ProUI

Bengaluru:  The Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced his plans to introduce a bullet train between Bengaluru and Mysore. The announcement was made soon after the CM's return from the World Economic Forum in China. However, if past experience is anything to go by, this may amount to little more than a political gimmick.Taken at face value, bullet train is an undoubtedly exciting idea, but does Bengaluru have what it takes to pull it off? How feasible is it, really? The doubling of tracks between the two cities was started over a decade ago and the project is still awaiting completion. On the other hand, Namma Metro has turned out to be a big drain on the exchequer, hindered by a stream of delays.The rail line to Mysore has had several hurdles, starting with the issue of track converstion. Railway lines to Mysore were laid out in 1882 but converting them from metre guage to broad guage took about 14 years to accomplish! The guage conversion was first budgeted in 1978 and completed only in 1992.

In his announcement, the Chief Minister, who seemed excited by the fact that the 140-km ride between Bengaluru and Mysore would take a mere 30 minutes, has asked the Japan's Minister for  Higher Education, Science and Technology, Hakubun Shimomura, to dispatch a technical team to undertake a feasibility study on introducing a bullet train between the two cities.

The cost of the bullet train project is exorbitant, far higher than any other transport project undertaken so far. Earlier estimates say the cost of laying a 1-km stretch for the bullet train will cost about Rs 50 crore. This feasibility study, which was conducted for the Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train route in 2009, placed the estimate of rolling stock at over Rs 6000 crore.

Had the government provided adequate support for doubling the 140-km line between Mysore and Bengaluru, much could have been done. Further, experts point out that if the government would put trains like the Shatabadi Express on the route, travel time could very well be brought down by atleast 45 minutes.

 Doubling work on the Mysore corridor, which began in 2007, is still stuck. The issue of shifting Tipu's armoury held up the project for over a decade. The Bengaluru-Mysore track doubling work is in limbo again over a land acquisition issue. It has been learned that railways are now fighting a case over acquiring a 40-acre plot of land, which has brought work to a standstill once more.  Further, the doubling work that was estimated to cost about Rs250 crore will now cost over Rs 800 crore, thanks to all the delays.

An idea that was shot down several times before Several governments both at the Centre and State have been thrilled by the idea of bringing the bullet train to India, but all with little progress.

When in 2009, the then Railways Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav announced the proposal for a Bullet Train, former CM B.S. Yeddy­urappa requested Yadav to extend the proposed high-speed rail link between Chennai and Bangalore to Mumbai via Hubli, in what was perceived as a veiled threat.

In his letter, Yeddyurappa had categorically stated that Karnataka would assist the project, only if Bengaluru was also made part of the plan. Later, when K.H.Muniyappa took over as the Minister of State for Railways, he also allegedly tried to profit from the Bullet Train plan. However, he later accepted that the plan was shelved due the high project cost.

Even the S.M. Krishna government which ruled the state from 1999 to 2004 mooted the idea of a bullet train. The project didn’t even make it to the feasibility study stage.

Are bullet trains really necessary?

Are bullet trains really necessary? M.N. Sreehari

The first question that comes to my mind is ‘what exactly are we trying do here?’ Are we trying to build a self-sufficient state on things that we need or are we on a binge? The CM is overawed by the fact that a bullet train moves at a speed of over 200 km per hour. But does he know the kind of infrastructure and investment needed to bring such a project to the state?

Of course, we are relying on an International Cooperation Agency loan or aid from the World Bank for the project, which means we are only pushing ourselves further into debts for something that is impractical anyway.

The bullet train corridor has to be completely separate from the conventional rail lines Further, The bullet train lines will have to be built without road crossings at grade, while the tracks will have to be strictly off-limits. But getting such an infrastructure ready in Indian conditions is a very difficult.

But instead of focusing on a Bullet train, why can't we focus on improving the speed of our rail lines by upgrading the technology. Instead of spending crores on bringing in a new infrastructure, we can improve what we have to make and run 'our own' fast trains.

(The writer is Advisor to Chief Minister on Infrastructure and an Urban expert)

South Central Railway will change the Train numbers and revise the Timings of Kacheguda – Nizamabad – Kacheguda Passenger Trains with effect from 23rdSeptember, 2013 as detailed below:-
The existing train number Viz 77685 of Nizamabad-Kacheguda Passenger will be changed as 57685.Train No. 57685 Nizamabad – Kacheguda Passenger will depart Nizamabad at 05 00 hrs, Sirnapalli at 05 27 hrs, Kamareddi at 05 59 hrs, Akanapet at 06 30 hrs, Mirzapalli at 06 40 hrs, Wadiaram at 06 47 hrs, Srinivasa Nagar at 06 55 hrs, Medchal at 07 30 hrs, , Bollaram at 07 50 hrs, Malkajgiri at 08 25 hrs, Sithaphalmandi at 08 40 hrs and arrive Kacheguda at 09 25 hrs o­n the same day.
The existing train number Viz. 77686 of Kacheguda-Nizamabad Passenger will be changed as 57686. Train No. 57686 Kacheguda – Nizamabad Passenger will depart Kacheguda at 09 50 hrs, Sithaphalmandi at 10 00 hrs, Malkajgiri at 10 09 hrs, Bollaram at 10 35 hrs, Medchal at 10 55 hrs, Manoharabad at 11 10 hrs, Srinivasa Nagar at 11 30 hrs, Wadiaram at 11 35hrs, Mirzapalli at 11 45 hrs, Akanapet at 11 55 hrs, Kamareddi at 12 20 hrs, Sirnapalli at 12 40 hrs and arrive Nizamabad at 14 00 hrs o­n the same day.
The existing train number Viz 77687 of Nizamabad-Kacheguda Passenger will be changed as 57687. Train No. 57687 Nizamabad – Kacheguda Passenger will depart Nizamabad at 14 15 00 hrs, Kamareddi at 15 40 hrs, Akanapet at 16 10 hrs, Mirzapalli at 16 25 hrs, Wadiaram at 16 35 hrs, Srinivasa Nagar at 16 45 hrs, Manoharabad at 17 10 hrs, Medchal at 17 20 hrs, Bollaram at 17 35 hrs, Malkajgiri at 17 50 hr, Sithaphalmandi at 18 00 hrs and arrive Kacheguda at 18 30 hrs o­n the same day.

        The existing train number Viz. 77688 of Kacheguda-Nizamabad Passenger will be changed as 57688. Train No. 57688 Kacheguda – Nizamabad Passenger will depart Kacheguda at 18 55 hrs, Sithaphalmandi at 19 03 hrs, Malkajgiri at 19 12 hrs, Bollaram at 19 20 hrs, Medchal at 19 35 hrs, Srinivasa Nagar at 20 00 hrs, Wadiaram at 20 21, Mirzapalli at 20 30 hrs, Akanapet at 20 40 hrs, Kamareddi at 21 24 hrs and arrive Nizamabad at 23 45 hrs o­n the same day.

The Mumbai elevated rail corridor project faces further delay due to hurdles, after bidders raised concerns and asked the Maharashtra government to answer them."The last date for submission of request for qualification has been extended to November 29 from October 20. There are certain issues raised by bidders which need to be addressed," a senior railway ministry official said on Tuesday.This is for the third time that last date of request for qualification submission for the project has been extended.The project has been short listed by a steering group set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to accelerate growth in infrastructure.The Indian Railways is yet to sign the state support agreement with the Maharashtra government, without which the project cannot go ahead."Unless the agreement with the state government is signed it will be difficult for the project to take off," the official added.The state government has a major role to play in the 60-km-long project between Churchgate and Virar as shifting of utilities along the alignment is its responsibility.While the progress of the project was reviewed by the Planning Commission, the issues affecting the project are likely to be taken up by the PMO soon, he said. PTI

New Delhi: It has not been long ago after the scandalous MMS of a couple was found in objectionable condition  inside the Delhi metro was leaked on several websites. Yet, another disgrace on the image of Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) has created buzz amongst Delhi people.In a shocking revelation made by a TV channel in its sting operation, the Delhi Metro toilets meant for their low-level staff are shown being rented out to couples.The sting operation showed clearly how the toilet caretaking staff of DMRC took money in return for allowing couples to spend time inside the toilets.

The Mumbai elevated rail corridor project faces further delay due to hurdles, after bidders raised concerns and asked the Maharashtra government to answer them."The last date for submission of request for qualification has been extended to November 29 from October 20. There are certain issues raised by bidders which need to be addressed," a senior railway ministry official said on Tuesday.This is for the third time that last date of request for qualification submission for the project has been extended.The project has been short listed by a steering group set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to accelerate growth in infrastructure.The Indian Railways is yet to sign the state support agreement with the Maharashtra government, without which the project cannot go ahead."Unless the agreement with the state government is signed it will be difficult for the project to take off," the official added.The state government has a major role to play in the 60-km-long project between Churchgate and Virar as shifting of utilities along the alignment is its responsibility.While the progress of the project was reviewed by the Planning Commission, the issues affecting the project are likely to be taken up by the PMO soon, he said. PTI

New Delhi: It has not been long ago after the scandalous MMS of a couple was found in objectionable condition  inside the Delhi metro was leaked on several websites. Yet, another disgrace on the image of Delhi Metro Railway Corporation (DMRC) has created buzz amongst Delhi people.In a shocking revelation made by a TV channel in its sting operation, the Delhi Metro toilets meant for their low-level staff are shown being rented out to couples.The sting operation showed clearly how the toilet caretaking staff of DMRC took money in return for allowing couples to spend time inside the toilets.

Dehradun: Accusing the Centre of failing to address their concerns, members of the Northern Railway Men's Union (NRMU), Dehradun, staged a dharna at the railway station here yesterday.The protesters alleged that the new pension scheme introduced by the Centre was not employee friendly and must be scrapped. They demanded reinstatement of the old pension scheme.They also resented reduction in bonus.The union members resorted to sloganeering against the Centre. Ugrasen Singh, Hari Om Singh, PK Chaubey, RC Yadav, Mukesh Chaturvedi and Prem Kishore Raturi were prominent among the protesters.

Stoppage of Delhi Sarai-Sujangarh-Delhi Express at Talchhaper Station

5 ROBs along Puducherry – Villupuram railway line

Indian Railways has decided to construct road overbridges (RoBs) at level-crossings based on feasibility studies. The RoBs would be commissioned wherever train-vehicle unit is greater than one lakh.Where road overbridges are not possible, it will resort to limited use subways and manned level crossings, Union Minister of Railways Mallikarjun Kharge said.The Puducherry – Villupuram railway line would get five road overbridges which would be completed in the next two years, Mr. Kharge said at the launch of the new Tirupati – Puducherry weekly express here on Tuesday.He also laid the stone for an overbridge at Arumparthapuram . Work on an overbridge on 100 Feet Road would start soon, he said.Both these overbridges would be completed within a year, and the remaining three within two years. Limited use subways would also be constructed at these locations. Work on the connecting road would be undertaken by the Public Works Department.

According to officials of the Southern Railways, the remaining three over bridges would include one near the AFT Mill and one in Kandamangalam.

Union Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office V. Narayanasamy said Centre would be appraoched for completion of drinking water schemes introduced by the previous Congress government.

Steps would be taken to ensure that Puducherry was connected to Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram , Jaipur and Ajmer.

The Centre would fully fund the overbridge projects . The cost for each overbridge along with the connecting road is Rs. 25 crore, he said.

According Member Traffic, Railway Board, D.P. Pandey, Mahe and Puducherry railway stations have been identified as “Adarsh stations.” General Manager of Souther Railways Rakesh Mishra was also present.

Fishermen in Rameswaram, Mandapam and Pamban have come under one umbrella to stage a rail roko agitation at Pamban on Thursday, demanding the release of 41 fishermen from Rameswaram and 35 from Pamban lodged in Sri Lankan prisons for more than a month.Leaders of 11 associations in Rameswaram, seven in Mandapam and three in Pamban met on Saturday and decided to launch the agitation in Pamban at 3 p.m. on Thursday and block the Tirupathi Express, scheduled to leave Rameswaram at 4 p.m., P. Sesu Raja, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Coastal Mechanised Boat Fishermen Association, said.“The agitation is to draw the attention of the Central and State governments to secure the release of fishermen from Sri Lankan’s jails and to protect the livelihood of the island’s fishermen,” he said, adding the entire fishing community, including women and children, would take part in the agitation.He said fishermen of both Rameswaram and Pamban had been on an indefinite strike for more than a week protesting against the extension of the judicial remand of the fishermen, arrested by the Lankan Navy for alleged illegal fishing in their waters, but Indian authorities took no efforts to secure their release.

Traditional rights

The agitation would also demand their traditional rights to fish in the Palk Bay, he noted.

As the fishing activities came to a standstill, a section of the fishermen moved to Kerala, Mangalore and other places, while others were pledging their jewellery to meets both ends meet, he said.

Mr.Raja said the leaders would announce the next course of agitation if the fishermen were not released.

The Lankan courts extended the remand of the Rameswaram fishermen till September 20 and Pamban fishermen till September 23.

Meanwhile, country boat fishermen in Mandapam abstained from fishing on Monday, expressing solidarity with Rameswaram and Pamban fishermen.

Keywords: Ramanathapuram fishermen, Sri Lankan prisons, Pamban, fishermen arrest, Pamban fishermen