ProUI

Radha Sreevaran and her husband had just stepped into the two-tier AC compartment on a train at the Bangalore City railway station last week when three men offered to help them with their luggage. Soon after, the couple realised that Mr. Sreevaran’s mobile phone was missing from his pocket.“It was just about five seconds after they left the compartment that we realised the phone was missing. The three men were wearing uniforms and looked like cleaners. The phone had been gifted to my husband exactly a month ago,” said Ms. Sreevaran, recounting the theft.The cleaners were later summoned by the ticket collector (TC) on the train and Ms. Sreevaran recognised two of them. She filed a complaint with the Bangarpet police, where the train stopped next, and the two men were detained by the police for questioning.The police are yet to ascertain whether the men were indeed involved in the theft.There have been several incidents like this at the City railway station, be it on trains or on the railway platforms. Passengers have complained of losing their luggage, laptops, wallets and briefcases.Some months ago, an NRI lodged a complaint with the railway police after losing his briefcase, containing foreign currencies among other valuables. He too fell prey to an attention diversion tactic. “A man drew my attention to a Rs. 10 note fallen near the ticket counter while I was speaking on the mobile phone. Unconsciously, I bent to pick up the note. When I turned around, my luggage was missing.”The Government Railway Police (GRP) at the City railway station has registered 164 cases this year so far. These include 15 in August and seven in September so far. Picking pockets and suitcase lifting accounted for most cases. About 56 cases pertained to theft while eight were cases of chain-snatching.So far this year, 35 arrests have been made and 22 high-end mobile phones recovered.In 2012, 213 cases were registered.However, these figures may only be a fraction of the actual crimes, as many go unreported. “Not all passengers come forward to file a complaint,” a Railway police official said.

Ludhiana : The Railway authorities have challaned more than 600 persons in an inter-divisional surprise checking at Ludhiana railway station. They were travelling without ticket and were violating other norms.The drive of the Commercial Department of the Railways continued till late evening. However, the authorities did not disclose that for how long they would run the drive, but it was expected to continue on Friday.A team of Travelling Ticket Examiners from Ambala led by Additional Commercial Manager, Ferozepur Division, began checking the tickets of the passengers this morning.Tarlok Singh, Additional Commercial Manager, Ferozepur Division, said, "We have challaned more than 600 persons for not carrying tickets and violating other rules. We can't say for how long the drive will continue. The passengers have been our main focus today. We did not count the amount, collected during the ongoing drive".

Chennai: Terming the 15 per cent hike in railway freight charges, which will come into effect from Octotber 1 'unfair', chief minister J. Jayalalithaa has urged the Centre to withdraw the hike in view of the present conditions of rising inflation.She said the Centre’s move to hike the railway freight was 'like adding fuel to fire' as it had come against the backdrop of spiralling cost of essential commodities triggered by frequent hike in the prices of petroleum products.“When the railway freight movement is uniform thr­o­ughout the year, classifying the nine-month period from October-June as busy season artificially and charging busy season rates is unfair,” Jyal­alithaa said. She said the Railways under its dyn­amic pricing policy has classified July-September as lean season and October-June as a busy season. The freight rates were higher during the busy season.She stated that during the period from April to June 2011, the Centre had raised the freight charges for coal by five per cent and seven per cent for other products. “From October 2011 to June 2012, the freight charges for all products were hiked by ten per cent and from October 2012 to June 2013, the Centre had the freight charges for food grains and chemical fertilisers fixed at ten per cent each and 12 per cent for other products for the busy season,” the chief minister said and added that this was proposed to be hiked further by 15 per cent from October 1.

As a result of this hike, there will be an all-round increase in the prices of essential commodities and also in the raw material prices for factories resulting in higher inflation. Further, this would hurt the people and the economy rather than stabilising it, she said flaying the Centre for its decision to enhance the charges.

Micro units will be hit hard with rise in raw material cost

Coimbatore: The 15 per cent hike in charges in freight trains, set to come into effect from October 1 across the country, has drawn dismay from the micro units in the region.

“We are shocked by this. The hike in freight charge will affect not only us, but also the life of the common man,” said J. Ja­mes, president of the TN Asso­ciation of Cottage and Micro Enterprises here on Saturday.

Power cuts over the last few years had led to a decline in job orders. Al­so, their business depends mainly on the railways, with raw materials from north India being brought here by train and the ma­nufactured goods being sent to the various states. Power shortage had also made it difficult for micro units here to compete with industries in north India, causing them to lose their orders.

The hike in fuel price had brought its own woes to industries because raw material and transportation costs and the prices of essential commodities too had gone up. “Many labourers were on the verge of losing their jobs. The price hike will only cripple us,” said James. The micro units have urged the Centre and the ministry to drop the move to hike freight charges.

The railway overbridge (ROB) being constructed in place of Lakkar Pul will be complete by November this year. The work on the ROB was delayed as some part of it was to be constructed by the state government through the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation.This was disclosed in a letter by the Union Railway Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, to the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari, who had sought his personal intervention for the early completion of the overbridge.The Railways were supposed to construct two spans, one straight and another curved, while the approach roads were to be completed by the Municipal Corporation.The minister said, while the work on the straight span was expected to be completed by October this year, the work on the curved span would be completed by November this year.The railway bridge portion consists of two separate legs in Y shape and each leg is of two road widths and another leg is on a curve having two spans. The foundation and the sub-structure of the straight span have been completed. The super structure girder for one span has been fabricated, tested and brought to the site for launching and the girder for another span has also been fabricated and is undergoing testing. The work on this span is expected to be completed by October 2013.The foundation and sub-structure of the curved span has been completed while design of the pier cap is in progress and is expected to be completed by November this year.

Matunga and Mulund stations: Fast trains leaving CST from 10.08 am to 2.51 pm will be diverted o­n slow line between Matunga and Mulund stations. These trains will halt at all stations between Sion and Mulund during the block period. Up line fast trains leaving Thane from 10.50 am to 3.36 pm will halt at Mulund, Bhandup, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar and Kurla during the block period. The trains will run 15-20 mins behind schedule.

Bandra/Andheri and CST: There's a Mega block between Borivali and Goregoan stations of the western line today. Local trains will not be running between these stations from 10:35 am to 3:35 pm.

All down Harbour line services for Bandra/Andheri leaving CST from 10.20 am to 4.04 pm and all Up harbour line services leaving Bandra/Andheri for CST from 10.40 am to 3.44 pm will be cancelled. Harbour line passengers for Bandra/Andheri are permitted to travel via Main line and Western Railway from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm o­n 29th September 2013.

Kurla and CST: All Up Harbour line services for CST leaving Kurla from 11.08 am to 3.20 pm will run via main line between Kurla and CST. These trains will not halt at Currey Road and Chinchpokli.

Borivali and Goregaon: Fast local trains will run on slow like between Goregaon and Borivali stations from 10:35 am to 3:35 pm. Some trains will be cancelled. During the block period, Borivali trains will arrive/leave from platform no. 7/8/2 at Borivali and Virar trains o­n platform no. 1/3 at Borivali. Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook

Holding it guilty of poor upkeep of train coaches, a consumer forum has directed Railways to pay Rs. 1 lakh as compensation to a Supreme Court advocate, who injured his fingers due to a loosely covered fan in a train in 2011.

"We hold Indian Railways guilty of deficiency and direct chairman, Railway Board, who is impleaded by us as main party, to pay compensation of Rs. 1 lakh inclusive of litigation charges for the deficiency of poor upkeep of coaches," the New Delhi Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum said.

A bench headed by CK Chaturvedi and members Asha Kumar and SR Chaudhary directed Railways to pay the amount in a month while also pulling it up for trying to dismiss the issue on the ground of jurisdiction.

The order came on the complaint of Bharat Bhushan Dinkar, who said that he was travelling from Muzaffarpur in Bihar to Delhi in Sapt Kranti Express on August 21, 2011 when upon reaching the upper berth, his hand hit the overhead fan which was fitted with a broken cover, leading to grievous injuries to his fingers in the right hand.

He said upon reporting the matter to railway employees on board, he was given first aid at Narkatiyaganj junction and had to complete his journey in pain.

He said he got his fingers examined at the health centre of Delhi high court and was referred to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital where he took treatment till January last year.

The complainant also told the forum that being an advocate, he was not able to work on the laptop, handle books properly or even hold a pen.

The bench rejected Northern Railway's contention that the forum does not have the jurisdiction to hear the complaint and that as he suffered his injury in Bihar, he should go to that state to file the complaint.

"The whole contention is misconceived and deserves to be thrown out at the threshold. India Railway is one entity and for efficient management of its organisation, it is divided in Nine Zones under the Railway Act.

"He (complainant) suffered pain and inconvenience in whole journey till Delhi and in Delhi he got injury examined and got treated... Railway is directly responsible for injury sustained due to loosely covered fan, to any person in journey anywhere. The facts speak for themselves in the case," it said.

अलवर। उत्तर पश्चिम रेलवे के सीसीएम (मुख्य वाणिज्य प्रबंधक) दीपक छाबड़ा ने कहा है कि जयपुर-दिल्ली मार्ग पर संचालित सवारी गाडियों में जल्द ही डिब्बे बढ़ाए जाएंगे। इसके साथ ही अलवर स्टेशन पर फूड प्लाजा का काम भी जल्द शुरू होगा। छाबड़ा ने स्टेशन पर अन्य सुविधाएं बढ़ाने के भी स्थानीय रेलवे अधिकारियों को निर्देश दिए।

छाबड़ा पहली बार शनिवार को अलवर स्टेशन पर आए थे। वे दोपहर करीब 12.30 बजे के बरेली एक्सप्रेस से अलवर स्टेशन पर पहुंचे। सीसीएम ने अलवर को कई सौगात देने की घोष्ााणा की। उन्होंने पूछताछ काउंटर पर ऑटोमेटिक एलसीडी स्क्रीन लगाने, स्टेशन के बाहर टिकट काउंटर बढ़ाने और प्लेट फार्म पर खाली जगह पर टीनशेड लगवाने के निर्देश दिए। इसी दौरान छाबड़ा ने पत्रिका से बातचीत में बताया कि ट्रांसपोर्ट नगर स्थित मालगोदाम को सीमेंटेड कराया जाएगा। वहां काम करने वाले मजदूरों के लिए अलग बैठने की व्यवस्था होगी।

जयपुर दिल्ली रूट पर चलने वाली सवारी गाडियों में डिब्बे बढ़ाए जाएंगे। हालांकि उन्होंने यह खुलासा नहीं किया कि कौन-कौन सी ट्रेनों मे डिब्बों की संख्या बढ़ाई जाएगी। उन्होंने कहा कि इस पर एक दो दिन में फैसला कर लिया जाएगा। इससे पूर्व छाबड़ा का यहां पहुंचने पर स्टेशन अधीक्षक एसएन शर्मा व मुख्य टिकट संग्राहक जीतेन्द्र शर्मा, सीएमआई रामसिंह पवार ने उनका स्वागत किया। इस मौके पर जयपुर मंडल के डीसीएम (मंडल वाणिज्य प्रबंधक) रतनेश झा भी मौजूद थे। बाद मेें वे नारनौल रवाना हो गए।

यह भी कहा सीसीएम ने

-प्लेट फार्म नंबर एक बने पूछताछ केंद्र पर ऑटोमेटिक डिस्प्ले बोर्ड लगेंगे। इससे यात्रियों को ट्रेन की हर पल की सूचना मिल सकेगी।

-फूड प्लाजा का निर्माण कार्य जल्द शुरू होगा। इसका नक्शा अनुमोदन के लिए भेजा गया है। मजूंरी मिलते ही काम शुरू हो जाएगा। -टिकट काउंटर की बढ़ेगी।

प्लेट फार्म नंबर एक व दो के दोनों तरफ काउंटर दिए जाएंगे। -स्टेशन के पास नया साइकिल स्टैंड बनेगा। कितने क्षेत्र में स्टैंड बनेगा व उस पर कितनी लागत आएगी, इस पर अभी फैसला नहीं हुआ है।

स्कूल- कॉलेजों से होगा संपर्क

सीसीएम ने स्टेशन के अधीक्षक को निर्देश दिए कि स्कूलों व कॉलेजों से जाकर संपर्क किया जाए ताकि अधिक से अधिक छात्र-छात्राएं एमएसटी बनवा सके। उसके लिए वहां के प्रधानाचार्य से बातचीत भी की जाए।

अलवर। उत्तर पश्चिम रेलवे के सीसीएम (मुख्य वाणिज्य प्रबंधक) दीपक छाबड़ा ने कहा है कि जयपुर-दिल्ली मार्ग पर संचालित सवारी गाडियों में जल्द ही डिब्बे बढ़ाए जाएंगे। इसके साथ ही अलवर स्टेशन पर फूड प्लाजा का काम भी जल्द शुरू होगा। छाबड़ा ने स्टेशन पर अन्य सुविधाएं बढ़ाने के भी स्थानीय रेलवे अधिकारियों को निर्देश दिए।

छाबड़ा पहली बार शनिवार को अलवर स्टेशन पर आए थे। वे दोपहर करीब 12.30 बजे के बरेली एक्सप्रेस से अलवर स्टेशन पर पहुंचे। सीसीएम ने अलवर को कई सौगात देने की घोष्ााणा की। उन्होंने पूछताछ काउंटर पर ऑटोमेटिक एलसीडी स्क्रीन लगाने, स्टेशन के बाहर टिकट काउंटर बढ़ाने और प्लेट फार्म पर खाली जगह पर टीनशेड लगवाने के निर्देश दिए। इसी दौरान छाबड़ा ने पत्रिका से बातचीत में बताया कि ट्रांसपोर्ट नगर स्थित मालगोदाम को सीमेंटेड कराया जाएगा। वहां काम करने वाले मजदूरों के लिए अलग बैठने की व्यवस्था होगी।

जयपुर दिल्ली रूट पर चलने वाली सवारी गाडियों में डिब्बे बढ़ाए जाएंगे। हालांकि उन्होंने यह खुलासा नहीं किया कि कौन-कौन सी ट्रेनों मे डिब्बों की संख्या बढ़ाई जाएगी। उन्होंने कहा कि इस पर एक दो दिन में फैसला कर लिया जाएगा। इससे पूर्व छाबड़ा का यहां पहुंचने पर स्टेशन अधीक्षक एसएन शर्मा व मुख्य टिकट संग्राहक जीतेन्द्र शर्मा, सीएमआई रामसिंह पवार ने उनका स्वागत किया। इस मौके पर जयपुर मंडल के डीसीएम (मंडल वाणिज्य प्रबंधक) रतनेश झा भी मौजूद थे। बाद मेें वे नारनौल रवाना हो गए।

यह भी कहा सीसीएम ने

-प्लेट फार्म नंबर एक बने पूछताछ केंद्र पर ऑटोमेटिक डिस्प्ले बोर्ड लगेंगे। इससे यात्रियों को ट्रेन की हर पल की सूचना मिल सकेगी।

-फूड प्लाजा का निर्माण कार्य जल्द शुरू होगा। इसका नक्शा अनुमोदन के लिए भेजा गया है। मजूंरी मिलते ही काम शुरू हो जाएगा। -टिकट काउंटर की बढ़ेगी।

प्लेट फार्म नंबर एक व दो के दोनों तरफ काउंटर दिए जाएंगे। -स्टेशन के पास नया साइकिल स्टैंड बनेगा। कितने क्षेत्र में स्टैंड बनेगा व उस पर कितनी लागत आएगी, इस पर अभी फैसला नहीं हुआ है।

स्कूल- कॉलेजों से होगा संपर्क

सीसीएम ने स्टेशन के अधीक्षक को निर्देश दिए कि स्कूलों व कॉलेजों से जाकर संपर्क किया जाए ताकि अधिक से अधिक छात्र-छात्राएं एमएसटी बनवा सके। उसके लिए वहां के प्रधानाचार्य से बातचीत भी की जाए।

Union Minister for Railways Mallikarjun Kharge said on Saturday that the new railway projects are getting delayed as the State government is slow in sanctioning funds and acquiring land.

After flagging off the Yeshwantpur-Mangalore-Yeshwantpur16565/16566 Weekly Express, Kharge said that the Union government is quick in implementing the railway projects, but the State government is not able to cope up with the Centre in this regard.

The Centre has taken up 13 new railway projects and some are almost complete. Four more projects will be completed in the next four to five months.

For the new railway project, the State had to release Rs 700 crore, but till now only Rs 50 crore has been released with delay in the acquisition of land to lay the new track.

Mangalore-Kadur railway track laying work has been completed and  it will become functional in another two months. Kottur-Harihar route will start in another three months and Kolar-Chikballapur route has completed trials, he said.

Kharge further said, all the projects which were promised by the Central government have been completed, for women safety, Centre is planning to appoint women constables and inspectors.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas M Veerappa Moily, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundurao, Home Minister K J George and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy were present.

Matunga and Mulund stations: Fast trains leaving CST from 10.08 am to 2.51 pm will be diverted o­n slow line between Matunga and Mulund stations. These trains will halt at all stations between Sion and Mulund during the block period. Up line fast trains leaving Thane from 10.50 am to 3.36 pm will halt at Mulund, Bhandup, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar and Kurla during the block period. The trains will run 15-20 mins behind schedule.

Bandra/Andheri and CST: There's a Mega block between Borivali and Goregoan stations of the western line today. Local trains will not be running between these stations from 10:35 am to 3:35 pm.

All down Harbour line services for Bandra/Andheri leaving CST from 10.20 am to 4.04 pm and all Up harbour line services leaving Bandra/Andheri for CST from 10.40 am to 3.44 pm will be cancelled. Harbour line passengers for Bandra/Andheri are permitted to travel via Main line and Western Railway from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm o­n 29th September 2013.

Kurla and CST: All Up Harbour line services for CST leaving Kurla from 11.08 am to 3.20 pm will run via main line between Kurla and CST. These trains will not halt at Currey Road and Chinchpokli.

Borivali and Goregaon: Fast local trains will run on slow like between Goregaon and Borivali stations from 10:35 am to 3:35 pm. Some trains will be cancelled. During the block period, Borivali trains will arrive/leave from platform no. 7/8/2 at Borivali and Virar trains o­n platform no. 1/3 at Borivali. Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook