ProUI

Legacy and social commitment have been bleeding the Indian Railways for a long time.

Pursuing its social commitment, hospitals, nursing homes and sports stadiums have or are proposed to be built in places where they are a huge drain on financial resources. Thousands of kilometers of un-remunerative lines have been announced and thousands of persons that the public transporter doesn’t need are recruited.

In the name of legacy, wards of employees get easy access to jobs as a virtual inheritance. Palatial and fully furnished bungalows are allotted on a life-long basis to union leaders. Hundreds of free passes are doled out to different categories of people and hundreds are accommodated in different committees.

Cost of social service

“As revenues earned from freight continue to cross-subsidise passenger fares, losses in the passenger segment have escalated. Social burden costs are estimated to touch Rs. 30,000 crore this fiscal,” said former railways financial commissioner AV Paulose. More than 300 projects costing about 1.5 lakh crore are pending. The operating ratio — paisa earned against every rupee spent — has continued to hover around 95% in the past five years.

“Rail finances are crumbling. The railways in the recent past have had to approach the finance ministry for additional funds to balance its budget. India’s rail network has increased by just about 10,000 km in the 66 years since Independence but 2,500 trains have been rained down the clogged networks. From railway ministers downwards, everybody seems interested in winning friends and influencing people,” said former railway board member RC Acharya.

Railways expert Raghu Dayal goes a step further: “The railways have lost 70% of freight share to the road transport  sector in the past 66 years. The steel and petroleum ministries have bigger budgetary outlays while some private companies have a higher turnover compared to the railways. There is just no justification for the railways to have a separate budget.”

Living in the past

The British colonisers built residential complexes and golf courses to create facilities in remote areas for its engineers and managers. “Construction and maintenance of colonies can very easily be outsourced now. Coaches and equipment can also be sourced from the open market. Providing for catering services does not form part of the core activities of the public transporter but it has continued to engage in it. The railways also don’t need a host of activities in passenger, parcel or freight services. Somehow, the railways have been unable to bring about a mindset change and continue to function in a time warp,” said Krishan Lal Thapar of the Asian Institute of Transport.

A senior railway official, however, said the organisation is trying to adapt to the changing times: “Measures are being attempted to integrate the railways culture with market realities. Activities such as track laying and rolling stock maintenance are being outsourced. Policy changes such as plans to set up the Rail Traffic Regulatory Authority have been initiated.”

Too many panels

At 69 divisions and 17 zones, 20-member Railways User’s Consultative Committees comprising public representative are in existence.

At the railway board level, such individuals are accommodated as members in various committees including the Passenger Services Committee, Passenger Amenities Committee, Hindi Advisory Committee or the Heritage Committee.

“Members of these committees are mostly furthering their own agendas and lobbying for introduction of more trains. Committee members are very strident. Such populist attitudes don’t help,” an official said.

Mumbaikars will have to carry four different smart cards -- one each for the Metro, Monorail, BEST buses and local trains -- as the MMRDA's original plan to have an integrated smart card for all modes of transport will take time

If you thought life would become a little easier once the Metro and Monorail start functioning, you were wrong. Citizens will have to carry a separate smart card for the both the Metro and Monorail, apart from the two separate smart cards that they already carry for BEST buses and local train travel on Central and Western Railway.According to the original plan by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), there was supposed to be only one integrated smart card that could be used on any of the 4 modes of transport – local trains, BEST buses, Metro and Monorail. But the integrated smart card will take some time.Speaking to MiD DAY, UPS Madan, Metropolitan Commissioner, said, “When the Metro and Monorail will be operational, commuters using the services will have to carry two different cards, as the integrated card will take some extra time.” According to MMRDA, the delay is because of technical issues.

“We are already working on the integrated smart card and within a few months, it will be ready,” added Madan.

The original plan was to integrate Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Transport, Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport, Thane Municipal Transport (TMT), Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST), Western and Central Railways under the aegis of Unified Mumbai Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMMTA), a government body, and have an integrated smart card for all of them.

Sources from MMRDA told MiDDAY that UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited (UTIITSL) may be approached to develop the integrated smart card.

The deadline for the Metro to be opened to the public is December this year. The Monorail, whose Wadala-Chembur corridor was supposed to open to the public on September 15, missed its deadline again. MiD DAY had carried a report on the delay (Monorail misses deadline again, September 16).

According to MMRDA authorities, the Monorail too will be functional by the end of the year, though no concrete date has been given.

Palakkad: Considering the heavy rush of passengers, a special weekly train would run in the Kacheguda- Mangalore route from October 1 to November 27. The train Kacheguda-Mangalore central (07606) will start from Kacheguda at 6 am Tuesday. It will reach Mangalore central on Wednesday 11.20 am. Mangalore central-Kacheguda train (07605) will leave from Mangalore by Wednesday night 8 and will reach Kacheguda by Friday early morning 3.40 am. The train will have one ac two tier, two AC three tier, 7 sleeper classes, 6 general second class seats and 2 luggage-cum-break vans . The train will have stops in Palakkad, Shoranur, Tirur, Kozhikode, Vatakara, Thalassery, Kannur, Payyanur, Kanhangad and Kasargod in Kerala.

MUMBAI: Ministry of Railways have decided to run 16 superfast Air-conditioned special trains between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Santragachi in Oct-Nov to clear extra rush of passengers.

A Central Railway spokesperson said, " Train No. 08059 AC Special Train will leave LTT every Friday at 12.45 am from Oct 11 to Nov 29. It will arrive Santragachi at 8 am next day. "

From Santragachi, the train no. 08060 will depart on every Wednesday at 6.05 am from Oct 9 to Nov 27. The train willarrive LTT at 1.35 pm next day. The reservation bookings for both the trains will open from Sept 23.

The spokesperson said, "The trains will have halts at Kalyan, Igatpuri, Nasik Road, Manmad, Bhusval, Akola, Badnera, Wardha, Nagpur, Gondia, Durg, Raipur, Bilaspur, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Chakradharpur, Tatanagar, Kharagpur.:

The train composition includes, One First AC, Four AC-2 Tier, Seven AC-3 Tier, One Pantry Car and 2 Generator cum Guard's Brake vans.

MANGALORE: Palakkad railway division will conduct pension adalat-2013 on December 16 at Railway Institute, Hemambika Nagar Railway colony, Palakkad to redress the grievances of railway pensioners. Any railway pensioner/family pensioner/beneficiaries, who retired from Palakkad division, may submit their grievances in prescribed form on or before October 31 to senior divisional personnel officer, railway divisional office, Olavakode, Palakkad.

In the pension adalat specific grievances of individual pensioner with regard to non-payment or improper payment of settlement dues will be dealt with. Authorized representatives of the standing committee of voluntary agencies and recognized unions may also attend the pension adalat. Illiterate pensioners, widows, minors, who are not capable to effectively prepare and present their cases can take the assistance of SCOVA and recognised trade union.

The adalat will not take up issues related to policy matters, grievances related compassionate ground appointments, pending disciplinary cases, legal points, claims pertaining to period beyond the preservation of records etc. If any doubt regarding this pension adalat, pensioners are requested to contact staff welfare inspector over phone 09746763607.

The frequency of Train Nos. 17213/17214 Narsapur-Nagarsol-Narsapur Express has been increased to 4 days in a week from the present twice a week.

      Accordingly, Train No. 17213 Narsapur-Nagarsol Express will depart Narsapuron Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdayswith effect from 25thSeptember, 2013.



      In the return direction, Train No. 17214 Nagarsol-Narsapur Express will depart Nagarsol on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays with effect from 26th September, 2013.

In order to clear extra rush of passengers ensuing festival season South Central Railway will run, eight Special Trains between Secunderabad and Machilipatnam and eight special trains between Hyderabad and Renigunta as per the following schedule:-

1)Secunderabad-Machilipatnam Special Trains (08 Services):

Train No.07050 Secunderabad-Machilipatnam Special Train will depart Secunderabad at 10 30 hrs on 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th October 2013 (Sundays) and arrive Machilipatnam at 19 30 hrs o­n the same day. In the return direction Train No. 07049 Machilipatnam-Secunderabad special train will depart Machilipatnam at 21 30 hrs on 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th  October 2013 (Sundays) and arrive Secunderabad at 05 55 hrs on the next day. Enroute, this special train will stop at Kazipet, Warangal, Mahbubabad, Khammam, Vijayawada, Gudivada, Gudlavalleru, Kavutaram, Pedana and Chilakalapudi stations in both directions.

These special trains will have 18 coaches viz, o­ne AC II Tier, o­ne AC III Tier, eight Sleeper Class, six General Second Class and two Luggage cum Brake Van Coaches.

2)Hyderabad-Renigunta Superfast Special Trains (08 Services):

Train No. 07145 Hyderabad-Renigunta Superfast Special Train will depart Hyderabad at 23 15 hrs o­n 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th October 2013 (Fridays) arrive/depart Secunderabad at  23 35/23 40 hrs and arrive Renigunta at 12 45 hrs on the next day. In the return direction, Train No. 07146 Renigunta-Hyderabad Superfast Special Train will depart Renigunta at 14 30 hrs on 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th October, 2013 (Saturday) arrive / depart Secunderabad at 03 40 / 03 45 hrs on the next day and arrive Hyderabad at 04 10 hrs. Enroute, these Special trains will stop at Kazipet, Warangal, Khammam, Vijayawada, New Guntur, Tenali, Chirala, o­ngole, Nellore and Gudur in both the directions.

These special trains will have 16 coaches viz, one AC II Tier, one AC III Tier, ten Sleeper Class, two General Second Class and two Luggage cum Brake Van Coaches.

The Kanjikode Industries Forum has urged the Railways to start the construction of the Railway Coach Factory at Kanjikode for which the foundation stone was laid one-and-a-half-years ago.Addressing media persons here on Friday, forum office-bearers said the coach factory was announced in the 2008-09 railway budget but the work had not yet started. The State government had handed over 92.04 hectares of land to the Railways two years ago.The Railways also received a proposal for joint venture with Steel Authority of India (SAIL) that had promised to complete the project within two years. But the Railways had not yet accepted the SAIL proposal. Instead it had gone for global tenders seeking a private partner to implement the project, they said.The forum leaders said this would further delay the Rs.550-crore project. The project at Rai Bareli announced along with the Kanjikode factory had started rolling out coaches. But the factory promised for Palakkad had not become a reality yet, they said.The forum leaders urged the Union Ministers and the MPs from Kerala to take a united stand to put pressure on the Union government and Railways to end the uncertainty over the factory.

Delegation to Delhi

A delegation of the forum would visit Delhi to meet the Railway Minister and Union Ministers from Kerala to urge them to take up the matter with the Prime Minister, they said.

The forum was ready to cooperative with political parties and other organisations to launch mass agitations for the factory. They said the industrial units at Kanjikode were paying an annual tax of Rs.200 crore to the government. But many of the units were in crisis.

चंडीगढ़ रेलवे स्टेशन का आधुनिकीकरण जिस तेजी से चलाया जा रहा था, अब उसमें सुस्ती देखी जा रही है। रेलवे बजट से पहले चंडीगढ़ रेलवे स्टेशन को विश्व स्तर का बनाए जाने के लिए काफी प्रयास किया जा रहा था। चंडीगढ़ रेलवे स्टेशन पर काफी काम आरंभ किया गया था परंतु अब भी विश्वस्तर का बनने के लिए काफी कुछ करना बाकी है। स्टेशन पर पंचकूला की ओर एक प्लेटफार्म बनाने की योजना है। इस पर काम तो आरंभ किया गया था जैसे पंचकूला की ओर की जो ट्रैक था उसे सीधा किया गया। प्लेटफार्म के लिए स्थान बनाया गया, लेकिन अब इस काम में देरी हो रही है। इस संबंध में चंडीगढ़ के व्यवसायी मदन मदान का मानना है कि पवन बंसल द्वारा रेल बजट में की गई घोषणाओं में कई काम अधर में लटक गए हैं। हालांकि स्थानीय स्तर पर कार्य किया जा रहा है। इसके अतिरिक्त मंडल स्तर पर भी काम हो रहा है। इस संबंध में रेलवे स्टेशन अधीक्षक प्रवीण कुमार का मानना है कि कई काम अपनी रफ्तार से हो रहे हैं। जैसे जैसे बजट आता है वैसे वैसे काम बढ़ाया जा रहा है। प्लेटफार्म नंबर छह के लिए टेंडर निकाला जाएगा। कुल मिलाकर इस प्लेटफार्म के लिए यात्रियों को अभी इंतजार करना होगा। यात्रियों का मानना है कि यदि चंडीगढ़ से ट्रेनों की संख्या बढ़ेगी तो इसके लिए प्लेटफार्म बढ़ाने की जरूरत होगी।
स्टेशन अधीक्षक प्रवीण कुमार का मानना है कि जल्द ही नए प्लेटफार्म व अन्य रुके कामों के लिए टेंडर निकाला जाएगा तभी काम आरंभ हो सकेगा।

MUMBAI: Ministry of Railways have decided to run 16 superfast Air-conditioned special trains between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Santragachi in Oct-Nov to clear extra rush of passengers.

A Central Railway spokesperson said, " Train No. 08059 AC Special Train will leave LTT every Friday at 12.45 am from Oct 11 to Nov 29. It will arrive Santragachi at 8 am next day. "

From Santragachi, the train no. 08060 will depart on every Wednesday at 6.05 am from Oct 9 to Nov 27. The train willarrive LTT at 1.35 pm next day. The reservation bookings for both the trains will open from Sept 23.

The spokesperson said, "The trains will have halts at Kalyan, Igatpuri, Nasik Road, Manmad, Bhusval, Akola, Badnera, Wardha, Nagpur, Gondia, Durg, Raipur, Bilaspur, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Chakradharpur, Tatanagar, Kharagpur.:

The train composition includes, One First AC, Four AC-2 Tier, Seven AC-3 Tier, One Pantry Car and 2 Generator cum Guard's Brake vans.