ProUI

Bathinda:
Bathinda junction’s wait for a long-term solution to its sanitation worries got a little longer today when senior officials at Ambala said that the finalisation of the tender would take at least two months.Gulshan, senior divisional commercial manager (SDCM), Ambala division, along with some other officials, visited the Bathinda railway station today and took a stock of the sanitation situation. Although chief commercial manager general Vidya Sinha was scheduled to visit the station, she had to terminate her visit. Though close to 20 cleaners and sweepers were sent from Dhuri, Saharanpur, Ambala and Kalka and close to 15 men were hired by the junction authorities to clean up the station before the visit, the officials looked dissatisfied with the condition of the station. Despite sprinkling of DDT and other insecticides, foul smell emanated from the tracks. Discussing the situation, the SDCM told the authorities that the clearance of tender would take at least two more months because of some “technical problems”. He added that till then the authorities could initiate the work of inviting quotations to give the contract to a firm on a monthly basis.Interestingly, the earlier contract had ended on August 25 and the authorities had floated a new tender on August 12. When asked why the tender was floated earlier, the SDCM said, “We had floated a tender sometimes ago, but it had to be discharged for the non-compliance of rules and regulations. A minimum gap of at least 45 needs to be given before floating a tender.”

“There were inevitable technical issue due to which the tender couldn’t be completed in time. Till the time the work is handed over to a firm for three years, we have asked the junction authorities to hire private firms to clean up the station,” he added.

Meanwhile, the junction authorities are managing the situation precariously. “We hire at least 10 sweepers to clean up the washable aprons and tracks everyday. They are being paid wages at the rate of Rs 219. An additional four workers of the medical department are responsible for sweeping the offices and railway platforms,” said the station superintendent, Pradeep Sharma.

He also said that the situation could have been better, if people had some civic sense. He also pointed out that the exit passageway near the railway ticket booking counter was being used by the public as open urinal. “Since there is no fine, people litter every nook and corner of the station and then complain of the sanitation situation. We all can play our part in keeping the place clean,” he said.

Former member of the Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee S. Chinnappa has urged the Railways to construct a road under-bridge at the railway level-crossing on Savalanga Road in the city.Mr. Chinnappa, in a press release, said the traffic along Savalanga Road, that connects Shimoga city with Shikaripur and Honnali towns, gets disrupted whenever the gates are brought down at the level-crossing. The problem can be addressed by constructing a road under-bridge, he said.

Railway station

He also demanded construction of a railway station near Surya Extension in the city. The residents of Vinobha Nagar, Sominakoppa, J.H. Patel Extension will benefit from such a move, he said.

Mr. Chinnappa has said that, rail link between Shimoga and Harihar would ensure easy access to Mumbai for people of Malnad region. The Department of Railways should commence the work at the earliest. He also has demanded the Department of Railway to open a ticket reservation counter at Vinobha Nagar locality. Mr. Chinnappa has submitted a memorandum in this regard to Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, President of Indian Railway Board(Passenger Services) during the later’s visit to Shimoga city on Thursday.


Traffic along Savalanga Road gets disrupted because of lowering of gate

The Thiruvananthapuram railway division, as part of its Hindi Fortnight celebrations that began on September 23, organised a conference on Hindi and the challenges in popularising the language here on Friday. CRPF DIG Ajay Bharatan was the chief guest. Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Agrawal presided over the meet. Kerala Hindi Sahithya Academy founder Chandrasekharan Nair was honoured on the occasion. — Staff Reporter

The Southern Railway will run four special trains between Ernakulam and Santragachi to clear extra rush of passengers. These special trains will halt at Ernakulam town, Aluva, Thrisur, Shoranur, Palakkad, Podanur, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Jolarpettai, Katpadi, Arakkonam, Chennai Central, Gudur, Nellore, Ongole, Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Berhampur, Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Bhadrak, Balasore and Kharagpur stations in both directions.

Every time S. Inbarasan, a resident of Pattabiram, had to book a train ticket to his hometown Madurai, he used to go to a nearby internet centre. Inbarasan does not have a smart phone. But now, thanks to a recent initiative by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), he can book a ticket merely by sending an SMS on his regular mobile phone.Many city residents have begun using this facility — launched in June — and say it is very convenient. Across the country, around 200 people use it every day, railway officials said.“Over 2 lakh people book tickets online daily through the IRCTC website. But people find SMS booking convenient, as they can do it from their homes. The problems are that the software will accept entries only in English, and you cannot book tickets between 8 a.m. and noon. However, tickets can also be cancelled with this facility,” said a railway official.For those with the Airtel network, booking a ticket by SMS is made simpler because they can pay through Airtel money. Airtel users can dial *400# and they will be directed to a series of dialling options based on a menu. “We wanted everybody to be able to book tickets from any place at any time without facing any trouble,” said Murali Kittu, chief operating officer, Bharati Airtel, Tamil Nadu.

People using other mobile networks have to send an SMS to 139. “The SMS should contain details including the station names, travel date, class, name of the passenger, his/her age and gender and their bank’s name: BOOK 22105 KYN PUNE 3008 2S Rakesh 55 M ICICI.

The user will receive a transaction id, ticket amount, IRCTC service charge, total amount and seat availability. “After this, the user has to send the transaction ID and the last six digits of her bank account number. She will then receive a booking confirmation through SMS,” said the official.

To avail of the facility, residents first have to register their mobile number with IRCTC as well as their bank. The bank provides a Mobile Money Identifier (MMID) and a One-Time Password (OTP) to authorise the payment.

Basher, a student from Chennai who uses Airtel money, said that he used to book tickets online earlier. “But SMS ticketing is much more convenient as I do not need to be connected to the internet,” he said.

A senior BSNL official said they were also working on applications for users to book tickets on their mobile phones.

The facility, begun in June, is now used by 200 people every day

No internet connection is needed to book train tickets through it

Train traffic through the new broad gauge line between Palakkad and Pollachi is likely to be delayed further owing to delay in construction of a railway bridge across the Yakkara river.Palakkad Railway Divisional Manager Piyus Agarwal had announced at a press conference last week that trains would start services through the new broad gauge line by March next.When the meter gauge rail line was dismantled for broad gauge conversion in December 2008, the Railway authorities had promised that the work would be completed in 16 months and train services from Palakkad to Palani would be resumed.Sources in the railways said the services are likely to begin only by September next.

Work on only two of the four pillars across the river has been completed.

Monsoon

Construction work was delayed owing to heavy rain during the southwest monsoon from June to September.

Work on the remaining two pillars can be completed only by August next, sources said.

Officials of the company that has taken up the contract said work can be taken up only after the northeast monsoon (October-November). The project is estimated to cost Rs. 10.8 crore. Work on the Palani-Pollachi stretch of the railway line in Tamil Nadu has been completed and trains have started running on an experimental basis.

MANGALORE: The Southern Railway has increased the stoppage timings of following trains at Feroke station up to October 9 and from October 31 up to November 15 for the benefit of Haj pilgrims. They are: train No. 16629 Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore Malabar Express which will leave Feroke at 4.27am; train No. 16630 Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Malabar Express at 11.22pm; train No. 16605 Mangalore-Nagercoil Ernad Express at 11.57am; and train No. 16606 Nagercoil-Mangalore Ernad Express at 12.12pmLikewise, train no.16347 Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore Express will depart Feroke at 5.45am; 16348 Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Express at 7.07pm; 16649 Mangalore-Nagercoil Parasuram Express at 9.22am; 16650 Nagercoil-Mangalore Parasuram Express at 3.17pm; 12617 Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express (monsoon) at 2.37pm; 12617 Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express (non-monsoon) at 5.07pm.

Train No.12618 Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Express (monsoon) will leave at 7.27am; 12618 Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Express (non monsoon) at 5.17am; 16333 Veraval-Thiruvananthapuram Express (monsoon) at 8.47pm; 16333 Veraval-Thiruvananthapuram Express (non-monsoon) at 6.02pm; 16335 Gandhidham -Nagercoil Express (monsoon) at 8.47pm; 16335 Gandhidham-Nagercoil Express (non-monsoon) at 6.02 pm.

Train No. 16337 Okha-Ernakulam Express (monsoon) will leave Feroke at 8.47pm; 16337 Okha Ernakulam Express (non monsoon) at 6.02pm; 16334 Thiruvananthapuram-Veraval Express at 11.57pm; 16336 Nagercoil-Gandhidham Express at 11.57pm; 16338 Ernakulam-Okha Express at 11.57pm; 12601 Chennai Central-Mangalore Central Mail 7.24am; 12602 Mangalore Central-Chennai Central Mail at 5.37pm.

Train 16859 Chennai Egmore-Mangalore Central Express will depart Feroke at 3.52pm; 16860 Mangalore Central-Chennai Egmore Express at 11.32am; 16307 Alappuzha-Kannur Express at 8.42pm; 16308 Kannur-Alappuzha Express at 6.52am. Trains 16313 Ernakulam-Kannur Express leaving Ernakulam on October 3, 5, 31, and November 2, 7, 9 and 14 will leave Feroke station at 8.42pm. Train 16314 Kannur-Ernakulam Express leaving Kannur on October 3, 5, 31, and November 2, 7, 9 and 14 will leave Feroke station at 6.52am.

Train timings: The Road Over bridge work at Devathar Level crossing gate, between Tanur and Tirur stations has not been completed. Hence the line block is extended up to October 5. The pattern of train service on October 5 is as follows: Train No. 56324 Mangalore Central-Pallippuram Passenger Special will be terminated at Kozhikode and will run as 56323 Passenger Special from Kozhikode to Mangalore Central. Trains 12617 Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express, 16650 Nageroil-Mangalore Parasuram Express and 12202 Kochuveli - Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Garib Rath Express will be regulated for 15 minutes between Shoranur and Tirur stations.

Trains to be regulated: Due to non-interlocked working at Shoranur, there will be a five hour block on the route for signal remodelling work from 9.15 am to 2.15 pm from October 6 and 7. Consequently trains on the Mangalore route towards Kerala and Chennai would be regulated from 45 minutes to three hours. There will also be partial cancellation of some trains.

The trains that will be regulated on Sunday are: Train No.16649 Mangalore Central - Nagarcoil Parasuram Express to be regulated enroute for 240 minutes; Train No.16650 Nagarcoil - Mangalore Central Parasuram Express to be regulated in Thiruvananthapuram Division for 45 minutes; Train No.16345 Lokmanya Tilak - Thiruvananthapuram Central Netravathi Express to be regulated enroute for 175 minutes and Train No.12998 Hapa- Tirunelveli Express to be regulated enroute for 210 minutes.

The trains that will be regulated on Monday are: Train No.16650 Nagarcoil - Mangalore Central Parasuram Express will be regulated in Thiruvananthapuram Division for 120 minutes.

PATNA: The commissioning of newly built Patliputra railway station has been delayed several times for one reason or the other despite getting clearance from commissioner of railway safety (CRS), eastern region, R P Yadav.

Railways had already announced two or three dates for the commissioning of this station to streamline train traffic in Danapur division of the ECR.

According to sources, the residents of Jalalpur under Rupaspur police station area are demanding a separate road over Khagaul canal to reach Bailey Road easily. Dinesh Kumar, a resident of Jalalpur, said people of the village and its adjoining areas would find it difficult to reach Bailey Road if railways closes the approach road for the traffic from Patliputra station to Danapur or Patna Junction via Phulwari.

According to Kumar, JD (U) leader and Patliputra MP Ranjan Yadav has taken up their problems with the railway authorities. However, no concrete decision has been taken so far. “Unless railways provides them a separate approach road to Bailey Road from Khagaul canal side, they would not allow Patliputra station to be made functional,” he said.

According to ECR CPRO Amitabh Prabhakar, railways would sort out the problems soon. Moreover, the newly built station is likely to benefit the common people most, he said.

Built at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore as part of the Digha Ganga rail bridge located on Bailey Road near Rukunpura, railways intends to run two pairs of passenger trains from this station. In future, four pairs of passenger trains would originate from here for Delhi and Howrah. Patliputra station has been given a direct connectivity to both Danapur and Phulwari-Patna end to ease traffic flow, an ECR official said, adding that Danapur station would become a junction point after commissioning of Patliputra station.

Though Patliputra station is having three platforms now, there is a provision to increase their number to cope with passengers rush. As per the new plan, railways would develop it as a terminal point in future. Railways has already announced that it would build a separate washing pit at this station so that maintenance work of passenger train rakes could be carried out there smoothly, sources said.

According to sources, railways has not yet decided any new date for the commissioning of Patliputra station. Had it been made functional, it could have eased huge traffic from Patna Junction and Danapur station during festivals, sources said.

Mohali: Amid cheers, the Hazoor Sahib Superfast Express halted at the Mohali railway station for 10 minutes this evening.The train arrived at 6.30 pm and left at 6.40 pm. Over 2,500 residents, area MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu and religious leaders turned up at the station.Meals, arranged by Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, Gurdwara Bibi Bhani and Gurdwara Sachcha Dhan, were served to gurdwaras. Eighteen passengers boarded the train from Mohali. Fatehgarh Sahib-based Khushal Singh said it would be a special journey.Kurali resident Niranjan Singh said, "Thousands of devotees visited the gurdwara every year. The move has cheered the residents."Echoing similar sentiments, Kharar-residents Amarjit, his wife Karnail Kaur and Mohali residents Kashmir Singh and his wife Amrik Kaur said there was a mad scramble for tickets and the train would attract a large number of passengers in the coming days.The train should run thrice a week," said Kashmir Singh. Congress MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu said the residents were happy with the move.Station master MC Gupta said the train would reach Mohali at 6.38 pm every Thursday and leave for Hazoor Sahib at 6.40 pm.On its return journey, the train would reach the town at 6.12 pm every Sunday, he said.

ठाणे: तांत्रिक बिघाडामुळे ठाण्याजवळ मालगाडी गाडी बंद पडली. मालगाडी बंद पडल्यामुळे नागपूर-मुंबई दुरांतो अडकली. सकाळीच झालेल्या या गोंधळामुळे मध्य रेल्वेच्या छत्रपती शिवाजी टर्मिनस (सीएसटी) स्टेशनच्या दिशेने जाणा-या गाड्यांची सेवा विस्कळीत झाली आहे. ऐन गर्दीच्यावेळी मध्य रेल्वे कोलमडल्यामुळे प्रवासी त्रस्त झाले आहेत.

दोन मोठ्या गाड्या अडकून पडल्यामुळे मध्य रेल्वेची उपनगरीय रेल्वे सेवा कोलमडली आहे. सर्व जलद गाड्या (फास्ट लोकल) दिवा ते ठाणे दरम्यान धीम्या गतीच्या मार्गावर (स्लो ट्रॅकवर) वळवण्यात आल्या आहेत. बंद पडलेली मालगाडी दुरुस्त करण्यासाठी तंत्रज्ञ घटनास्थळी दाखल झाले आहेत.