ProUI

East Coast Railway (ECoR) has taken initiatives to make passengers and other rail users aware against drugging, snatching, touting activities and other crime offences created by miscreants and also advised them for a smooth and hassle free journey.

The Railway Protection Force has urged all rail users to cooperate with railway security to ensure safety of passengers and their belongings and bring down crimes at railway stations and during train journey.

The RPF unit of the Khurda Road Division held an awareness programme at the Puri railway station on Saturday and distributed leaflets to passengers and staged a demo as to how to tackle criminal activities and tighten the noose around drug peddlers, snatchers and robbers moving in trains and stations.

Purchase of foods and drinks from the authorised vendors and entrusting one’s belongings to himself without depending on anybody would ensure a passenger’s safe and hassle-free journey, it was advised.

The RPF is also focusing on thefts of parcels from small luggage rooms, escorting the trains that run in night and keeping a strict vigil on touts in stations, particularly at PRS and booking counters, and rescuing children.

Passengers have been advised to take the help of security personnel about unclaimed luggage in trains and platforms and to inform security personnel for any crime. Passengers may make contacts through telephone nos. 06752- 224275 and 232305 at Puri at the time of their needs.

INDORE: With travelling between Indore and Bhopal becoming a tough task for women, the railway police force (RPF) has escalated its drive to nab offenders by regular checking. Special arrangement of female guards in every ladies' coach has been made in meter gauge trains and Intercity Express. Many a cases of misbehaviour and men boarding women-only compartment has come up recently.Vandana Jain, a 30-year-old working professional from Indore, who regularly shuttles between the two cities said, "While returning from Bhopal recently, three males entered women coach of Intercity Express. When asked to stop smoking and change the coach, they abused women sitting inside the coach. The matter was reported to police.""There is a need to create greater awareness on the issue, especially among men. Despite repeated announcements at stations and advertisements in newspapers, many male passengers do not follow rules and travel in ladies' compartments," said another professional Afreen Khan.Public relation officer Pradeep Sharma said, "1,468 men were arrested for travelling in ladies' compartment just that in 2012 while 945 in 2013. All were booked under Section 162 of Railways Act. The fine collected in 2012 was Rs 2,65,250 and Rs 14,8900 in 2013.

The government railway police, Indore, in charge Dilip Gangrade said, "The reason why males board in women coaches is that women hesitate to report even the smallest of problems via helpline number. Once they start doing so it would instil fear into them."

"Three personnel have been deployed at all stations with one women guard, especially next to the ladies' compartments to ensure men do not enter these coaches. Daily, nearly four to five cases are reported where males are found breaking rules. Raids are conducted every fifteen days," said Indore RPF office in charge Mukesh Anandkar.

To curb incidents of crime in trains, Ratlam division has mentioned RPF helpline numbers in all coaches of the Bhopal-Indore-Bhopal Intercity Express.

Passengers can call 9752492709 for help.

That its train engine drivers, or loco-pilots as it calls them now, work under extremely stressful conditions has been Indian Railways' worst kept secret.

In fact, the stress levels of loco-pilots have often been blamed for many rail accidents in recent years. And now, a panel looking into the matter has zeroed in on a very basic facility, the lack of which has added substantially to stress levels of these men: toilets inside locomotives.

The committee "to review the duty hours of running and other safety related categories of staff" has recommended "a suitable waterless type urinal" on "every locomotive as an immediate measure" to take care of the problem.

"Difficulties are being experienced by the loco running staff at present due to non-availability of toilets in the locomotives. The problem is much more on super fast trains which run for 4 to 5 hours continuously at a stretch without any stoppage," the committee, headed by former food processing secretary D P Tripathi, has said.

The report, which was submitted to the railways ministry, has stressed the need for toilets in locos saying this "problem is likely to get further aggravated in future with more and more induction of ladies in loco running cadre".Even on faster long-distance trains such as the Rajdhanis and Shatabdis, loco-pilots have had to contend with travelling long distances without a toilet break until now. The only time they could use a toilet has been during halts at intermediary stations, having had little option but to "hold on".In point-to-point non-stop Duronto trains, the only "window" the loco-pilots have for a toilet break is during the train's technical halts.Privately, officials admit that there have been instances when a loco-pilot had to stop the train in the middle of a section to relieve himself."A few months back, we came up with a prototype of a retro-fitted toilet in a diesel locomotives. All we are now awaiting is a policy decision from the Railway Board on the matter. The recommendations of this committee will only help us get a stronger mandate to do the same," a senior railway official said.In 2010, a team of railway doctors had carried out a detailed study on the working of loco-pilots to identify their stress levels and the factors responsible for stress build-up. As many as 100 loco-pilots were part of this study and while most of the findings-from postural discomfort and non-spacious and noisy workplace to long duty hours with improper rest-were on expected lines, "the absence of toilets" in locomotives came as a revelation.In addition to toilets, the report has recommended an overall makeover of the locomotives-ranging from air-conditioning the cabin to providing cameras along with a display unit that can ensure that loco-pilots don't have to peep out of the window and look back frequently for viewing the train formation and the guard's signal.Air-conditioning has been proposed as the committee found temperatures inside loco cabins during summers were "quite unbearable"— as high as 61 degrees celsius in diesel locos and 51.8 degrees celsius in electric locos.

Separated from her parents during a train journey nearly three months ago, a 14-year-old girl of Odisha's Nuapada district, who had to work as a maid in Gujarat before being rescued by an NGO, returned home, police said on Monday. The girl, Sunita of Fokatpada village, was brought by a team of Gujarat Police all the way from Gandhi Nagar and handed over to her parents on Sunday, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Nuapada, Ashish Singh said. While travelling with her parents and brother in July, Sunita, daughter of a migrant labourer, had alighted at Katni junction station in Madhya Pradesh to get water from the platform when the train left.

Separated from her family at Katni railway station, 14-year-old girl returns home Usually migrant labourers set out to earn their livelihood after harvest season and return to their village during this time every year. Some unidentified persons, who belonged to Bihar, spotted the wailing girl on the platform, took her to Mehasana in Gujarat and engaged her as a maid servant there. However, after working there for about two months, she narrated her plight to a priest of a nearby temple, who took it up with an NGO Child Welfare Institution at Gandhi Nagar. After being informed by the NGO, Gujarat Police swung into action and spoke to Nuapada SDPO about the girl. As Sunita's father Iswar Chouhan had not filed any complaint with the police about the missing girl, Singh gathered information about the family and also sought cooperation of Gujarat Police to send the girl home. A team of Gujarat Police led by ASI Margrett Ben, Constable Pankaj Kumar and lady constable Madhi Ben travelled with the girl to Odisha and handed over the girl to her family members in the presence of police and local MLA.

That its train engine drivers, or loco-pilots as it calls them now, work under extremely stressful conditions has been Indian Railways' worst kept secret.

In fact, the stress levels of loco-pilots have often been blamed for many rail accidents in recent years. And now, a panel looking into the matter has zeroed in on a very basic facility, the lack of which has added substantially to stress levels of these men: toilets inside locomotives.

The committee "to review the duty hours of running and other safety related categories of staff" has recommended "a suitable waterless type urinal" on "every locomotive as an immediate measure" to take care of the problem.

"Difficulties are being experienced by the loco running staff at present due to non-availability of toilets in the locomotives. The problem is much more on super fast trains which run for 4 to 5 hours continuously at a stretch without any stoppage," the committee, headed by former food processing secretary D P Tripathi, has said.

The report, which was submitted to the railways ministry, has stressed the need for toilets in locos saying this "problem is likely to get further aggravated in future with more and more induction of ladies in loco running cadre".Even on faster long-distance trains such as the Rajdhanis and Shatabdis, loco-pilots have had to contend with travelling long distances without a toilet break until now. The only time they could use a toilet has been during halts at intermediary stations, having had little option but to "hold on".In point-to-point non-stop Duronto trains, the only "window" the loco-pilots have for a toilet break is during the train's technical halts.Privately, officials admit that there have been instances when a loco-pilot had to stop the train in the middle of a section to relieve himself."A few months back, we came up with a prototype of a retro-fitted toilet in a diesel locomotives. All we are now awaiting is a policy decision from the Railway Board on the matter. The recommendations of this committee will only help us get a stronger mandate to do the same," a senior railway official said.In 2010, a team of railway doctors had carried out a detailed study on the working of loco-pilots to identify their stress levels and the factors responsible for stress build-up. As many as 100 loco-pilots were part of this study and while most of the findings-from postural discomfort and non-spacious and noisy workplace to long duty hours with improper rest-were on expected lines, "the absence of toilets" in locomotives came as a revelation.In addition to toilets, the report has recommended an overall makeover of the locomotives-ranging from air-conditioning the cabin to providing cameras along with a display unit that can ensure that loco-pilots don't have to peep out of the window and look back frequently for viewing the train formation and the guard's signal.Air-conditioning has been proposed as the committee found temperatures inside loco cabins during summers were "quite unbearable"— as high as 61 degrees celsius in diesel locos and 51.8 degrees celsius in electric locos.

Hearing a PIL alleging fake railway court scam at Kurla suburban station, the Bombay High Court today inquired from CBI whether it had verified the inventory of a huge consignment of bail bonds, in keeping with earlier directives.

The bench of Justice P V Hardas and P N Deshmukh asked CBI to inform within two weeks whether it had verified the consignment of 4.11 lakh bail bonds supplied by Central Railway printing press to Railway Protection Force, Mumbai.

The court asked the investigating agency to find out how many bonds were issued and the amount of money collected. Although the fraud was detected in Kurla, CBI has been asked to verify all the RPF posts where such bail bonds had been supplied.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by social activist Samir Zaveri, who brought the scandal to light through his petition.

According to Zaveri, some Railway Police Force personnel at suburban Kurla station pretended to be staff of a non-existing Railway Magistrate Court and collected money for cash bonds from those arrested for trespassing or crossing tracks.

A head constable acted as 'magistrate' and granted 'bail' to the offenders after they paid the bond money. The money was pocketed by the RPF personnel.

In August 2011, the High Court handed over the investigation to CBI following allegations of shoddy probe by the Government Railway Police. The court had pulled up the CBI too on several occasions for tardy probe.

In an affidavit, N M Parab, Inspector of Police, CBI (ACB), said the agency examined the role of 23 RPF officials who were posted at Kurla at the time, and evidence was found against 12, who were later chargesheeted.

Of these, five had been dismissed from service after departmental inquiries, while one had retired, so there was no need for sanction from higher authorities to prosecute them.

For five others, still in service, sanction had been obtained, while it was awaited for another accused.

A mother and her daughter moving with alleged intentions to commit suicide at a Metro station were today rescued by security personnel.

According to sources, CISF constable Geeta Yadav posted for security duties at the Nawada Metro station noticed two women commuters moving dangerously close to the tracks at around 1:30pm.

The constable immediately pulled back the two women, identified later as mother and daughter, and called additional personnel to take them away.

Both the ladies have been handed over to Delhi police and they reportedly told them about some domestic problems they were facing which had made them mull the drastic step, they said.

The President of Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce Dipen Agrawal today submitted a memorandum of demands to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Minister of State for Railways and also apprised him of various problems faced by Nagpur and Vidarbha citizens and traders. He also put forward some suggestions to the Minister.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Minister of State for Railways and Vilasrao Muttemwar, MP, Nagpur paid a visit to Nag Vidarbha Chamber of Commerce today at 3.30.p.m. in the meeting hall of the Chamber.

At the outset Shri Dipen Agrawal, President, NVCC welcomed the guests. Hemant Gandhi, Secretary of the Chamber introduced the chief guest Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Vilasrao Muttemwar.

Photo (5)Dipen Agrawal, President presented a shawl, shreephal and memento to Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Vilasrao Muttemwar, and Dr. (Mrs) Chowdhury. MLA Dinanath Padole and top officials of Central and South East Central Railway were also felicitated by the Chamber.

The Nagpur MP Vilasrao Muttemvar, while addressing the members also briefed the problems of Railway travellers of Vidarbha Region and informed the Minister that once upon a time Nagpur was the Capital of Madhya Pradesh but after re-organization of the States Nagpur and Vidarbha region were merged with Maharashtra State in the year 1960. Thereafter the development of Vidarbha is lagging behind. He also requested the Minister to give special attention in the matter of Railway facilities and constitute a separate Railway Zone for Vidarbha Region.

The Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, while addressing the traders, said that the suggestions and problems put forth before him are genuine and would be considered satisfactorily. In regard to formation of Railway Zone for Vidarbha, the demand would be looked into seriously and a decision in this regard would be taken at an appropriate time. He assured that Vilasrao Muttemwar and prominent office-bearers of Chamber would be welcomed in New Delhi and suggestions would be discussed with the officers.

Prominent Railway officials present on the occasion include Sunil V. Arya, G.M SEC Railway, B.K. Joshi, COM SEC Railway, Sharad Ingle, AGM, Central Railway, Prakashrao Wazalwar, CCM SEC Railway, Brujesh Dixit, DRM C. R., S. L. Varma, DRM SECR, R.K. Agrawal, DGM, SECR, Amlan Turkey, Secretary and Predeepkumr, Sr. DCM SECR., Dr. Suman Deolkar, Sr. DCMCR., Ramesh Jaiswal, Jt. MD. Neco Group, Govindlal Sarda, Prafulbhai Doshi, Radheshyam Sarda, Past Presidents NVCC. Mayur Panchmatia, Ajaykumar Madan, Sachin Puniyani, Chunibhai Shah, Arjundas Ahuja, Abhishek Jha, Bharatbhai S. Thakkar, Farooquebhai Akbani, Gajanand Gupta, Govind Mantri, Natwar Patel, Prabhakar Deshmukh, Pratap Motwani, Rajubhai Makhija, Rajeshkumar Ohri, Satish Bang, Shabbar Shakir, Sanjayraj Modh Saraf, Santosh Kabra, Suryakant Agrawal, Umesh Patel, Vijay Kewalramani, Hastimal Katariya, Sanjay K. Agrawal, Shankar Sugandh, Arvind Kotecha, Ranjan Agrawal, Dilipbhai Thakral, Assandas Balwani, Syed Nawab Ali, Rajesh Amte, Amjad Hussain, M. Aslam Khan, Dharamvir Sharma, Gajanand Mahajan, Lalchand Gupta, Prakash Jais, Nishikant Padmawar, Pankaj Padia, Vijay Chandak, Bashkar D. Ambade, Rajesh P. Shah, Subhash Agrawal, Yogendrakumar Agrawal, S. H. Agrawal,

Hemant Gandhi, Secretary, conducted the programme and Pratap Motwani, Convener Railway Sub Committee, NVCC proposed vote of thanks, said a press note issued by Hemant Gandhi, Secretary of the Chamber.

MUMBAI: Western Railway has decided to provide stoppages to five pair of trains at Valsad, Vapil and Bhilad for the convenience of passengers. These stoppages have been given on experimental basis for a period of six months

A WR public relations officer said, "Bandra (T)-Ajmer/ Udaipur Express will arrive from Bandra to Valsad at 7.24 pm and on its return journey to Mumbai, the train will arrive at this destination at 11.11 am from Oct 2."

Another train, Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Double Decker Express, has also been provided stoppage at Valsad station from Oct 2. The train will arrive from Mumbai to Valsad station at 4.54 pm. Similarly, in the return direction, the train will reach Valsad station at 10.16 am.

Also, Porbandar Express has been provided stoppage at Bhilad station. It will arrive from Mumbai Central to Bhilad at 11.34 am. On its return journey to Mumbai, the train will reach Bhilad at 3.17 pm from October 2.

Likewise, Veraval-Trivandrum Weekly Express and Gandhidham- Nagarcoil Weekly Express has been provided stoppage at Vapi station. Veraval - Trivandrum Express and Gandhidham- Nagarcoil Express will arrive Vapi station at 5.12 pm. On its return journey, Trivandrum - Veraval Express and Nagarcoil - Gandhidham Express will reach Vapi station at 12.58 am from Oct 3 and 4, respectively.

Though the Railways plan to kick off the work on the renovated parcel  office at the Ernakulam Junction station this month, the apathy on the part of the Kochi Corporation is delaying the project.

According to the Railway officials, unless a culvert is constructed, which  requires permission from the Kochi Corporation, the officials cannot construct a link road from the pay-and-park area to the first platform.

“A road is mandatory, otherwise it will be impossible for the lorries and  trucks arriving to the new parcel office to load and unload the items. Even  though the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) has submitted a request to the Deputy Mayor in this regard, there has been no response so far,” the officials said.  The work on the culvert is expected to cost `15 lakh while the total construction of the office is expected to cost another `25 lakh.

“The Railway officials have decided to shift the existing parcel office to the new location citing insufficient space for passenger movement. Frequent movement of lorries in the Railway station premises was causing unnecessary traffic at the station premises,” Thiruvananthpauram Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Agarwal said.

Besides, there are plans to construct a tourism lounge of the Kerala Tourism Department Corporation (KTDC) in joint collaboration with the Railways at the existing parcel office location. The tourism lounge is a pilot project of the Kerala Government which includes facilities like a tourist information centre, locker facilities, souvenir shops, wi-fi facilities, rest rooms and online booking centres. The ideal place for the lounge has been identified at the entrance of the station.

However, the construction of a parcel office at the far end of the Ernakulam Junction station is drawing ire from the Unions in the Railways who state that the current location of the parcel office is unfeasible.