ProUI

Bathinda: Close to two weeks after the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Ambala Division, Anil Kumar, visited the Bathinda junction and promised that requisite arrangements will be made to maintain sanitation at the station, the situation may finally look up by the end of this week.Cleanliness has been a major issue at the station ever since the contract with a private firm got over on August 25. It has been a month and the railway authorities are yet to have a permanent solution to the problem in place.According to highly placed sources, the authorities floated the tender to give the contract for the facility on August 12 and considering that it's a long-winding process, it didn't get over in time for another firm to step in when the earlier contract ended.The finalisation of the contract is in its final stages and will be in place by the end of this week and the new firm will take over soon, the sources confirmed. "The DRM has assured the station authorities that the contract will be finalised and the work will be taken over by the new firm," the source said."The earlier firm had been taking care of cleanliness at the station for the past 4-5 years and wrapped it up after its contract got over. Suddenly, the station authorities were left with no cleaners and equipment since those belonged to the firm. While earlier, close to 50 persons were involved in cleaning the station daily, now there are merely ten who are hired by the station authorities," the source added.

Meanwhile, the passengers have been at the receiving end as the dustbins at the platforms have been spilling over and the lack of civic sense in the people is adding to the problem.

While several areas, especially the waiting room and the platforms look littered these days, on Monday, the station looked comparatively cleaner as the station authorities made sure that even the vendors at the railway platforms maintained cleanliness.

FACT FILE

DRM, Ambala Division, Anil Kumar, had visited the Bathinda junction and promised that arrangements will be made to maintain sanitation at the station. Cleanliness has been a major issue at the station ever since the contract with a pvt firm got over on August 25. The finalisation of the new contract is in its final stages and will be in place by the end of this week and the new firm will take over soon.

BHUBANESWAR: The East Coast Railways (ECoR) has sought private participation in a big way to improve its infrastructure. So far, it has come up with five projects in participatory models and mobilized Rs 1,200 crore from different industry players.

"Odisha has witnessed rapid industrialization in the last few years and the prospect of private participation in railway infrastructure development is huge. We are getting very good response from industries," said G D Brahma, chief operations manager, ECoR.

Brahma said the National Minerals Development Corporation (NMDC) has invested Rs 800 crore for laying an additional line between Kirandul and Jagadalpur in Chhattisgarh. It will connect its mines with its proposed steel plant and will also help in evacuating iron ore. NMDC will recover the invested money through freight rebate, he added.

In Odisha, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has invested Rs 200 crore for introducing auto-signaling at railway crossings between Paradip and Talcher. "It would facilitate transportation of more rakes by the MCL. As a result, the investor would be able to recover the money from increased freight and resultant profits," Brahma said. MCL has been transporting 23 to 24 rakes in a day, but after the introduction of auto-signaling system, the number will increase to 45 rakes a day. The MCL will recover its investment in six to seven months, he added.

Similarly, the Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APGEN) has evinced interest in investing Rs 80 crore for auto-signaling from Talcher to Gundapalli to Vijaywada. Besides, infrastructure companies GMR and Lanco have made investment of Rs 20 crore to lay an additional line between Talcher to Meramandali.

In addition to this, the ECoR has also envisaged expanding railway lines between Talcher and Raj Athagarh from two lines to four lines through participatory approach. "Industrial development in Jharsuguda area offers huge prospects of private players in railway infrastructure development," Brahma said.

NEW DELHI: Railways have decided to launch a new air-conditioned train between Amritsar and Lalkuan in Uttarakhand.The new weekly Amritsar-Lalkuan AC Express train will be operational every Wednesday from October 2 in both the directions, said a senior Northern Railway official adding "there was a demand by the local people for the train and it was included in the budget proposal."The AC Express train shall depart from Amritsar at 5.55 AM every Wednesday and reach Lalkuan at 8.50 PM the same day. In the return direction, the train will leave Lalkuan every Wednesday at 11.15 PM to reach Amritsar at 2.45 PM the next day.Consisting of 13 AC III tier coaches and three AC Chair Car coaches, the Amritsar-Lalkuan-Amritsar train will stop at Beas, Jalandhar, Phagwara, Ludhiana, New Morinda, Sahibzada Ajitsingh Nagar, Chandigarh, Ambala Cantonment, Jagadhari, Saharanpur, Roorkee, Laksar, Najibabad, Moradabad and Kashipur stations enroute in both the directions.

New Delhi: The Urban Development ministry has asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to consider extending the airport metro corridor to IFFCO chowk in Gurgaon so that the ridership as well as property development revenue of the line can be boosted.

The DMRC had moved a proposal seeking grant or equity from central and Delhi governments for the airport metro line after taking charge from private company Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL) but the Ministry said that it should be the last resort and asked DMRC explore ways to raise funds and turn profitable.

Among the possible measures it suggested was extension of the line to Gurgaon’s Sector 29, which had earlier been floated when DAMEPL was incharge.

After DAMEPL pulled out, the DMRC began operating the service but issues related to the estimated Rs 2,000 crore airport metro line debt remains unresolved and the day to day running of trains on the route is also reported to be a loss making venture, sources said.

“The ministry has told the DMRC that the option of seeking grant or equity from the government should be considered only as the last resort. It has asked the Delhi Metro to look for other ways raise money and also see if the airport line can turn profitable if extended to Gurgaon,” a source said.

Proposal to extend airport metro to IFFCO Chowk, Gurgaon:

The sources said that a proposal to extend the Airport metro line to IFFCO chowk was floated in the past but there were issues regarding how additional concession could be given to a private concessionaire.

“The ministry has suggested that in the changed scenario, where the DMRC itself is operating the Airport metro line, it can be extended to the IFFCO chowk, which may result in a sharp jum in ridership as well as property development revenue,” the source said.

The ministry has also told the Delhi metro that it should try and make the line viable by exploring other option. They said that in a letter the ministry has also told DMRC that to meet the cash requirements for the airport line, it should tap its internal resources or financial markets or institutions.

Being a government owned company with an excellent track record, the DMRC might be able to raise a loan at a cheaper rate than the private company that was earlier operating the line, the ministry has opined.

The ministry has also suggested that the DMRC should explore the possibility of raising money for the airport line through bonds as has been done by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).

In view of work related to doubling of Shoranur-Mangalore line between Karakkad and Shoranur, Coimbatore-Mangalore-Coimbatore Fast Passenger (56323/56324) were cancelled between Palakkad Junction and Pallippuram Stations from Sept. 25 to October 16.

A press release said train numbers 16605/16606 Mangalore Central – Nagarcoil Junction– Mangalore Central Eranad Express will be cancelled between Thrissur and Kuttipuram stations. Train no.16606 will run as a passenger special between Kuttipuram and Central, leaving Kuttipuram at 2 p.m. and reaching Mangalore Central at 8.25 p.m.

Reserved passengers arriving at Thrisur by train No.16606 Nagaercoil – Mangalore Ernad express to Kuttipuram and beyond will be transported by bus which leaves Thrisur at 09.55 a.m. This bus will reach Kuttipuram at 11.20 a.m. They can then board the passenger special train to Mangalore Central, which leaves Kuttipuram at 2 p.m.

Reserved passengers arriving at Kuttipuram by train No.16605 to Thrisur and beyond will be transported by bus which leaves Kuttipuram at 1.15 p.m. This bus will reach Thrissur at 2.45 p.m.

The release said passengers arriving by trains from Thiruvananthapuram/Ernakulam side bound to Shoranur and via Shoranur should to get down at Wadakkancheri, as no transportation has been arranged for passengers arriving by these trains between Ottappalam and Shoranur. They may make use of the road facility adjacent to Wadakkancheri station or travel by the trains after the trains resume for the day.For those whom no bus service is arranged, special refund counters will be opened at Kuttipuram, Ottappalam and Shoranur.In view of work related to doubling of Shoranur-Mangalore line between Karakkad and Shoranur, Coimbatore-Mangalore-Coimbatore Fast Passenger (56323/56324) were cancelled between Palakkad Junction and Pallippuram Stations from Sept. 25 to October 16.A press release said train numbers 16605/16606 Mangalore Central – Nagarcoil Junction– Mangalore Central Eranad Express will be cancelled between Thrissur and Kuttipuram stations. Train no.16606 will run as a passenger special between Kuttipuram and Central, leaving Kuttipuram at 2 p.m. and reaching Mangalore Central at 8.25 p.m.Reserved passengers arriving at Thrisur by train No.16606 Nagaercoil – Mangalore Ernad express to Kuttipuram and beyond will be transported by bus which leaves Thrisur at 09.55 a.m. This bus will reach Kuttipuram at 11.20 a.m. They can then board the passenger special train to Mangalore Central, which leaves Kuttipuram at 2 p.m.

Reserved passengers arriving at Kuttipuram by train No.16605 to Thrisur and beyond will be transported by bus which leaves Kuttipuram at 1.15 p.m. This bus will reach Thrissur at 2.45 p.m.

The release said passengers arriving by trains from Thiruvananthapuram/Ernakulam side bound to Shoranur and via Shoranur should to get down at Wadakkancheri, as no transportation has been arranged for passengers arriving by these trains between Ottappalam and Shoranur. They may make use of the road facility adjacent to Wadakkancheri station or travel by the trains after the trains resume for the day.

For those whom no bus service is arranged, special refund counters will be opened at Kuttipuram, Ottappalam and Shoranur.

The implementation of the meter system for autorickshaws has been a blow to the pre-paid services at Chennai Central Station and Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) in Koyambedu.Over the last few days, barely 10 per cent of registered auto drivers have showed up at these stands, causing passengers immense difficulties.“Auto drivers registered at the prepaid stands go by a fixed rate, but they are free to pick up passengers on their way back to the stand here. However, many of us are being stopped by the police, who ask us where our meter is.  After over 130 of us were fined recently, many of us stopped coming here and prefer to stay at home, or drive in our own areas,” said a senior member of the Central Station Prepaid Auto Drivers and Commuters Welfare Association.The association has over 370 registered autos, but this week, fewer than 60 drivers have reported for work.Passengers at Central say there are no prepaid autos after 6 p.m. The stand at Central had been closed for two months due to nearby Metro Rail work, and re-opened only on September 12, three days before the deadline for meters.“There are very few vehicles now and it is a big problem for single travellers with only a few bags. Cabs charge at least Rs. 90 more,” said Prem Kumar who works in Tiruchi and comes to Chennai on weekends.

The drivers say that despite having valid documents, they have been fined because their meters are not ready. “Because of the shortage of electronic meters, most of us who went to get our meters calibrated have been asked to come back after a month,” said Uma Maheswari, who has already been fined once.  “Many of us come only between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. to avoid checking and operate for the rest of the day only in our areas,” said Dasan, a driver from Ambattur.

CMBT, Koyembedu where there are nearly 200 registered prepaid autos, has been facing the same problem. “We requested officials to spare prepaid autos from fines but they are not doing so. On some days, there are just about 20 autos here, and many drivers are not even willing to take a savaari because they don’t want to be caught while coming back,” said a driver.

Members of auto associations said they expected these stands to be fully functional in about two months as soon as the drivers get their meters ready. 

“The transport department needs to know that the demand for prepaid autos is very high and by not letting us ply, it is passengers and tourists who are being inconvenienced,” said an auto driver at Central Station.

Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA, has demanded a separate Konkan Railway Division comprising Mangalore, Madgaon and Ratnagiri areas.In a press release issued here on Wednesday, Mr. Madhwaraj said that he had put forward this suggestion at the Konkan Railway Consumers Advisory Committee meeting of Konkan Railway held at Belapur in Maharashtra.The Ullal bridge and New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) areas in Mangalore should come under the proposed division. Though the length of Konkan Railway was actually 961 kilometres, it was now 940 km because NMPT had been kept in a different railway zone. If the NMPT was included in Konkan Railway, its annual income would go up by Rs. 200 crore.A passenger train should be started from Vasco-da-Gama to Mangalore. The Bhatkal-Thokur train should be extended to Karwar. The Karwar-Bangalore train was taking a long time to reach its destinations. Hence, an alternative route Nandikur-Karkala-Ujire-Charmadi-Mudigere (220 km) should be developed, Mr. Madhwaraj said. The meeting was chaired by president of the Committee Bhanu Prakash Tayal.

Railway employees across the country will go for a secret ballot to decide on the proposed strike on December 21 and 22, pressing for a charter of demands which included exemption from the New Pension Scheme.General secretary of Southern Railway Mazdoor Union N. Kanniah told reporters here on Wednesday that the Central government that implemented the New Pension Scheme in 2004 withdrew it for Army personnel. “We are also making a similar demand for exempting 15 lakh railway employees from the new scheme,” Mr. Kannaiah said.He said investment of pension funds made in retirement funds had resulted in a loss of 1.77 per cent on an average in the last four years. “The employee would have got an assured interest of 8.67 per cent under the pension fund. But, in the New Pension Scheme, the interest was only 6.13 per cent,” he noted. A similar strike notice given in 2005 forced the Union government to constitute the Sixth Pay Commission which was refused by Parliament earlier, he pointed out.The other major demand of the employees was promotion to two lakh track men, based on the Trackmen Committee recommendations.

Divisional secretary J.M. Rafi was present.

Issues like acquisition of lands and cut in financial allocation have affected development and infrastructure related works of the Railways, said General Manager of Southern Railway Rakesh Misra on Tuesday.He was here to inspect the Signal and Telecommunications Workshop at Podanur.Mr. Misra told The Hindu that the allocation of funds had come down from Rs. 1,100 last year to Rs. 560 crore in the current fiscal and this had a telling effect on the pace of various works being undertaken by the Railways. The increase in diesel and electricity charges also affected the financial stability of the Railways, he added.Kerala accounted for the maximum number of issues concerning land acquisition while it was relatively less in Tamil Nadu. Issues always cropped up when the lands identified for acquisition were wet/agricultural lands, he added.Mr.Misra was accompanied by the Divisional Railway Manager, Salem, Sujatha Jeyaraj. He said land acquisition issues as far as the Podanur - Pollachi gauge conversion stretch had been overcome and now the wait was for funds. “I have personally appealed to the Railway Board to sanction funds to complete the Podanur – Pollachi gauge conversion at the earliest in order to restore the rail connectivity of Western Tamil Nadu with the Southern districts,” Mr. Misra said.

Southern Railway was confident of completing the Pollachi – Palakkad gauge conversion by March 2014. Mr. Misra added that the Palani – Pollachi gauge conversion was in its final stages. The route was likely to be opened by 2014, after Commissioner of Rail Safety’s (CRS) inspection. Referring to safety, Mr. Misra said the objective of the Southern Railway was to eliminate 800 unmanned level crossings in a phased manner.

Passengers travelling to destinations beyond Tiruchi in the Coimbatore – Mayiladuthurai Jan Shatabdhi Express were taken by surprise on Wednesday morning when the train was terminated at Tiruchi Junction owing to “line block” for carrying out track relaying work between Tiruchi and Thanjavur.The express train arrived at Tiruchi Junction at around 10.50 a.m. and was terminated at the station taking the passengers by surprise.A group of passengers assembled in front of the station manager’s room demanding that alternative arrangements be made for them for their onward journey.Railway sources said refund was given to passengers in the portion from Tiruchi to stations beyond.The passengers later left by buses arranged by the railways.However, the passengers had to pay for their bus ride.Southern Railway had extended the ‘line block’ for track relaying work between Tiruchi and Thanjavur, enforced on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 25 to October 2. Consequently, some trains were cancelled while some others were partially cancelled.The Coimbatore – Mayiladuthurai – Coimbatore Jan Shatabdhi expresses was one of the trains partially cancelled on September 25 and October 2 as per a railway release issued a few days ago.