes now, and it will be a few months more before their findings are made public. CAG officials are firmly of the opinion that without the connivance of railway administration and the port staff, movement of such large quantity of ore is not possible.   At the moment, there is no export, due to the ban, but given the present state of affairs in relation to extremely difficult current account deficit (CAD) status, the Indian government may be forced to revive export, though the international market is also slack, but demand may begin to occur in the next few months.   Digressing for a moment, what will the CBI find? The most possible scenario is that many of the merchants may have simply vanished; companies have been sold to new owners; many may have benami owners; files and related documents missing at all important contact points and a few may eventually pay a fine or arrange for an ‘out of court’ settlement!   Railways need to pull up their socks. They need to be practical in plugging loopholes in freight rate, which leads to malpractices, such as these. First, we need to revive our export and it may be prudent to lower the transportation (freight) charges; second, our domestic industry is also in bad shape and needs revival and to encourage both to grow, why not average the freight rate so that there is no scope for this malpractice?   In addition, unless the mandatory documents are made available and bank guarantees are in place to cover the freight element, rakes should not be released and these again needs to be subject to surprise inspection and checks en-route and before entry to the prohibited port area. Such strict measures are likely to bring down the fraud that has now been discovered but the CBI must carry through their thorough investigations so that the guilty is severely punished.   (AK Ramdas has worked with the Engineering Export Promotion Council of the ministry of commerce. He was also associated with various committees of the Council. His international career took him to places like Beirut, Kuwait and Dubai at a time when these were small trading outposts; and later to the US.)

AHMEDABAD: Research Design Standard Organisation (RDSO), the research wing of Indian Railways, has cleared Jatropha bio-diesel developed by Central Salt Marine & Chemical Research Institute for field trials in locomotives."RDSO has cleared Jatropha bio-diesel of CSMCRI for field trials in locomotives. A few more approvals are required and possibly in next 3-4 months we shall commence the trials on two locomotives in Jetalsar," a Western Railway official said."During initial trials it would be 10 per cent bio-diesel and 90 per cent conventional diesel, but as we progress the bio-diesel content will be scaled up," he said.Railways use diesel-run locomotives on several routes where electric lines are yet to be laid. Jetalsar (Rajkot district) to Dhasa (Amreli district) is one such line."Laboratory tests have been conducted to test locomotives on B-100 bio-diesel (neat bio-diesel), but there are some issues with it. Hopefully once resolved, we aim to run the locomotives on hundred per cent bio-diesel," the official said.CSMCRI Director Dr Pushpito Ghosh said, "Yes, our bio-diesel has been cleared for field trials by the RDSO."Jatropha biodiesel can be produced for between Rs 45-65 per litre assuming all-inclusive dry fruit cost of Rs 8,000 per tonne," an institute official said.Earlier, the institute's US patented technology to extract bio-diesel from Jatropha was successfully adopted by Vehicle Research Development Establishment, a defence laboratory in Ahmednagar to run a few vehicles on this environment-friendly fuel.

The CAG discovered crores of rupees vanished at the Railways due to the twin-freight policy! There is a need to be practical in plugging loopholes in freight rate, which leads to such malpractices   The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has discovered the tip of the freight iceberg when they carried out a test audit recently, according to media reports. Apparently, this has been going on for a couple of years now. Initial reports indicate that because of the existence of twin-freight rate policy, a large number of merchants have ‘managed’ to pay the lower rate on the pretext of supplies for domestic use, but actually used it for export shipments! The Railways charge lower rate for transportation of iron ore to domestic steel makers, and a much higher rate (three times actually) for export cargo. Incredible! India, at its worst!   This has been done without supplying mandatory documents, such as affidavits and indemnity bonds. According to CAG test audit, the recoverable freight dues, for actual export shipments effected, is estimated at Rs17,000 crore, which they suspect could be much more.   At the moment, multiple agencies of the Central Bureau of Investigation are working on this fraud on under invoiced freight (difference between export and domestic rates) that may show the recoverable freight could be in excess of Rs50,000 crore when the investigations are completed.   How the merchants of iron ore managed to get rakes and despatch the goods to its destination is a mystery and one can only surmise that this mammoth operation involving some 400 rakes, without ‘insider’ help, is just not possible.   CAG preliminary report indicates that a minimum of 126 parties obtained the rakes, without the proper documents and managed to lift and despatch the ore. This is only possible, thanks to the unstinted co-operation extended by railway staff in getting rake allocation, loading at site and moving the ore to its port destination for onward shipments.   Obviously, the whole bunch of staff at the port, from entry point to inspection, loading and verification of the required export documents have been in cahoots with merchants, for this to happen.   The CBI has been carrying out the investigations for sometimes now, and it will be a few months more before their findings are made public. CAG officials are firmly of the opinion that without the connivance of railway administration and the port staff, movement of such large quantity of ore is not possible.   At the moment, there is no export, due to the ban, but given the present state of affairs in relation to extremely difficult current account deficit (CAD) status, the Indian government may be forced to revive export, though the international market is also slack, but demand may begin to occur in the next few months.   Digressing for a moment, what will the CBI find? The most possible scenario is that many of the merchants may have simply vanished; companies have been sold to new owners; many may have benami owners; files and related documents missing at all important contact points and a few may eventually pay a fine or arrange for an ‘out of court’ settlement!   Railways need to pull up their socks. They need to be practical in plugging loopholes in freight rate, which leads to malpractices, such as these. First, we need to revive our export and it may be prudent to lower the transportation (freight) charges; second, our domestic industry is also in bad shape and needs revival and to encourage both to grow, why not average the freight rate so that there is no scope for this malpractice?   In addition, unless the mandatory documents are made available and bank guarantees are in place to cover the freight element, rakes should not be released and these again needs to be subject to surprise inspection and checks en-route and before entry to the prohibited port area. Such strict measures are likely to bring down the fraud that has now been discovered but the CBI must carry through their thorough investigations so that the guilty is severely punished.   (AK Ramdas has worked with the Engineering Export Promotion Council of the ministry of commerce. He was also associated with various committees of the Council. His international career took him to places like Beirut, Kuwait and Dubai at a time when these were small trading outposts; and later to the US.)

VADODARA: Lord Ganesha - the remover of obstacles - seems to have removed obstacles along communal lines at Godhra's railway institute. A member of the minority community at the institute has been at the forefront of organizing the Ganpati festivities for over a decade.From procurement of the idol to organizing events - Siraj Ansari has been neck deep in preparations for the festival for 15 years now. Ansari took over the reins of the institute as its secretary in 1997 and since then has been actively involved in organizing the festival.Ansari said that the committee for the Western Railway Institute at Godhra organizes a series of events including festivals, sports meets, cultural programmes and others. "The Ganpati festivities are one of the important events that we have been organizing since 1942," Ansari says.Besides organizing the event, Ansari is also well acquainted with the history of the Ganpati pandals in Godhra. "In 1942, when the festivities started, it was held only at our place, state reserve police group here, civil lines and police lines. My father also followed the festival keenly and told me about its background in the town," he said. Ansari says that the railways were a melting pot of all religions and communities. "There is a spirit of unity. When I need help or leaves for my festivals or functions, all officers and colleagues send me," he said.

Ansari pointed out that as an organizer, he ensured that interesting competitions and cultural events were held during the festival. "Children and families of employees enjoy these events.

For us Indians all festivals are alike. My organizing the festivities should not come as a surprise," he said.

CHENNAI: With festival season round the corner, the railways are hunting for coaches and loco pilots to run special trains. As there is a shortage of loco pilots, loco pilots who drive passenger trains and occasionally goods train drivers are assigned to special trains.Southern Railway is short of coaches and loco pilots because the centralised system of allott has not helped many zones meet the demand for new and special trains. Sources said that "instructions have been given to maximise utilisation of rakes to operate as many special trains as possible during the festival season on popular routes. But, there is a 13% shortage of experienced loco pilots."Rakes of trains that are operated only once or twice a week are also used as specials to Madurai or Coimbatore. Such rakes are also used to operate daytime special trains.However, shortage of assistant loco pilots and loco pilots is a stumbling block before running specials. "A few loco pilots who operate goods trains are being used to run special trains from Egmore. This can be a safety risk because express trains run at 110km per hour while goods trains are run at a maximum speed of 70km per hour," said an official.The sequence of postings and promotions designed to help a recruit gain experience is also violated to meet demand for manpower. A fresher is posted as assistant loco pilot on a goods train, then to assistant in passenger trains, and then promoted as a loco pilot and is posted to drive a shunting loco. After gaining experience driving a shunting loco at slow speed, the loco pilot is posted to run passenger trains and mail or express trains.

Southern Railway chief public relations officer D Lakshmanan said that "a special train is operated only if we have adequate loco pilot and coaches. If we do not have them, trains are not operated." It takes more than a year for fresh recruits to join duty. "Those who were selected in 2011 have just started to join. Many leave during training because of poor pay (5,830 plus 1,900) and inconvenient nature of duty," said an official.

The training period has been reduced from 52 weeks to 17 weeks so that fresh recruits can join duty quickly. All India Loco Running Staff Association has demanded that recruitments should be held every year so that shortage of staff will not impact passenger safety.

CHENNAI: With festival season round the corner, the railways are hunting for coaches and loco pilots to run special trains. As there is a shortage of loco pilots, loco pilots who drive passenger trains and occasionally goods train drivers are assigned to special trains.Southern Railway is short of coaches and loco pilots because the centralised system of allott has not helped many zones meet the demand for new and special trains. Sources said that "instructions have been given to maximise utilisation of rakes to operate as many special trains as possible during the festival season on popular routes. But, there is a 13% shortage of experienced loco pilots."Rakes of trains that are operated only once or twice a week are also used as specials to Madurai or Coimbatore. Such rakes are also used to operate daytime special trains.However, shortage of assistant loco pilots and loco pilots is a stumbling block before running specials. "A few loco pilots who operate goods trains are being used to run special trains from Egmore. This can be a safety risk because express trains run at 110km per hour while goods trains are run at a maximum speed of 70km per hour," said an official.The sequence of postings and promotions designed to help a recruit gain experience is also violated to meet demand for manpower. A fresher is posted as assistant loco pilot on a goods train, then to assistant in passenger trains, and then promoted as a loco pilot and is posted to drive a shunting loco. After gaining experience driving a shunting loco at slow speed, the loco pilot is posted to run passenger trains and mail or express trains.

Southern Railway chief public relations officer D Lakshmanan said that "a special train is operated only if we have adequate loco pilot and coaches. If we do not have them, trains are not operated." It takes more than a year for fresh recruits to join duty. "Those who were selected in 2011 have just started to join. Many leave during training because of poor pay (5,830 plus 1,900) and inconvenient nature of duty," said an official.

The training period has been reduced from 52 weeks to 17 weeks so that fresh recruits can join duty quickly. All India Loco Running Staff Association has demanded that recruitments should be held every year so that shortage of staff will not impact passenger safety.

Thiruvananthapuram :  The Kerala Railway Police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) will formally take up the matter of COTPA compliance in railway stations with the divisional railway authorities. Railway Superintendent of Police Ch.Nagaraju and Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF Rajnish Kumar Tripathi jointly took this decision after a sensitisation session on the Indian tobacco control law, COTPA, 2003.The hour-long sensitisation programme, facilitated by Tobacco Free Kerala – a coalition of like-minded organisations chaired by Hon’ble Kerala Health Minister VS Sivakumar and driven by Regional Cancer Centre here – not just exposed implementing officials to the various sections of COTPA but also drove home the manifold hardships caused due to tobacco use.Retd. DySP Adv K Mohana Kumar who handled the session began by explaining the physical harms caused from tobacco use. The nicotine residue from a popular brand of cigarette is potent enough to kill upto seven people when injected into the blood stream. Users of chewing tobacco products such as pan masala and gutkha, over time, lose sense of touch and taste, besides acquiring a high risk of developing painful oral cancers, he explained.The next part of the presentation featured explanations on the various COTPA sections and the punitive measures prescribed for violation of each.

Section 4 of COTPA prohibits smoking in all public places; acts of violation will invite a fine up to Rs 200. Public places have also to put up mandatory signages stating “No Smoking Area – Smoking Here is an Offence”. Such boards of no less than 60 cm by 30 cm should be put up at the entrance of the public place and at conspicuous places inside.

Public conveyances, railway stations, railway waiting rooms, refreshment rooms and the like have been included under the list of public places under Section 4.

Section 5 prohibits all forms of tobacco advertisements; Section 6 prohibits sale of tobacco products to and by minors – sale of tobacco products within a 100-yard (91.4 metres) radius of an educational institution is prohibited. Section 7 requires statutory health warnings in all tobacco products’ packages.

Under COTPA, police officers not below the rank of Sub-Inspector of Police are authorised to take action against violations on its various sections. Moreover, railway authorities includingStation Master, Assistant Station Master, Station Head, Station-in-charge, Travelling Ticket Examiner, Chief Ticket Inspectors, Ticket Collector and officers not below the rank of Asst Sub-Inspector of RPF are empowered for implementing Section 4 of COTPA, the participants were told.

Making his observations, Nagaraju said, “We recently conducted a shadow inspection of Trivandrum Railway Station for any smoking violations, and encouragingly could not detect even a single instance. We will however keep up our vigil and will also make formal requests to Divisional Railway Managers to have COTPA mandated signages installed in railway stations.”

Video documentaries of tobacco victims made by RCC recounting their experiences and making an emotional appeal to give up all forms of tobacco use were also aired during the session. One video featured a young man whose tongue had to be partly removed following oral cancer; even with the best of treatment he had to face a premature death.

As many as 30 implementing officials of Kerala Railway Police and Railway Protection Force participated in the session, in which  Rajnish and S Sanal Kumar, DySP Administration, Kerala Railway Police also spoke.

छपरा : रेल बजट ने सारण की रेल परियोजनाओं का चक्का जाम करके रख दिया है। सात वर्ष पूर्व तत्कालीन रेलमंत्री लालू प्रसाद के कार्यकाल में करीब दर्जन भर से अधिक रेल परियोजनाएं शुरू की गई थी। लेकिन बजट नहीं मिलने के कारण यहां की अधिकांश रेल परियोजनाएं ठप हो गई है।
वहीं छपरा-थावे रेलखंड का आमान परिवर्तन करने के लिए वर्ष 2003 में तत्कालीन रेलमंत्री नीतीश कुमार ने छपरा में शिलान्यास किया था। लेकिन आजतक अमान परिवर्तन का कार्य पूरा नहीं हुआ। इसमें भी राशि की कमी आड़े आ गई।
लालू प्रसाद जब रेलमंत्री बने तो उन्होंने सारण में दर्जन भर रेल परियोजनाएं शुरू करने की घोषणा की। रेल बजट में पास भी हो गया। रेलवे बोर्ड ने परियोजनाओं के लिए राशि भी आवंटित कर दी। लेकिन ये परियोजनाएं अब राशि के अभाव में ठप हो गई।
छपरा रेल चक्का कारखाना का शिलान्यास वर्ष 2005 में हुआ था। इसी प्रकार मढ़ौरा में डीजल रेल इंजन कारखाना के लिए लालू प्रसाद ने शिलान्यास किया था। लेकिन यह मामला भी अभी पेंडिंग में है। भूमि अधिग्रहण का कार्य भी पूरा नहीं हुआ है।
छपरा-मुजफ्फरपुर नई बड़ी रेलवे लाइन के लिए भूमि अधिग्रहण का कार्य राशि के अभाव में ठप पड़ा हुआ है। सोनपुर में डेमू शेड का निर्माण कार्य ठप हो गया है। सोनपुर में बैगन कारखाना निर्माण के लिए भूमि अधिग्रहण का कार्य ठप है। इसी प्रकार गड़खा में बैगन पुननिर्माण कारखाना के लिए शिलान्यास किया गया था। लेकिन यह धरातल पर नहीं उतर सका।
महाराजगंज-मशरक नई रेललाइन तथा मशरक-रेवाघाट नई रेललाइन निर्माण का कार्य राशि के अभाव में ठप पड़ा हुआ है। छपरा से गोरखपुर के बीच दोहरीकरण एवं विद्युतीकरण का कार्य कछुआ की गति से चल रहा है।
दीघा-सोनपुर रेल पुल के लिए पर्याप्त मात्रा में राशि नहीं मिलने के कारण यह परियोजना पूरी नहीं हो पा रही है। लालू प्रसाद ने छपरा से आरा के बीच नई रेललाइन बनाने के लिए रेल बजट में घोषणा की थी। लेकिन यह घोषणा तक ही सीमित रह गया।
सूत्रों की माने तो रेलवे बोर्ड के आदेशानुसार ही परियोजनाओं पर कार्य किया जाता है। राशि आवंटित नहीं होने के कारण परियोजनाएं समय पर पूरी नहीं हो रही। जितनी राशि मिलती है उसके अनुसार कार्य होता है। लालू प्रसाद के रेलमंत्री पद से हटने के बाद दूसरे रेलमंत्री ने इन परियोजनाओं पर विशेष दिलचस्पी नहीं ली।
छपरा रेल चक्का कारखाना में 90 प्रतिशत कार्य हो चुका हैं। चक्का बनाने का टेस्ट भी हो चुका। लेकिन इसके उद्घाटन का मामला रेलवे बोर्ड के पास है। उद्घाटन के बाद इसे शुरू करने के लिए राशि चाहिए, लेकिन राशि नहीं मिलने के कारण उद्घाटन करने में विलंब हो रही है।
इस संबंध में पूर्व मध्य रेलवे के मुख्य जनसंपर्क अधिकारी ने बताया कि सभी परियोजनाओं पर कार्य चल रहा है। कुछ परियोजनाएं पूरी भी हो गई हैं। भूमि अधिग्रहण का कार्य जिला प्रशासन को करना है। भूमि अधिग्रहण के बाद कार्य प्रारंभ कर दिया जाएगा।

Rajbhasha Week Celebrations-2013 has begun today (10thSeptember, 2013) in South Central Railway.  Sri Laxman Shivhare, Senior Rajbhasha Adhikari, while addressing the gathering said that Hindi was adopted as official language of the Union of India o­n 14th September, 1949. To mark this memorable event, Hindi Week is celebrated o­n this railway every year from 10th to 16th September  and Hindi Day is celebrated every year o­n 14th September, he added. Various programmes in Hindi are conducted to reiterate the importance of official language during this week.The inaugural day programmes included Hindi Shrutlekhan, Hindi Typing and Hinid Quiz competitions.  Hindi Quiz programme included questions from various fields such as general knowledge, Constitutional provisions for Rajbhasha, Railways, Health, Environment, Science etc. Spot cash awards were given away to the winners.  Officers and  employees have participated in large number with great enthusiasm. Hindi Geet Antakshari programme will be organised at various levels from 11th September  2013 o­nwards. The valedictory function will be held o­n 16 September, 2013.

पंजाब से आईआरसीटीसी की पहली पर्यटन रेल 15 सिंतबर को अमृतसर से गोवा के लिए सुबह रवाना होगी। इसमें स्लीपर क्लास का चार्टड कोच होगा, जिसमें 70 पर्यटक अमृतसर टू गोवा के दर्शनीय स्थलों को पर्यटन का लुत्फ उठाएंगे। यह जानकारी आईआरसीटीसी अधिकारी शुभम आर्य ने दी।
उन्होंने बताया कि इसमें यात्रा के लिए प्रति व्यक्ति साढ़े दस हजार, डबल को सत्रह हजार तीन सौ और तीन लोगों के ग्रुप को पचीस हजार तीन सौ पचास रुपए देने होंगे। इसमें दो रात का स्टे गोवा के किसी भी थ्री स्टार रिसोर्ट में एसी डीलक्स रूप में करवाया जाएगा। पर्यटकों को यात्रा के दौरान चाय नाश्ता, लंच तथा डिनर कोच में ही सर्व किया जाएगा। 15 सितंबर को इसका पहला टूर अमृतसर से शुरू होगा, जो जालंधर, लुधियाना, अंबाला कैंट, नई दिल्ली व हजरत निजामुद्दीन से पर्यटकों को बोर्डिग सुविधा उपलब्ध करवाएगा। इनमें से किसी भी जगह से पर्यटक सवार होता है, तो उसे निर्धारित किराया देना ही होगा, उसमें कोई रियायत नहीं होगी।
उन्होंने बताया कि कोच्चिवेल्ली ट्रेन रात में मडगांव जंक्शन पहुंचेगी, रात में ही पर्यटकों को सड़क मार्ग से थ्री स्टार होटल में लाकर ठहराया जाएगा। अगली सुबह सभी पर्यटक साउथ गोवा भ्रमण पर निकलेंगे। इस दौरान डोरापाल, मीरामार बीच, ओल्ड गोवा चर्चेज बेसीलिका आफ बोम जीजस, मंगेशी मंदिर, संत दुर्गा मंदिर, अंक्रेस्टल गोवा और कोल्वा बीच आदि स्थलों का भ्रमण करवाएंगे। चौथे दिन नार्थ गोवा का भ्रमण करवाया जाएगा। इसमें फोर्ट अगुआडा, केलेंगयूट, अंजुना और वैगाटोर शामिल हैं। इसके अलावा पर्यटकों को शापिंग के लिए पंजम शहर ले जाया जाएगा, जहां अपने पैसे से शापिंग करेंगे।
उन्होंने कहा कि पर्यटक अपने खर्चे पर स्पा और आयुर्वेद मसाज का लुत्फ भी उठा सकते है। होटल में स्वीमिंग पूल, जिम, इनडोर आउटडोर रीक्रिएशन सुविधा भी उपलब्ध रहेगी। 15 सितंबर को शुरू हुई यात्रा 20 सितंबर को मीठी यादों के साथ अमृतसर में आकर संपन्न होगी। उन्होंने बताया कि बुकिंग के लिए आईआरसीटीसी की वेबसाइट व 0977240003 व 09915743856 पर संपर्क कर बर्थ बुक करवा सकते है।