ProUI

Alipurduar, Sept. 15: A railway axle factory that Mamata Banerjee had said would come up in New Jalpaiguri is yet to attract any private investment, minister of state for railways Adhir Chowdhury said today.
Adhir, here today to campaign for Alipurduar civic polls scheduled for September 21, said the Union railway ministry intended to execute the project in the PPP mode.
“We are aware of the axle factory project, which would be made in PPP mode. So far, we have not found any investor for it,” Chowdhury told journalists after holding a meeting with officials of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
“Other railway projects taken up earlier, like the extension of rail network on Changrabandha-Domohoni route and construction of the New Mainaguri-Jogighopa are in progress.”
The axle factory, announced by Mamata when she was the railway minister, would be the largest industrial project planned by the Centre in north Bengal if it is executed.
Back in September 2010, Mamata had laid the foundation stone for the axle factory that would be built on unused railway land near NJP railway station. The project would be executed by the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), she had said.
On January 10, 2011, a release mentioned that a MoU was signed between the railways and RINL, which is a government PSU under the ministry of steel, for setting up the factory. The Rs 300-crore project would manufacture and supply axles to meet the growing requirement of the railways.
However, Chowdhury’s statement has put a question mark on the project.
Trinamul leaders alleged that the UPA government was halting railway projects planned by Mamata with political interests.
“It is evident that the Congress, with political interests, is trying to delay or halt the projects taken up by Mamata Banerjee,” state minister Gautam Deb said.

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."

Waiting will be more comfortable for passengers at the Pune railway station as the Central Railway (CR) is renovating the three waiting rooms. The administration has also made it compulsory for passengers using these rooms to register their names with the attendant by producing identity proofs.

CR spokesperson Y K Singh said the waiting rooms will be freshly painted, get new furniture and sufficient lighting to make the stay of passengers pleasant. The three waiting rooms have a collective capacity of 120 passengers.

However, Government Railway Police (GRP) officials have been complaining that the absence of proper vigilance at the waiting rooms could pose a threat to passengers. "We have been repeatedly asking the station administration to keep a record of all passengers using the waiting rooms. We have also asked them to instal CCTV cameras in these rooms to keep an eye on the occupants," said a GRP official.

Singh said that the Railways has appointed an attendant each at the three waiting rooms and they have been told to register the details of all passengers.

Harsha Shah of the Railway Pravasi Group said the administration needs to ensure that people don't destroy the property or deface walls in the waiting rooms.

Srinagar : The Railway authorities have increased the number of coaches to cater to the heavy rush of commuters that was being witnessed after the train from Baramulla in north Kashmir was connected to Banihal in Ramban district of Jammu region.Out of three DMU (diesel multiple unit) trains that make 14 trips every day between Baramulla and Banihal, the Railways added eight new coaches to two trains.“We have added eight new coaches- four each to two trains- to cater to the heavy rush. The two trains plying in Kashmir have now got 12 coaches instead of eight to ferry passengers,” said a senior official of the Northern Railways. “These coaches were added recently and it has helped us to a large extent as the trains were frequently being stopped at various stations in Kashmir for lack of space,” he added.After the train service was connected to Banihal in June this year, many passengers used to travel on rooftops to reach their destinations as they were not able to find any space in the train. The Railways and civil authorities in Kashmir were worried over the rooftop riding.After the capacity of the trains was increased earlier this month, the Railways say nearly 15,000 commuters travel daily in the trains. Prior to the railway service upto Banihal, 9,000 commuters used to travel every day in the trains.The trains started chugging for the first time in Kashmir on October 11, 2008, and the services have been extended in three phases. The train in Kashmir has become the most popular mode of commuting after the rail link was extended up to Banihal.

दिवाळीमुळे होणारी प्रवाशांची गर्दी लक्षात घेता संत्रागाछी-लोकमान्य टिळक टर्मिनस (एलटीएस) दरम्यान १६ साप्ताहिक विशेष गाड्या नागपूरमार्गे धावणार आहेत.

या गाड्यांचा तपशील असा : ०८०६० संत्रागाछी-एलटीएस ही सुपरफास्ट विशेष गाडी संत्रागछीवरून ९ ऑक्टोबर ते २७ नोव्हेंबर या काळात दर बुधवारी (एकूण ८ फेऱ्या) सकाळी ६.०५ वाजता सुटेल व दुसऱ्या दिवशी (गुरुवारी) दुपारी १३.३५ वाजता एलटीएस येथे पोहचेल. १० ऑक्टोबर ते २८ नोव्हेंबरदरम्यान दर गुरुवारी ही गाडी नागपूरला ००.०५ वाजता येईल व ००.२५ वाजता पुढील प्रवासाला रवाना होईल.

०८०५० एलटीएस- संत्रागाछी ही सुपरफास्ट विशेष गाडी एलटीएसवरून ११ ऑक्टोबर ते २९ नोव्हेंबर या काळात दर शुक्रवारी (एकूण ८ फेऱ्या) मध्यरात्री ००.४५ वाजता सुटेल व शनिवारी सकाळी ८ वाजता संत्रागाछी येथे पोहचेल. ११ ऑक्टोबर ते २९ नोव्हेंबर दरम्यान दर शुक्रवारी ही गाडी नागपूरला १३.५० वाजता येईल व १४.०० वाजता पुढील प्रवासाला रवाना होईल.

या गाडीला खडकपूर , टाटानगर , चक्रधरपूर , राऊरकेला , झारसागुडा , बिलासपूर , रायपूर , दुर्ग , गोंदिया , नागपूर , वर्धा , बडनेरा , अकोला , भुसावळ , मनमाड , नाशिक , इगतपुरी , कल्याण या स्थानकांवर थांबा देण्यात आला आहे. या गाडीत एकूण १५ कोच आहेत. यात २ पॉवर कार , १ फर्स्ट एसी , १ वातानुकूलित पॅन्ट्री कार , १ द्वितीय वातानुकूलित , ७ तृतीय वातानुकूलित कोच आहेत. प्रवाशांनी या विशेष गाडीचा लाभ घेण्याचे आवाहन मध्य रेल्वे प्रशासनाने केले आहे.

हरिद्वार तक आने वाली सभी रेलगाड़ियों को ऋषिकेश से संचालित करने की मांग को लेकर नगर विकास मंच के एक प्रतिनिधिमंडल ने स्टेशन मास्टर के माध्यम से डीआरएम मुरादाबाद को ज्ञापन प्रेषित किया।
प्रतिनिधिमंडल के सदस्य राजेंद्र सिंह रक्खा, विनोद शर्मा ने अवगत कराया कि ऋषिकेश, चारधाम यात्रा तथा हेमकुंट साहिब की यात्रा का प्रवेश द्वार है। मगर, यहां आने वाले श्रद्धालुओं के लिए पर्याप्त यातायात सुविधाएं नहीं हैं। हरिद्वार तक पर्याप्त रेल सेवाएं हैं। मगर, वह हरिद्वार से ही वापस चली जाती हैं जिसका लाभ तीर्थयात्रियों को नहीं मिल पाता है। उन्होंने बताया कि ऋषिकेश में अखिल भारतीय आयुर्विज्ञान संस्थान का भी आरंभ हो चुका है। जिससे ऋषिकेश का महत्व और भी बढ़ गया है। प्रतिनिधिमंडल में महेश शर्मा, विवेक गोस्वामी, संदीप खुराना, राकेश थपलियाल, रणधीर सिंह, रमन जौहर, संदीप शास्त्री आदि शामिल थे।

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.

Waiting will be more comfortable for passengers at the Pune railway station as the Central Railway (CR) is renovating the three waiting rooms. The administration has also made it compulsory for passengers using these rooms to register their names with the attendant by producing identity proofs.

CR spokesperson Y K Singh said the waiting rooms will be freshly painted, get new furniture and sufficient lighting to make the stay of passengers pleasant. The three waiting rooms have a collective capacity of 120 passengers.

However, Government Railway Police (GRP) officials have been complaining that the absence of proper vigilance at the waiting rooms could pose a threat to passengers. "We have been repeatedly asking the station administration to keep a record of all passengers using the waiting rooms. We have also asked them to instal CCTV cameras in these rooms to keep an eye on the occupants," said a GRP official.

Singh said that the Railways has appointed an attendant each at the three waiting rooms and they have been told to register the details of all passengers.

Harsha Shah of the Railway Pravasi Group said the administration needs to ensure that people don't destroy the property or deface walls in the waiting rooms.

Srinagar : The Railway authorities have increased the number of coaches to cater to the heavy rush of commuters that was being witnessed after the train from Baramulla in north Kashmir was connected to Banihal in Ramban district of Jammu region.Out of three DMU (diesel multiple unit) trains that make 14 trips every day between Baramulla and Banihal, the Railways added eight new coaches to two trains.“We have added eight new coaches- four each to two trains- to cater to the heavy rush. The two trains plying in Kashmir have now got 12 coaches instead of eight to ferry passengers,” said a senior official of the Northern Railways. “These coaches were added recently and it has helped us to a large extent as the trains were frequently being stopped at various stations in Kashmir for lack of space,” he added.After the train service was connected to Banihal in June this year, many passengers used to travel on rooftops to reach their destinations as they were not able to find any space in the train. The Railways and civil authorities in Kashmir were worried over the rooftop riding.After the capacity of the trains was increased earlier this month, the Railways say nearly 15,000 commuters travel daily in the trains. Prior to the railway service upto Banihal, 9,000 commuters used to travel every day in the trains.The trains started chugging for the first time in Kashmir on October 11, 2008, and the services have been extended in three phases. The train in Kashmir has become the most popular mode of commuting after the rail link was extended up to Banihal.

KANPUR: North Central Railway authorities have decided to allow two-minute halt for a few trains at Panki railway station in wake of Budhwa Mangal.The decision has been taken to allow devotees a chance to get down at the Panki railway station from where they can easily reach the famous Panki temple on Tuesday-the day when Budhwa Mangal will be celebrated. The NCR authorities said that ten trains would be allowed a 2-minute halt at Panki railway station. Besides, two Memu trains would operate between lucknow and Panki. The stoppage to these trains have been given on September 16 to 18.The decision would facilitate passengers to get down and proceed towards Panki temple where Budhwa Mangal will be celebrated, said Sandeep Mathur, chief public relations officer, NCR. Senior Station Superintendent of Panki Railway station MA Khan said that to facilitate the passengers on the occasion of Budhwa Mangal two additional ticket counters would be made operational. This would avoid rush and enable passengers buy tickets. This arrangement was done keeping in mind the huge rush of the passengers.He said that additional railway staff would remain on duty to manage the rush of the devotees.

List of trains:

Allahabad-Mathura Express

Howrah-Jodhpur Express

Unchahar Express

Sangam Express

Janta Express

Lucknow Memu

Trains from Panki station to Kanpur Central

Mathura-Allahabad Express

Jodhpur-Howrah Express

Unchahar Express

Sangam Express

Janta Express

The Lucknow Memu train will leave Kanpur Central at 1.05 pm and reach Panki railway station at 1.25 pm, From panki railway station, this train will depart at 1.55 pm and reach Kanpur Central at 2.15 pm. tnn