ProUI

The much-awaited Hazur Sahib-Nanded Express train to link Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib here with Takht Hazur Sahib, Nanded, will start from the first week of October, local MP Ravneet Singh Bittu said on Sunday.He said the railway ministry had given its nod for starting the new train, which was announced during the railway budget this year by then railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal.Bittu thanked railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge and Bansal for respecting the feeling of the people of Punjab.He said the new train would highly benefit the people of Punjab. Presently, Sachkhand Express runs between Amritsar and Nanded, but for getting a seat on this train, one needs to book a seat around three months in advance.

यात्रियों की शिकायत के बावजूद रेलवे की खानपान व्यवस्था में कोई सुधार नहीं हो रहा। काशी विश्वनाथ एक्सप्रेस में बासी खाना परोसने का विरोध करने पर पेंट्रीकार मैनेजर अभद्रता पर उतर आया। इसके भड़के यात्रियों ने जमकर हंगामा किया।
नई दिल्ली से वाराणसी जा रही ट्रेन काशी विश्वनाथ एक्सप्रेस के वातानुकूलित कोच ए-वन में लखनऊ निवासी विनोद मल्होत्रा यात्रा कर रहे थे। उन्होंने ट्रेन में चल रही पेंट्रीकार से पकौड़े व समोसे खरीदे। खाने पर पता चला कि दोनों आइटम बासी थे, जिनसे दुर्गध आ रही थी। इसके बाद उन्होंने वेंडर को फटकार लगाते हुए पेंट्रीकार मैनेजर को बुलाने को कहा। थोड़ी देर बाद कोच में पहुंचे मैनेजर ने श्री मल्होत्रा से अभद्रता शुरू कर दी। इस पर उन्होंने शिकायत पुस्तिका मांगी। इसके बाद पेंट्रीकार मैनेजर मारपीट पर उतारू हो गया। इसके बाद अन्य यात्री भी भड़क गए। ट्रेन के मुरादाबाद पहुंचने पर यात्रियों ने इसकी शिकायत जीआरपी से की। मौके पर पहुंची जीआरपी ने कोच कंडक्टर से यात्रियों को शिकायत पुस्तिका दिलवाई। जिस पर यात्रियों ने बासी खाना देने व शिकायत पर अभद्रता करने का मामला दर्ज किया है। इसके बाद यात्री शांत हुए। इस संबंध में एडीआरएम हितेंद्र मल्होत्रा ने बताया कि संबंधित मामले की शिकायत लखनऊ मंडल के सीनियर डीसीएम तक पहुंच गई है, कार्रवाई भी वहीं से होगी।
पहले भी हो चुका है बवाल
कुछ माह पूर्व काशी विश्वनाथ एक्सप्रेस में ही बासी खाने को लेकर यात्रियों ने हंगामा किया था। इस मामले में पेंट्रीकार मैनेजर कोच में ताला डालकर फरार हो गया था। जिसके बाद रेलकर्मियों ने ताला तोड़कर खानपान के नमूने लिए थे। इस मामले में आरोपी मैनेजर को हटा दिया गया। मगर कुछ ही समय बाद अफसरों से साठगांठ कर दोबारा उसी मैनेजर को पेंट्रीकार में तैनाती मिल गई।

NAGPUR: Even as Nagpur Central Railway claimed its earnings have gone up despite the Sindi Railway tragedy that disrupted train traffic for six days between July 19 and 25, information sought under the RTI Act reveals that railway earnings have taken a beating under all heads.

Central Railway PRO P D Patil last month issued a release claiming that washing away of tracks in Sindi Railway did not hit its revenue and during the last four months (April to July 2013), it earned 797.92 crore as compared to 796.78 crore last year. This was 1.14 crore more as compared to last year during the same period.

Every month, Central Railway reviews its earning performance. After railways' claimed of better performance in July, city-based RTI activist Avinash Prabhune filed a query. The activist says figures actually are at downside. "The marginal rise in revenue which you see is due to a hike in freight and passenger fares," says Prabhune. He had sought information about comparative performance of July 2012 & 2013, and April-July 2012 & April-July 2013 on various parameters including the following.

Loading: Figures show that in July 2013, loading declined to 1.730 million tonnes (MT) against 2.28 MT in July 2012. This is 25% decline as compared to last year. Subsequently, revenue declined to 120.56 crore in the same month this year from 145.17 crore last year. The fall was 17% than last year.

Passenger revenue: In July 2013, due to Sindi Railway tragedy, number of passengers declined to 25.80 lakh from 28.10 lakh in July 2012. This was a loss of 2.3 lakh passengers (10%).

"With more and more people preferring railways, passenger decline is unexpected," says Prabhune. This also affected revenue in July 2013. It declined to 27.69 crore from 27.73 crore last year.

"Although 10% less passengers travelled, the loss of revenue was low due to increase in fares," said Prabhune.

Gross earning: In July 2013, the gross earning too declined to 148.81 crore from 179.02 crore last year.

This was less by 30 crore as compared to last year.

Working expenses: Expenditure on this count in July 2013, was 102.24 crore, whereas in July 2012, it was 91.51 crore. The data also reveals that equipment failures were more in the same month as compared to that during last year.

Ticket checking: The railway registered 15,167 cases earning 61.10 lakh in July 2013. However, last year it registered 14,563 cases with a revenue of 60.04 lakh.

Prabhune says it extremely strange that only over 15,000 cases (less than 1%) were registered as against 25.80 lakh passengers who travelled.

"It shows that Central Railway has to work hard on this count as there is huge potential to stop irregularities by improving ticket checking performance. While issuing the release, these facts were hidden. The credit for marginal revenue hike goes to railway minister," argues Prabhune.

Punctuality: This is the most important aspect of the railways, but due to Sindi calamity, against the benchmark target of 97%, in July 2013, it was 91%. On the other hand, it was 97.1% in July 2012.

With rain fury hitting Central Railway twice - disrupting traffic in Sindi and Barbatpur consequently, officials themselves admit it would be difficult to make up the losses sustained during the two tragedies.

Two new trains, the Nanded Express and Shirdi Express, that will pass from Chandigarh will be flagged off next month. According to an announcement by local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal on Sunday, the Nanded Express will be flagged off on October 3 at 7 pm and the Shirdi Express on October 6 at 7.40 pm.The Nangal Dam- Anandpur Sahib-Chandigarh-Hazur Sahib (Nanded) Express will be a weekly train, which will stop at Mohali apart from Chandigarh. Meanwhile, the Kalka-Shirdi Express will be a bi-weekly train. Both trains were part of the budget announcements, which witnessed many trains being announced to religious places.Also, Bansal announced the Chandigarh-Kochuveli Express, a weekly train would soon be bi-weekly.The Chandigarh-Kochuveli train, known as Kerela Sampark Kranti Express, starts every Wednesday and reaches Trivandrum on Saturday.Benny Thomas, a co-ordinating member of Kerela confederation said, "It's been over seven years that the Kerela Kranti Express was extended to Chandigarh to meet the demands of people from Punjab and Haryana. But since then the train has been running once a week. It will be a great help for all of us if the train starts running twice a week."

On the occasion of Budhwa Mangal, the authorities of North Central Railways have decided to give some trains halt at the Panki railway station. This is being done to provide the devotees a chance to get down at the Panki station from where they can easily reach the famous Panki temple on Tuesday-the day when Budhwa Mangal will be celebrated.

इलाहाबाद : रविवार को कानपुर में डाउन लाइन में ट्रेन की चपेट में आए जानवर की चपेट में आने के बाद रूट बाधित हो गया। इससे कानपुर से इलाहाबाद की ओर आने वाली ट्रेन घंटों देरी से आयीं।

देरी से आने वाली गाड़ियों में प्रयागराज एक्सप्रेस ढाई घंटे, संगम एक्सप्रेस 6 घंटे, सीमांचल एक्सप्रेस 5 घंटे, ब्रह्मापुत्र मेल 3 घंटे, पुरुषोत्तम एक्सप्रेस 3 घंटे, इंटरसिटी 3 घंटे, स्वतंत्रता संग्राम सेनानी 4 घंटे, मगध एक्सप्रेस 4 घटे, मथुरा-इलाहाबाद एक्सप्रेस 4 घंटे, झारखंड एक्सप्रेस 4 घंटे, सम्पर्क क्रांति एक्सप्रेस 3 घंटे, शिवगंगा एक्सप्रेस 5 घंटे, लालकिला 4 घंटे और जनता एक्सप्रेस 7 घंटे शामिल हैं। वहीं, देरी के चलते मेरठ को जाने वाली संगम एक्सप्रेस रविवार को करीब तीन घंटे की देरी से रात 10 बजे रवाना हुई।

Kolkata, Sept 15 (IBNS): Eastern Railway on Sunday announced that it has provided a series of new train services, completed different projects and made significant improvements in train movements for the benefit of both long distance and suburban passengers this year.

Meeting the demand of the local passengers, Barddhaman-Balgona section having a stretch of 25.01 km has been converted from Narrow Gauge to Broad Gauge and regular EMU train services on this section are on.

For more effective train movement, a total of 141.48 km different single line sections have been converted to double line including Barasat-Sondalia, Chandpara-Bongaon, Ghutiari Sharif-Canning, Krishnanagar-Dhubulia,Ambika Kalna-Dhatrigram etc.

A total of 122.81 km new railway tracks have been opened on areas where previously there were no train services like Rampurhat-Pinargoria, Talpur-Arambag, Gokulnagar-Maynapur Halt etc. This will undoubtably help the people of these areas to avail speedy communication facilities.

For the benefit of suburban passengers, 56 additional services of 12- coach EMU trains have been made.

This year railway introduced five weekly new Mail/Express trains for important destinations including Howrah-Lalkuan Express, Asansol-Chennai Express, Barrackpore-Azamgarh Express, Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Express, Kolkata- Dibrugarh Express.

Additional coaches have been attached to thee important Mail/Express trains including one AC 3 tier coach in Sealdah Rajdhani Express (12313/12314). Frequency of three Mail/Express trains is made daily including Howrah-Malda Town Express.

Moreover, three Express trains are upgraded to Superfast trains including Sealdah- Rampurhat Express (12373/12374), Sealdah-Asansol Intercity Express (12383/12384), Howrah-Dhanbad Black Diamond Express (22387/22388).

BHOPAL: Now one can drive up to the platform and board the coach of Bhopal-New Delhi Shatabdi Express at the Bhopal railway station. The drive-in facility at platform no. 6 at the state has become operational on Saturday.In fact, Bhopal has become third city in the country with the facility of a drive-in platform after Kolkata and Mumbai.With the drive-in facility passengers boarding and alighting Shatabdi Express will now be spared from the trouble of jostling through the rush and using the foot-over-bridge to catch the train.Among other trains, Shatabdi Express would now originate and depart from this platform.Urban administration minister Babulal Gaur and Member of Parliament Kailash Joshi dedicated the platform to the people at a simple function organised at Bhopal railway station.Constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore, the 720 meter stretch of platform no. 6 has five water stands with 10 bench facilities.Addressing the gathering Gaur said, "Efforts are being made to provide best facilities at both Bhopal and Habibganj railway stations. Drive-in platform is in the series of those efforts."The drive-in platform was sanctioned in the 2011-12 rail budget. Some work like over-shed, building construction are yet to be completed. Bhopal divisional railway manager, west -central railways Rajeev Chaudhary said all work will be completed in the next one year. Besides, no construction would be made on the ground floor of platform number 6.

"Its first floor will have railway waiting room, rest room and cafeteria among others," he said.

Presiding over the function, Member of Parliament from Bhopal Kailash Joshi urged the railway ministry to start double-decker train between Bhopal and Indore as early as possible," he said.

Union Minister of State for Labour Kodikunnil Suresh on Saturday flagged off the Punalur-Guruvayur train at the Punalur railway station.The train was given a rousing reception at all the railway stations on the Punalur-Kollam section. Mr. Suresh also travelled in the train up to the Kollam railway station.While addressing a gathering at the Punalur station shortly before flagging off the train, Mr. Suresh said that when the gauge conversion work on the Punalur-Shengottai section was completed and commissioned, the train would be extended to Madurai.He said the service was launched after a wait of more than four years.The train had 12 coaches, which would be increased to 24 coaches in due course, he said. Mr. Suresh said that a diesel multiple unit service on the Punalur-Kollam section would be launched shortly. A scheme for obtaining allocation for electrification of the section in the next Railway Budget would soon be prepared, he said.The Minister called upon the Railway authorities to extend the Kollam-Punalur services to Thiruvananthapuram.He also said that he would take up with the Centre the issue of allocating more funds for the Punalur-Shengottai gauge conversion work. N. Peethambara Kurup and K.N. Balagopal, MPs; K. Raju, MLA; district panchayat president S. Jayamohan; and Punalur Municipal Chairperson Gracy John spoke.

इलाहाबाद। इलाहाबाद की तरफ आ रही जनसाधारण एक्सप्रेस की चपेट में भैंस के आने से रविवार को कानपुर-इलाहाबाद रेलमार्ग पर ट्रेनों का आवागमन चार घंटे तक बाधित रहा। इस वजह से इलाहाबाद आने वाली तमाम ट्रेनें घंटों विलंबित हो गई। शनिवार की रात एक बजे कानपुर से जनसाधारण इलाहाबाद के लिए चली। इसी बीच चंदारी रेलवे स्टेशन के पास एक भैंस ट्रेन की चपेट में आ गई। इससे ट्रेन के इंजन खराब हो गया और वह बीच रास्ते खड़ी हो गई। इस वजह से दिल्ली से इलाहाबाद की ओर आ रही तमाम ट्रेनें पीछे के रेलवे स्टेशनों पर रोक ली गई। काफी मशक्कत के बाद सुबह साढ़े चार बजे के आसपास ही डाउन लाइन पर ट्रेनों का आवागमन शुरू हो सका। चार घंटे तक रूट बाधित होने की वजह से इलाहाबाद पहुंचने वाली एक दर्जन से ज्यादा ट्रेनें घंटों विलंबित हो गई। प्रयागराज एक्सप्रेस भी सुबह 9.30 बजे के बाद ही इलाहाबाद पहुुंच सकी। इसके अलावा रीवां सुपरफास्ट, लिच्छवी, शिवगंगा, संगम, मगध, स्वतंत्रता सेनानी समेत कई ट्रेनें घंटों देरी से इलाहाबाद पहुंची। लेट आने की वजह से आज संगम भी दोपहर बाद ही इलाहाबाद पहुंच सकी। इस वजह से शाम को संगम अपने निर्धारित समय 5.45 की बजाय रात 10 बजे ही इलाहाबाद से रवाना हो सकी।