ProUI

270 rubber trees have to be felled to make way for station

Uncertainty over a political decision to fell 330 trees comprising rubber, coconut and areca on railway land near Aryankavu in Kollam district is further delaying the already limping Punalur-Sengottai gauge conversion work being carried out by the Madurai Division of the Railways.The land on which the trees stand is required by the Railways for constructing the yard for a new railway station, tentatively named “New Aryankavu”, which is a mandatory requirement for completing the gauge conversion between Bhagawatheepuram and Thenmala. The trees stand on railway land encroached by local people.The encroachers resist felling of the trees on grounds that they had planted and nurtured them as a means of livelihood. The trees targeted to be felled comprise 270 rubber trees.Though the Railways have agreed to provide financial compensation for the trees, a political decision remains elusive.As per a 1905 agreement between the then Maharaja of Travancore, Sree Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma and the Railways, all trees standing on railway property along the forest portion of the Sengottai-Punalur railway section will be the property of the Forest Department and can be felled only with permission from the Forest Department even if it is for any railway development work. It was part of the Maharaja’s concern for the environment and the need to protect trees.

In fact there were 485 trees on the area earmarked by the Railway for constructing the yard for the new railway station. The felling of 155 of these trees comprising teak and other valuable timber were given clearance by the Forest Department. These were tendered for Rs. 25 lakh and felled six month ago. But there is resistance when it comes to felling the other trees.

Last week, the Forest Department submitted a report to the State government giving clearance for felling the remaining trees. But a final decision is not being taken. H. Anantharaman, Deputy Chief Engineer (Construction), attached to the Madurai Division told The Hindu that the Railways had been waiting for the clearance since the past one year.

Funds for constructing the new station and its yard are already in hand, he said. The old Aryankavu station will be retained for the convenience of the local people.

But the New Aryankavu station is being constructed 3 kms west of the old station as a crossing station which is a mandatory requirement, he said.

The old station area has a gradient of only 1 in 260 suitable to accommodate meter gauge trains. Broad gauge station yards require a minimum gradient of 1 in 400 and that could be achieved between Thenmala and Bhagawatheepuram only at the site earmarked for the New Aryankavu station, Mr. Anantharaman said.

For essential operating reasons a crossing station is required between Thenmala and Bhagawatheepuram. If the gradient is incorrect, the Railway Safety Commission will not give the green signal for passenger traffic. Incorrect gradient will result in stationary trains rolling away. The trees marked to be felled are standing on the alignment of the yard.

Mr. Anantharaman said that even the railway land beyond the portion required for the yard has been encroached upon. But the Railways do not intend touching the trees planted on land which is not required for the yard alignment.

He said that a lot of work is involved for the construction of the new railway station and its yard. Delay in commencing that work will only further delay the completion of the gauge conversion work on the section, he said.

हाथरस : पिछले एक सप्ताह से हाथरस जंक्शन व किला स्टेशन के बीच रिमॉडलिंग का कार्य तेजी से चल रहा है। रविवार को किला स्टेशन पर लाइन पर कार्य किया गया। इधर, एचएडी प्रभावित रहने के कारण दैनिक यात्रियों को परेशानी हो रही है।
हाथरस जंक्शन रेलवे स्टेशन का विस्तार किया जा रहा है। स्टेशन पर छह नंबर प्लेटफार्म बनाया जा रहा है। लाइनों की लंबाई बढ़ाई जा रही है। सिग्नल भी हाइटेक किया जा रहा है। इस दिशा में हाथरस जंक्शन व किला स्टेशन के बीच के प्वांइट भी बदले जा रहे हैं। 21 सितंबर से रिमॉडलिंग का कार्य चल रहा है। डेली शेड्यूल के अनुसार कर्मचारी कार्य को तेजी से निपटाने में लगे हैं। रविवार को किला स्टेशन पर बिजली की हाई पावर लाइन पर काम किया गया। जंक्शन पर रिमॉडलिंग का कार्य समाप्त होने में चार से पांच दिन का समय और लगेगा।
लाइन में कार्य चलने के कारण ट्रेक को नॉन इंटरलॉक (एनआइ) कर दिया गया है। तीन अक्टूबर तक एचएडी ट्रेन के संचालन बंद रहेगा। एचएडी के बंद होने से हाथरस से दिल्ली व अन्य स्टेशन जाने वाले दैनिक यात्रियों को समस्या का सामना करना पड़ रहा है। संचालन बंद होने के कारण हर दिन दस से पंद्रह हजार रुपये का नुकसान हो रहा है।

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.

आजमगढ़ : आजमगढ़ विकास संघर्ष समिति के अध्यक्ष एसके सत्येन के नेतृत्व में मऊ से आजमगढ़ होते हुए दिल्ली जाने वाली आनंद बिहार एक्सप्रेस का रेलवे स्टेशन पर रविवार को पहुंचने पर भव्य स्वागत किया गया। इस दौरान कार्यकर्ताओं ने ट्रेन को फूल-मालाओं से सजा दिया। मऊ के साथ ही जनपदवासियों के दिलों को छूते हुए आनंद-विहार ट्रेन दिल्ली के लिए रवाना हो गई।
ट्रेन अपने निर्धारित समय से 20 मिनट विलंब से प्लेटफार्म नंबर एक पर जैसे ही पहुंची कार्यकर्ताओं ने जमकर नारेबाजी की। इस दौरान ट्रेन के पायलट महेंद्र चौरसिया एवं सहायक अशोक राम को फूल-मालाओं से लाद दिया गया। इस दौरान दोनों पायलट को मिठाइयां खिलाकर स्वागत किया गया। इस अवसर पर एसके सत्येन ने कहा कि आनंद विहार एक्सप्रेस ट्रेन ने मऊ के साथ ही जनपदवासियों का दिल जीत लिया है।
अब दिल्ली जाने के लिए कैफियात के अलावा एक और ट्रेन भी हो गई है। इससे लोगों को काफी सहूलियत मिलेगी। अकेले कैफियात ट्रेन के चलने से लोगों को काफी दिक्कत हो रही थी। पंद्रह-पंद्रह दिन तक आरक्षण ही नहीं मिल पाता था। उन्होंने रेल मंत्रालय से इस ट्रेन को प्रतिदिन चलाने की मांग की। इस अवसर पर विनोद सिंह, नवीन श्रीवास्तव, पपलू, ज्ञानेंद्र सिंह, हकीम बेग, परमात्मा शरण पाण्डेय, अभिषेक जायसवाल, कृपाशंकर पाठक, राजीव सिंह, चंद्रमौली सिंह, आनंद गुप्ता, राजेंद्र आदि उपस्थित थे।

Ludhiana:Encroachments are rampant at Bhadaur House. After encroaching upon the roads, shopkeepers have started parking their vehicle on the incomplete Lakkar Bridge.Despite being aware of the fact the incomplete elevated bridge was being used as a parking lot, the police has turning a blind eye to to the menace.A private parking contractor recently removed a bolder from the bridge and started parking vehicles. The contractor is backed by a politician of the area who is receiving a cut from the money collected from the illegal parking lot. The parking lot turns into an open-air tavern in the evening.Some enthusiastic youngsters are even using the incomplete bridge for motorbike and car stunts.The vacant space underneath the incomplete Lakkar Bridge flyover is serving as parking lot for shopkeepers of Caliber Plaza.Deepak Hilori, the newly appointed ACP (Traffic) said he would speak to the SHO concerned about the menace and appropriate action would be taken against the violators.

NAGPUR: The Bombay High Court has issued notices to the Railway Minister and the senior personnel officer of South East Central Railway seeking reply on a petition regarding sports quota recruitment. The Nagpur bench of justices Vasanti Naik and Atul Chandurkar, which heard the petition last week, sought the replies within two weeks.

Petitioner Nagpur District Football Association has objected to a condition for recruitment of sportspersons as per the 2002 policy framed by the SECR. The condition requires that a candidate, to qualify for sports quota, must have actually played and merely being a part of the team would not suffice.

The Railways had issued an advertisement for recruitment in the sports quota last August.

Petitioner's lawyer advocate Virat Mishra argued that the condition violates sportsperson's fundamental rights and should be set aside.

With a view to provide safety to the road users and to avoid accidents at unmanned Level Crossings, East Coast Railway has taken step to construct Limited Height Sub-way (LHS) near Unmanned Level Crossings in most of the places under its jurisdiction by closing Unmanned Level Crossings.          As a result, the road users will not detain at the Level Crossings till passing of the trains and also the train movement will not be delayed.          As a part of this, the Sambalpur Division of East Coast Railway has commissioned a LHS between Sambalpur City and Maneswar Stations yesterday which has taken o­nly six hours for its installation. The earth under the track was removed by machine and the readymade concrete bridge of 11 feet height and width was placed by a big crane.          The Division has taken Traffic Block between these stations and trains supposed to pass were short terminated from intermediate stations and rescheduled from the originating stations.          Shri Devraj panda, Divisional Railway Manager of Sambalpur Division actively participated in this major safety related work and ensured completion of this work in the specific time, so that, train movements will not be disrupted.

जालंधर. चंडीगढ़ जाने वाले यात्रियों के लिए दो अक्टूबर से हर बुधवार चलने वाली एक नई ट्रेन का संचालन शुरू किया जा रहा है। इस ट्रेन की घोषणा रेलमंत्री ने बजट-2013 में किया था। यह ट्रेन अमृतसर से चलकर चंडीगढ़ के रास्ते लालकुआं तक जाएगी। बुधवार को ट्रेन को हरी झंडी देकर सांसद नवजोत सिंह सिद्ध रवाना करेंगे। इस ट्रेन का जालंधर से चंडीगढ़ का किराया चंडीगढ़ सुपरफास्ट के एसी चेयरकार से पचास रुपए कम होगा। लेकिन चंडीगढ़ सुपरफास्ट से यह ट्रेन चंडीगढ़ पहुंचाने में 27 मिनट अधिक लेगी। इसमें थर्ड एसी और एसी चेयरकार कोच होंगे।

रेलवे की ओर से ट्रेन को चलाए जाने की सभी तैयारियां पूरी कर ली गई है। खास बात यह है कि इसी दिन होशियारपुर-नई दिल्ली के बीच चलने वाली ट्रेन का भी उद्घाटन होगा। इस ट्रेन को केंद्रीय राज्यमंत्री संतोष चौधरी दोपहर करीब साढ़े ग्यारह बजे हरी झंडी देकर रवाना करेंगे। ट्रेन जालंधर कैंट से होकर नई दिल्ली जाएगी। दो अक्टूबर को ट्रेन का केवल उद्घाटन होगा। ट्रेन का नियमित संचालन छह अक्टूबर दिन रविवार से होगा। इसके बाद ट्रेन हर रविवार को होशियारपुर से दिल्ली के लिए चलेगी।

अमृतसर-लालकुआं एक्सप्रेस फुली एसी ट्रेन ट्रेन नंबर-14606 जालंधर से चंडीगढ़ का किराया-थर्ड एसी-460 रुपए -एसी चेयरकार-260 रुपए समय सारणी-जालंधर से सुबह 7.05 बजे रवाना होगी। चंडीगढ़ 10.20 बजे पहुंचेगी। अमृतसर से ट्रेन सुबह 5.55 पर चलेगी। यहां पर रुकेगी-ब्यास, जालंधर, फगवाड़ा, लुधियाना, न्यू मोरिंडा, मोहाली, चंडीगढ़, अंबाला, जगाधरी, सहारनपुर, रुड़की, नजीबाबाद, मुरादाबाद, काशीपुर, लालकुआं -ट्रेन में 13 थर्ड एसी कोच और तीन एसी चेयरकार होंगे। दो गार्ड के डिब्बे। -अमृतसर चंडीगढ़ सुपरफास्ट ट्रेन सुबह 6.22 से सिटी स्टेशन से रवाना होती है और 9.10 बजे चंडीगढ़ पहुंचती है। इसका एसी चेयरकार का किराया 310 रुपए है। जबकि जनरल चेयरकार का किराया 90 रुपए है। यह हर रोज चंडीगढ़ के लिए चलती है। होशियारपुर-नई दिल्ली ट्रेन ट्रेन नंबर-14012 जालंधर कैंट से दिल्ली तक किराया-सेकेंड एसी-755 रुपए -थर्ड एसी-530 रुपए -स्लीपर-200 रुपए समय सारणी-जालंधर कैंट से ट्रेन रात में 9.20 बजे रवाना होगी। अगले दिन सुबह 7.10 बजे पहुंचेगी। यहां पर रुकेगी-होशियारपुर से चलकर जालंधर कैंट, फगवाड़ा, लुधियाना, अंबाला, पानीपत और दिल्ली। रात में सिटी स्टेशन से दिल्ली जाने वाली ट्रेन टाटामूरी-8.58 बजे जम्मू मेल-10.10 बजे गोल्डन टेंपल-10.40 बजे बिशाखापत्तनम एक्सप्रेस-1.05 बजे

Railways has been directed by a consumer forum here to pay Rs 1 lakh to a passenger as compensation for theft of her handbag while travelling from Delhi to Ludhiana in the executive class of Amritsar Shatabdi.

The New Delhi District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum observed that the snatching of her handbag from a moving train could have been prevented and the Railways cannot escape from its liability.

"The facts of the case clearly disclose that the criminal activity of theft has been committed in open daylight in a moving train, which Railways was not able to prevent. It affects the safety of life and property of the passengers in the train. Railways cannot escape from this liability," a bench headed by C K Chaturvedi said.

"Keeping in view the entire circumstances, we award compensation of Rs 1,00,000 for all the loss including litigation expenses, due to criminal activity on train by an outsider in broad daylight, which could have been prevented by adequate measure of Railway Protection Force," the bench said.

The order came on the complaint of Ludhiana resident Smriti Thapar, who said that 10 minutes after the train left New Delhi station and was slowly passing under a bridge near Sadar Bazar Station, a "miscreant" entered the compartment she and her two daughters were travelling in and snatched the handbag which was on her lap.

She had raised an alarm and tried to apprehend the thief but he jumped out of the train, Thapar said, adding an FIR was lodged on October 14, 2009, a day after the incident.

Nobody has been apprehended or arrested pursuant to the said FIR till date and the police closed the case as untraced, she had contended.

No one had appeared on behalf of the Railways despite issuance of notice, the forum noted in its ex-parte order.

In a tragic incident 60 head of cattle were killed and 20 injured when a Chennai bound express train hit them as they were crossing the track near Thenur in this district today.

Police said the grazing herd had started running helter skelter, apparently on suddenly hearing the horn of the Guruvayur-Chennai Express and tried to cross the track.

Officials said there was no delay in the onward journey of the train.

They said the train driver had to maintain a certain speed on that curve in the track and sudden application of brakes would have resulted in derailment.

Angry villagers and owners of the cattle blocked vehicular traffic, demanding compensation for the cattle killed.