ProUI

Normal life was thrown out of gear in all the 13 districts of the Seemandhra region on Friday after anti-bifurcation activists took to the streets protesting the Cabinet’s green signal for the formation of a separate Telangana State.

Protesters squatted on the rail-cum-road bridge on Godavari near Rajamundry, while miscreants stoned the ticket booking office at Kadapa railway station.

Passengers at the Gorakhpur Junction are having a difficult time as the remodelling of the railway yard that began last week has led to rescheduling and cancellation of several trains. The lines were blocked from 7 am to 10 am on Friday following which several important trains, including those coming from Delhi, Guwahati and Kolkata, were running late. According to railway sources, Intercity Express trains running from Gorakhpur to Chhapra, Lucknow and Nautanwa will remain suspended on Saturday, while Manduadih-Gorakhpur Intercity Express will terminate at Gorakhpur Cantt. Station.

Gorakhpur Junction platform would be the world's longest: GM, North Eastern Railway Similarly, Jan-Nayak Express running between Darbhanga and Amritsar and Ajmer-New Jalpaiguri express will not run on Saturday (Oct 5). Delhi-bound Gharib Rath, Kamakhya Exp, Gorakhdham Exp, Vaishali Exp and Saptkranti Express, however, will run on their normal schedule from Gorakhpur Junction. The yard remodelling and non-interlocking work would be completed on October 6, the sources said, adding that normal train services from Gorakhpur Junction will be restored from October 8 after trial of inter-locking. General Manager, North Eastern Railway, KK Atal said that after the remodelling, Gorakhpur Junction platform would be the world's longest.

Escalators, lifts to be inaugurated at Kozhikode station on Monday

Kozhikode railway station is turning friendlier with age. On October 7, the station, which completed 125 years and is a colonial landmark of the port city, will welcome passengers with spanking new escalators and lifts.

Used to the weary sight of passengers climbing the stairs criss-crossing its four platforms and narrow entrances and exits, the new infrastructure is an eager step towards the station’s ambition to become a world-class facility.

Minister to inaugurate

The two sets of escalators and three lifts, built at a cost of about Rs.3.75 crore, is scheduled to be formally commissioned by Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy, Union Minister of State for Railways, who is also in charge of the southern States.

“The Kozhikode railway station has a daily footfall of over 50,000 passengers, a large chunk of which are commuters rushing from one point to the other. Besides, the number of train coaches has been increased to 24. All this requires that we ensure easy access to passengers,” Mohan Menon, Additional Divisional Manager, Southern Railways, said on Thursday.

The station falls in the A1 category as annual income from passengers is over Rs.60 crore.

A1-category station

As per the Railway Board guidelines, A1-category stations have to offer passenger amenities for the differently abled and the elderly, such as ramps and escalators, necessarily to elevate them to world-class stations.

Railways have decided to provide such passenger amenities at A-category stations and had identified 300 such stations across the country. More importantly, Mr. Menon said infrastructure was being built in railway stations with an eye on Kerala’s demographic indicators such as an ageing population continuing to travel.

Several demands

The Railways have received several demands to improve the station’s infrastructure, including roofs for the platforms, foot-overbridges connecting the platforms, a south-side entry to the station and an international shopping complex on its premises.

“We have had suggestions from KITCO to take the public private partnership (PPP) route to evolve our stations into world-class facilities. We have also had suggestions to rope in agencies such as the Railway Land Development Agency along with global leaders and take the auction route,” Mr. Menon said.

But on the flipside, both routes would run the risk of private partners demanding their “pound of flesh” by wanting to occupy prime space in the stations.

Bangalore:  The Karnataka government will release Rs 150 crore this month for railway projects in the state being taken up with the Ministry of Railways on a cost-sharing basis, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Thursday.

A sum of Rs 100 crore has already been released in this regard, and Rs 150 crore would be pumped in this month, the Chief Minister said after a meeting with senior Railway officials.

“The remaining amount, including additional would be released this year,” Siddarmaiah said.

In addition to the Rs 350 crore Budget provision made by the Karnataka government for the projects, the state would have to provide another Rs 200 crore as its share as Union Railway Minister M Mallikarjuna Kharge, who hails from the State, had announced additional funding for such projects in Karnataka, the Chief Minister said.

Minister of State for Infrastructure Development Santosh Lad said Karnataka would give within a week a list of projects to the Railways that needed to be taken up on a priority basis.

State officials said the government has taken proactive steps to speed up land acquisiton, including invoking emergency clause, and 2500 acres was acquired and handed over to the Railways in the last three years.

The state government urged the Railways to focus on completing and operationalising ongoing projects that are nearing completion such as Kolar-Chikkaballapura gauge conversion, Kadur-Chikmagalur and Kottur-Harihara lines.

State officials expressed concern that the burden of cost-sharing is high and uncertain. While initial approval for projects is based on line estimates, their cost gets escalated, they said.

They also pointed out that the fund requirement for already committed projects is around Rs 10,000 crore in addition to land acquisition cost.

“Hence, Railways should encourage public-private-partnership when PPP policy has been announced,” officials said.

According to officials, there are 27 Railway projects in Karnataka having a total length of 2876 km and anticipated cost of Rs 22,400 crore. There are 16 projects which are being cost shared by Government of Karnataka.

A  special train will be run  between Nanded & Bikaner to clear extra rush of passengers .

Train no 07408 Nanded – Bikaner special train will depart from Nanded at 08.00 hrs o­n 05thOctober,2013 o­nly and will reach Bikaner at 23.45hrs o­n next day. This train o­n its journey o­n Western Railway will reach Nandurbar at 21.30 hrs  o­n 05th October,2013 and will reach Surat at 01.50 hrs , Vadodara at 04.27 hrs , Ahmedabad at 08.05 hrs , Mehsana at 10.05 hrs and Palanpur at 12.15 hrs o­n 06th October,2013.

Similarly Train no 07409 Bikaner – Nanded special train will depart from Bikaner at 20.40 hrs o­n 07th October,2013 and will reach Nanded at 10.00hrs o­n 09thOctober,2013 . This train o­n its journey o­n Western Railway will reach Palanpur at 07.47 hrs , Mehsana at 08.42 hrs , Ahmedabad at 10.45 hrs , Vadodara at 13.12 hrs , Surat at 15.35 hrs and Nandurbar at 19.40 hrs o­n 08th October,2013.

It will also halt at Purna Jn., Parbhani Jn., Selu, Partur, Jalna, Aurangabad, Manmad, Jalgaon, Amalner, Abu Road,Sirohi Road,Falna,Rani,Marwar Jn., Pali Malwar,Luni Jn, Jodhpur Jn,Gotan,Merta Road Jn.,Nagur and Nokha stations in both direction  besides stations mentioned above over Western Railway .

This train will have AC 3Tier , AC 2Tier , Second Class sleeper and Second Class general coaches.

CHANDIGARH: With the Northern Railways finally announcing to start the train between Kalka-Chandigarh-Shirdi, lakhs of Sai devotees across the tricity of Chandigarh-Mohali Panchkula and the region have the reason to celebrate.

Union minister and Ambala MP Selja will flag off the train from Kalka at 7pm while Chandigarh MP Pawan Kumar Bansal will flag off the train at 7.40pm on Sunday. With this, Sai devotees long pending demand has finally met.

Earlier devotees had to either board the train from Ambala or from New Delhi to reach Shirdi. After New Delhi, this is the second such direct train which will reach Sai Nagar Shirdi. Train no.22455/22456 (Kalka-Sai Nagar Shirdi bi weekly Superfast) is being inaugurated from Kalka to Sai Nagar Shirdi on 06.10.2013. The train will comprise of total 13 coaches having the composition of 2-Tier AC (01 coach), 3-Tier AC (01 coach), Sleeper (03 Coaches) and Unreserved ( 06 Coaches) & SLR's (02 Coaches).

On its outward journey, train No. 22456 will depart on every Thursday & Sunday ex-Kalka at 19:00 hrs. and will reach Sai Nagar Shirdi on Friday & Monday at 22:15 hrs. having stoppages at Chandigarh, Ambala Cantt, Panipat, New Delhi, H. Nizamudin, Mathura, Agra Cantt, Gawalior, Bhopal, Bhusawal & Manmad.

On its return journey from Sai Nagar Shirdi weekly train no. 22455 will depart on every Tuesday & Saturday ex- Sai Nagar Shirdi at 10:00hrs. and will reach Kalka on Wednesday & Sunday at 12:35 hrs. having stoppages at Manmad, Bhuswal, Bhopal, Gwalior, Agra Cantt, Mathura, H.Zimamudin, New Delhi, Panipat, Ambala Cantt & Chandigarh.

The Sai devotees have hailed the decision of railway authorities. Said Ramesh Kalia, the president of Shirdi Sai Samaj, `` Keeping in view the tourist rush in other trains, the railway authorities should make this train as daily train or atleast three days in the week."

For the convenience of passengers and to clear extra rush during the festive season, Western Railway will run special trains for the benefit of passengers.

·Mumbai Central–New Delhi Bi-Weekly AC Superfast special train(28 Services)


Train no 09003 Mumbai Central-New Delhi Bi-Weekly AC Superfast special train will depart from Mumbai Central at 19.45 hrs o­n every Tuesday & Saturday and reach New Delhi at 17.35 hrs o­n the next day. This train will run from 15thOctober to 30th November,2013.

Similarly, Train no 09004 New Delhi-Mumbai Central Bi-Weekly AC Superfast special train will depart from New Delhi at 23.40 hrs o­n every Wednesday & Sunday and reach Mumbai Central at 21.15 hrs o­n the next day. This train will run from 16th  October to 01st December,2013.

The train will halt at Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Gangapur City, Hindaun City, Bharatpur & Mathura Jn stations o­n both the directions.

The train will have AC First Class, AC II Tier & AC III Tier Coaches.

·Bandra (T) – Okha  Weekly Special train  (14 services)


            Train No. 09561 Bandra (T) - Okha Weekly Special train will depart from Bandra (T ) at 00.15 hrs o­n every Thursday and reach Okha at 21.10 hrs. o­n same day. This train will run from 17th October to 28th November, 2013.   

Similarly, Train No. 09562 Okha - Bandra (T) Weekly Special train will depart from Okha at 11.25 hrs o­n every Tuesday and reach Bandra(T) at 07.35 hrs. o­n the next day. This train will run from 15th October to 26th November, 2013.

            The train will halt at Borivali , Vapi, Valsad, Navsari, Surat , Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Nadiad, Ahmedabad, Viramgam, Surendra Nagar, Wankaner, Rajkot, Hapa, Jamnagar , Khambalia & Dwarka  in both directions.

The train will have  AC II Tier, Sleeper Class and General II class coaches.

·Bandra (T ) - Indore  Weekly Special Train (12 services)

            Train No. 09301 Bandra ( T ) – Indore Weekly Special train will depart at 12.25 hrs  every Monday from Bandra (T) and reach Indore at 03.30 hrs. the next day. This train will run from 21stOctober to 25th November, 2013.

            Similarly, Train No. 09302 Indore – Bandra ( T ) Weekly Special train will depart at 17.25 hrs every Sunday from Indore and reach Bandra ( T ) at 10.40 hrs. the next day. This train will run from 20th October to 24th November, 2013.

            The train will halt at Borivali, Boisar, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara, Dahod, Ratlam, Nagda , Ujjain  & Dewas  stations in both directions.

The train will have AC II tier, AC III tier, Sleeper Class and II Class General coaches.

         

·Indore – Patna Bi-Weekly Special Train (26 services)


            Train No. 09305 Indore – Patna Bi-Weekly Special train will depart from Indore at 15.00 hrs o­n every Monday & Thursday and reach Patna at 19.50 hrs. o­n the next day. This train will run from 17th October to 28thNovember, 2013.

         

Similarly, Train No. 09306 Patna – Indore Bi-Weekly Special train will depart from Patna at 00.10 hrs o­n every Wednesday & Saturday and reach Indore at 05.00 hrs. o­n the next day. This train will run from 19th October to 30th November, 2013.

            The train will halt at Dewas, Ujjain, Maksi, Shajapur, Biyavararajgarh, Guna, Ashoknagar, Malkhedi, Sagour, Damoh, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Chheoki, Mirzapur, Mughalsarai, Buxar, Ara and Danapur stations in both the directions.

The train will have AC II Tier, AC III Tier Coaches, Sleeper Class and II Class General Coaches.

Booking for train no 09561, 09562, 09301, 09302, 09003 & 09305 will be open from 9thOctober, 2013.

A letter purportedly by terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba has threatened to blow up Haridwar railway station and temples which abound in the city on December 29, police said on Thursday.In the letter to Haridwar Railway Station Superintendent Gopal Krishna Das, a man introducing himself as LeT area commander Karim Ansari issued the threat saying the outfit will blow up the Haridwar railway station and temples in the city on December 29, police said, quoting the letter received by the railway official.Several such threats have been received over the past few years, every time threatening to blow up the railway station and temples through a letter addressed to the station superintendent.

With the postal stamps on the letters received in the past not readable, police could not ascertain the place from where they originated.

However, this time the name of Jalandhar Cantt is clearly readable on the postal stamp, prompting the local vigilance department to launch an investigation to find out if the threat is real or just a hoax as in the past.

Station Superintendent Das said the number of CCTV cameras installed at the station has been increased following receipt of the letter.

A  special train will be run  between Nanded & Bikaner to clear extra rush of passengers .

Train no 07408 Nanded – Bikaner special train will depart from Nanded at 08.00 hrs o­n 05thOctober,2013 o­nly and will reach Bikaner at 23.45hrs o­n next day. This train o­n its journey o­n Western Railway will reach Nandurbar at 21.30 hrs  o­n 05th October,2013 and will reach Surat at 01.50 hrs , Vadodara at 04.27 hrs , Ahmedabad at 08.05 hrs , Mehsana at 10.05 hrs and Palanpur at 12.15 hrs o­n 06th October,2013.

Similarly Train no 07409 Bikaner – Nanded special train will depart from Bikaner at 20.40 hrs o­n 07th October,2013 and will reach Nanded at 10.00hrs o­n 09thOctober,2013 . This train o­n its journey o­n Western Railway will reach Palanpur at 07.47 hrs , Mehsana at 08.42 hrs , Ahmedabad at 10.45 hrs , Vadodara at 13.12 hrs , Surat at 15.35 hrs and Nandurbar at 19.40 hrs o­n 08th October,2013.

It will also halt at Purna Jn., Parbhani Jn., Selu, Partur, Jalna, Aurangabad, Manmad, Jalgaon, Amalner, Abu Road,Sirohi Road,Falna,Rani,Marwar Jn., Pali Malwar,Luni Jn, Jodhpur Jn,Gotan,Merta Road Jn.,Nagur and Nokha stations in both direction  besides stations mentioned above over Western Railway .

This train will have AC 3Tier , AC 2Tier , Second Class sleeper and Second Class general coaches.

CHANDIGARH: With the Northern Railways finally announcing to start the train between Kalka-Chandigarh-Shirdi, lakhs of Sai devotees across the tricity of Chandigarh-Mohali Panchkula and the region have the reason to celebrate.

Union minister and Ambala MP Selja will flag off the train from Kalka at 7pm while Chandigarh MP Pawan Kumar Bansal will flag off the train at 7.40pm on Sunday. With this, Sai devotees long pending demand has finally met.

Earlier devotees had to either board the train from Ambala or from New Delhi to reach Shirdi. After New Delhi, this is the second such direct train which will reach Sai Nagar Shirdi. Train no.22455/22456 (Kalka-Sai Nagar Shirdi bi weekly Superfast) is being inaugurated from Kalka to Sai Nagar Shirdi on 06.10.2013. The train will comprise of total 13 coaches having the composition of 2-Tier AC (01 coach), 3-Tier AC (01 coach), Sleeper (03 Coaches) and Unreserved ( 06 Coaches) & SLR's (02 Coaches).

On its outward journey, train No. 22456 will depart on every Thursday & Sunday ex-Kalka at 19:00 hrs. and will reach Sai Nagar Shirdi on Friday & Monday at 22:15 hrs. having stoppages at Chandigarh, Ambala Cantt, Panipat, New Delhi, H. Nizamudin, Mathura, Agra Cantt, Gawalior, Bhopal, Bhusawal & Manmad.

On its return journey from Sai Nagar Shirdi weekly train no. 22455 will depart on every Tuesday & Saturday ex- Sai Nagar Shirdi at 10:00hrs. and will reach Kalka on Wednesday & Sunday at 12:35 hrs. having stoppages at Manmad, Bhuswal, Bhopal, Gwalior, Agra Cantt, Mathura, H.Zimamudin, New Delhi, Panipat, Ambala Cantt & Chandigarh.

The Sai devotees have hailed the decision of railway authorities. Said Ramesh Kalia, the president of Shirdi Sai Samaj, `` Keeping in view the tourist rush in other trains, the railway authorities should make this train as daily train or atleast three days in the week."