ProUI

Stoppage of Jaipur-Sikar at Nindhar Benar.

You wake up in the morning, late. The next half-an-hour is an insane rush and you make it just in time to the MRTS station, having given up breakfast and wishing you could grab a bite. If this is a routine affair, the latest decision by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) may just be a lifesaver.The corporation has invited tenders from agencies interested in setting up food plazas in three MRTS stations — Tirumailai, Thiruvanmiyur and Velachery. According to sources, this will be a pilot project. Based on its success, the project will be extended to other stations. There are a total of 17 MRTS stations on a 25-km stretch.A huge amount of space lies unused in all the MRTS stations. On an average, more than 2,000 square feet is free in most of the stations. This space in many facilities has become a dumping ground for garbage. “The food plazas will come up near the ticketing area,” said a railway source.The plazas will have multiple shops and serve multi-cuisine food. “It will cater to the needs of all passengers. The facility will be similar to the setup at Chennai Central railway station. We have received permission to set up the food plazas and will be starting the process soon,” said a senior railway official.Railway officials said that the existing food plaza in Chennai Beach station is quite popular. “Even those who are not passengers can walk into the station and eat. The food court in Thiruvanmiyur station is expected to get a good crowd, especially due to the presence of IT companies,” said a railway official.

S. Ravi, a passenger, said that as of now, obtaining even drinking water inside the station is a big task. “This is a long-overdue move. The food courts should have been set up long ago considering commuter movement during office hours,” he said.

Another passenger, K. Hari, a government official said that such facilities would also be helpful to weary passengers returning after a long day’s work.

Commuters also pointed out that the setting up of such facilities would enhance the safety of the stations. “As of now, the ticketing area is dingy and poorly illuminated. This makes it very unsafe for passengers, especially women. But things will change if there are food outlets,” said S. Arivalagan, a regular MRTS commuter.

IRCTC has called for tenders for setting up food plazas in three key stations

Ajmer-Surat-Ajmer Weekly Special train.

NAGPUR: Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) is all set to resubmit the detailed project report of metro rail within 15 days. However, Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) standing committee chairman Avinash Thakre, on Friday, created a flutter by stating that it will take at least two years as for the project to get approval as claimed by municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane.Raising four queries, the state government sent the DPR back to NIT on July 23. The state planning department asked NIT to comply with four points which included consent letters from NMC, MADC and other agencies involved in the project. The department also asked NIT to work on financial interest rate of return (FIRR).Following this, the proposal was tabled before the standing committee in the meeting held on Friday seeking its approval to bear 5% of total project's cost.Thakre informed that approval has been given to NMC to bear Rs 450.35 crore of the total project cost of Rs 9,007 crore. "Rahul Telang had asked the administration whether NMC could bear such a huge cost in the current financial condition. Wardhane, then, gave a power point presentation and said that the NMC had nothing to worry as it will take at least two years to comply with the FIRR query," Thakre said.

When Thakre was asked to clarify his statement, he explained that Wardhane has claimed that NMC will have to bear the cost only after two years as the work on FIRR query will take such long time.

"Standing committee has clearly stated, while, approving the funds that NMC will bear no escalation cost in the project. NMC will bear 5% of the total project cost which would be approved by the central government. NMC will not pay a single penny if the project cost escalates after approval," he said.

On the status of the project, NIT chairman Pravin Darade told TOI that the DPR will be submitted within 15 days. "We have worked out the FIRR issue and are all set to submit the project."

In fact, it is NMC which is delaying issuance of consent letter to NIT. Thakre said that the proposal will be tabled before the general body. The meeting of the general body will be held next month followed by approval of minutes in November. NIT had written to NMC seeking consent letter in June. Even, the state urban development department had in July directed NMC to give NIT the letter.

NAGPUR: The Dahi Bazaar railway overbridge at Itwari, which connects central and east Nagpur, is heading towards another deadline failure. This apart, the delay has also lead to an additional burden on the cash-strapped NMC as it has escalated cost by 70%.The construction of the Y-shaped ROB connecting Itwari with Mahdibagh and Shanti Nagar was started in 2009 and was scheduled to be completed in February 2010. The deadline was later extended to September 2013. Now, a fresh deadline of 2014 has been set for the project. Sources in NMC now say that the bridge would be completed only by 2015.The sources said that the approach ramp of the ROB from Mahdibagh-end is complete while construction on the Itwari-end is going on at a snail's pace. The work on the Shanti Nagar portion has not even started yet.The 392-meter ROB over the Nagpur-Kolkata railway line would be a boon for the people of Itwari, Shanti Nagar, Maskasath and other places in east Nagpur, as the present ROB is very narrow.An official told TOI: "The work is way behind schedule. Going by the current pace, it is expected to be operational by 2015. The work could not be undertaken in full swing because of funds problem. When it was sanctioned, the cost was Rs 9.03 crore. Now the cost is over Rs 16 crore."

The lack of coordination between the NMC and railways has resulted in the delay, a source said. Currently, the work to install girder on railway track land is yet to begin. "To facilitate this, the civic body has sought permission from the commissioner of railway safety," said the official.

The official said the work from Mehdibagh is already complete while the work towards Mirchi Bazaar is going on. He claimed that it is likely to be completed by 2014. "Every morning between 10am and 11am there is a traffic jam. Similarly, crossing the bridge is a nightmare after 7pm. In rush hour, it can take more than an hour," he said.

Itwari residents also complain of getting stuck in traffic jams at the narrow ROB near the railway station even though removal of encroachments has reduced congestion to some extent.

Miles To Go: Incomplete Projects

* Gorewada zoo

* Ram Jhula

* Maskasath ROB

* Mihan

* Manish Nagar ROB

* Pardi flyover

* Residency Road flyover

NAGPUR: Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) is all set to resubmit the detailed project report of metro rail within 15 days. However, Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) standing committee chairman Avinash Thakre, on Friday, created a flutter by stating that it will take at least two years as for the project to get approval as claimed by municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane.

Raising four queries, the state government sent the DPR back to NIT on July 23. The state planning department asked NIT to comply with four points which included consent letters from NMC, MADC and other agencies involved in the project. The department also asked NIT to work on financial interest rate of return (FIRR).

Following this, the proposal was tabled before the standing committee in the meeting held on Friday seeking its approval to bear 5% of total project’s cost.

Thakre informed that approval has been given to NMC to bear Rs.450.35 crore of the total project cost of Rs.9007 crore. “Rahul Telang had asked the administration whether NMC could bear such a huge cost in the current financial condition. Wardhane, then, gave a power point presentation and said that the NMC had nothing to worry as it will take at least two years to comply with the FIRR query,” Thakre said.

When Thakre was asked to clarify his statement, he explained that Wardhane has claimed that NMC will have to bear the cost only after two years as the work on FIRR query will take such long time.

“Standing committee has clearly stated, while, approving the funds that NMC will bear no escalation cost in the project. NMC will bear 5% of the total project cost which would be approved by the central government. NMC will not pay a single penny if the project cost escalates after approval,” he said.

On the status of the project, NIT chairman Pravin Darade told that the DPR will be submitted within 15 days. “We have worked out the FIRR issue and are all set to submit the project.”

In fact, it is NMC which is delaying issuance of consent letter to NIT. Thakre said that the proposal will be tabled before the general body. The meeting of the general body will be held next month followed by approval of minutes in November. NIT had written to NMC seeking consent letter in June. Even, the state urban development department had in July directed NMC to give NIT the letter.

पलपल इंडिया ब्यूरो, मुंबई. पश्चिम रेलवे की पुरुष हॉकी टीम ने हाल ही में मुंबई में आयोजित सुपर लीग हॉकी  टूर्नामेंट 2013-14 के फाइनल में भारतीय नौसेना को 4-2 से हराकर टूर्नामेंट का खिातब जीत लिया.

पश्चिम रेलवे के राष्ट्रीय खिलाड़ी चिंगलेन साना ने फाइनल में भारतीय नौसेना के विरुद्ध दो गोल किये, जबकि कुलदीप सिंह तथा स्टेनिल मिंज ने एक-एक गोल किया. विजेता टीम  को एक ट्रॉफी एवं 1 लाख रु. का नकद पुरस्कार दिया गया. पश्चिम रेलवे के महाप्रबंधक प्रमोद कुमार ने इक खिताबी जीत पर प्रसन्नता व्यक्त करते हुए टीम के सदस्यों को बधाई दी है.

NAGPUR: Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) is all set to resubmit the detailed project report of metro rail within 15 days. However, Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) standing committee chairman Avinash Thakre, on Friday, created a flutter by stating that it will take at least two years as for the project to get approval as claimed by municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane.

Raising four queries, the state government sent the DPR back to NIT on July 23. The state planning department asked NIT to comply with four points which included consent letters from NMC, MADC and other agencies involved in the project. The department also asked NIT to work on financial interest rate of return (FIRR).

Following this, the proposal was tabled before the standing committee in the meeting held on Friday seeking its approval to bear 5% of total project’s cost.

Thakre informed that approval has been given to NMC to bear Rs.450.35 crore of the total project cost of Rs.9007 crore. “Rahul Telang had asked the administration whether NMC could bear such a huge cost in the current financial condition. Wardhane, then, gave a power point presentation and said that the NMC had nothing to worry as it will take at least two years to comply with the FIRR query,” Thakre said.

When Thakre was asked to clarify his statement, he explained that Wardhane has claimed that NMC will have to bear the cost only after two years as the work on FIRR query will take such long time.

“Standing committee has clearly stated, while, approving the funds that NMC will bear no escalation cost in the project. NMC will bear 5% of the total project cost which would be approved by the central government. NMC will not pay a single penny if the project cost escalates after approval,” he said.

On the status of the project, NIT chairman Pravin Darade told that the DPR will be submitted within 15 days. “We have worked out the FIRR issue and are all set to submit the project.”

In fact, it is NMC which is delaying issuance of consent letter to NIT. Thakre said that the proposal will be tabled before the general body. The meeting of the general body will be held next month followed by approval of minutes in November. NIT had written to NMC seeking consent letter in June. Even, the state urban development department had in July directed NMC to give NIT the letter.

पलपल इंडिया ब्यूरो, मुंबई. पश्चिम रेलवे की पुरुष हॉकी टीम ने हाल ही में मुंबई में आयोजित सुपर लीग हॉकी  टूर्नामेंट 2013-14 के फाइनल में भारतीय नौसेना को 4-2 से हराकर टूर्नामेंट का खिातब जीत लिया.

पश्चिम रेलवे के राष्ट्रीय खिलाड़ी चिंगलेन साना ने फाइनल में भारतीय नौसेना के विरुद्ध दो गोल किये, जबकि कुलदीप सिंह तथा स्टेनिल मिंज ने एक-एक गोल किया. विजेता टीम  को एक ट्रॉफी एवं 1 लाख रु. का नकद पुरस्कार दिया गया. पश्चिम रेलवे के महाप्रबंधक प्रमोद कुमार ने इक खिताबी जीत पर प्रसन्नता व्यक्त करते हुए टीम के सदस्यों को बधाई दी है.

The Western Railway has urged people not to get inspired by a video showing few boys performing a dangerous stunt on rail tracks.

The video shows teenagers lying on the track while the train passes through. “The video does not appear to have been shot in suburban section of Mumbai as the gap between sleepers and ballast is not so much here for a kid to lie down,” said a Western Railway spokesperson.

Prabhat Kumar, Commissioner of Police (Railways), has urged people to not get inspired and attempt such stunts. He said since no complaint has been registered and the police cannot take any action as of now.

In the past as well, the railway police in Mumbai has received complaints of people performing dangerous stunts on local trains. During a drive on September 11, the Government Railway Police at Kurla had caught 12 teenagers for performing such stunts.

Thousands of people die every year in suburban train accidents in the city. According to information accessed through the Right to Information, more than 3,500 persons lost their lives in accidents in the city last year.