ProUI

Suburban rail corridor from capital to Haripad

The Cabinet on Friday decided to take the proposed Suburban Railway Project connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Chengannur, and Haripad to the next stage by approving the setting up of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) as a joint venture between Indian Railways and the State government.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, addressing a post-Cabinet press briefing, said the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) would prepare the detailed project report (DPR) for the project at a cost of Rs.10.99 crore.The Cabinet also set up a joint steering committee with the Chief Secretary as its chairman. The other members are: S Anantharaman, Chief Safety Officer, Southern Railway; Rajesh Agarawal, Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram; Ravi Agarawal, Executive Director (Planning) MRVC. Biju Prabhakar will be the project’s nodal officer and convener of the committee. The Railway and the State government will have a 50-50 stake in the project, estimated to cost Rs.3,500 crore.Mr. Chandy said the main attraction was that the project entailed no land acquisition. The 83 level-crossings on the route would be a major challenge.The proposal envisaged the setting up of automated signal system, modification of 25 railway stations. The State government was also expecting World Bank assistance for the project, he said.

The route was selected because it was the only stretch where track doubling had been completed. Besides, the area was densely populated and the suburban network would be a boon to the area, he said.

The Chief Minister said the State government was considering a high-speed railway project to connect Kochi with Malabar, where track doubling was to be completed in a month.

Southern Railway had given ‘in-principle’ nod to the project between Kannur and Kochi.

There train would have one stop each in every district covered by the line, he said.

AHMEDABAD: Security at Ahmedabad railway station in Kalupur will soon be strengthened with sharper vision. Dissatisfied with the unclear and grainy images of the old CCTV network, Western Railway plans to install high definition (HD) CCTV surveillance system at Kalupur railway station to monitor activities at different places more effectively.

Around 50 HD CCTV cameras are to be installed at ticket booking counters, platforms, reservation centers, parking space and also in the shunting yards. "The entire HD CCTV project will cost Rs 17 lakh and should be installed in two months. The new cameras are based on the latest HD-IP technology," said Jitendra kumar Jayant, public relations officer of Western Railway, Ahmedabad.

Nearly 175 trains stop at the Kalupur station daily and, on an average, 1.20 lakh to 1.30 lakh passengers pass through it every day. But the security arrangements at the station were not up to the mark. The station got its CCTV system in 1998 but these were now proving inadequate in providing clear video images of the goings-on at the station.

The Ahmedabad railway terminus at Kalupur has only 17 CCTV cameras. Moreover, they are not able to provide clear images of commuters' faces and other details. Moreover, the 17 cameras cover only Platform Nos. 1 to 5 while Platform Nos. 6 to 12 are without any electronic surveillance. At these platforms, long distance trains bring passengers daily from the border states.

The new HD CCTV network will have zoom facility and will help the police identify and locate troublemakers and untoward occurrences from the control room.

Jayant said that the Western Railway was setting up an 'RPF Sankul' near the reservation office at the Ahmedabad railway station. "This will enhance security and safety and improve services. The RPF Sankul will be the control point from where goings-on within and outside the railway station will be monitored," he said.

Officials at the CCTV control room will also keep an eye on ticket black-marketers and track movement of unauthorized personnel near booking centers. The 'RPF Sankul' will be run round-the-clock by RPF personnel who will keep an eye on platforms, the railway yard and ticket-booking counters. "They will be better equipped to initiate immediate action in times of emergency," said a railway official.

ALLAHABAD: In view of Durga Puja and Pitra Paksh, railway administration has decided to ply special trains. One air-conditioned Puja special will run between Bhubneshwar and New Delhi while the other Pitra Paksh special train will run between Jabalpur and Gaya.

Train number 02815/02816 will run between Bhubneshwar and New Delhi and will be fully air-conditioned train. This will be a weekly train and depart from Bhubneshwar at about 8:10 am and go through the route of Cuttack, Bhadrak, Balasore, Hijilli, Bankura, Adra, Gomoh, Gaya, Mughalsarai, Allahabad, Kanpur and finally terminate at New Delhi at 8.45 am. During the return journey, the train will leave New Delhi at 1:00 pm and will finally terminate at Bhubneshwar at 11:05 am next day.This train will have four AC-II tier and ten AC-III tier coaches and will depart from Bhubneshwar every Sunday from September 29 to November 24 and from New Delhi every Monday from September 30 to November 25.

Train number 1709/1710 will run between Jabalpur and Gaya during Pitra Paksha. This train will depart from Jabalpur at about 12:25 pm and go through the route of Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur, Chheoki, Mughalsarai, Sasaram and finally terminate at Gaya at 2:00 am. During the return journey, the train will depart from Gaya at about 5:00 pm and terminate at Jabalpur at 5:30 am.

This train will depart from Jabalpur on September 30 and October 3 and from Gaya on October 1 and 4. This train will comprise of one AC-II tier, two AC-III tier, ten sleeper and four general class coaches.

Railway authorities are focussing more on hygiene and security

The authorities are focussing more on security and hygiene at the city railway station here following the high footfall of passengers in view of Mysore’s status as a major tourism destination.Officials have been directed to increase passenger amenities with more emphasis on drinking water and toilets and special attention on women.Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, chairman, Passenger Amenities Committee, told The Hindu that the thrust on security was to ensure smooth conduct of Dasara.“Metal detectors will be installed at the station while CCTV cameras will be positioned at critical places for round-the-clock monitoring. These facilities will be in place within a week to ensure that security is tightened ahead of Dasara,” Mr. Narayanaswamy said. He apprised himself of passenger amenities and issues pertaining to rail commuters and passengers during a visit here on Thursday.“Mysore is way ahead compared to other stations and far better with some of the facilities being in excess of the actual requirements. But being a heritage and tourist city, more passengers arrive and depart from here compared to other stations in the division, and it is prudent to have increase the capacity for future,” he added.Mr. Narayanaswamy said hygiene in catering would be accorded high priority and officials had been instructed to ensure there was no compromise on cleanliness. On enhancing connectivity to different centres, he said the number of passengers and daily commuters had increased significantly and introduction of additional trains would depend on the availability of rakes, platforms and operational feasibility. “There was demand for additional trains across the country, but track capacity constraints are also a limiting factor,” he added.On the track-doubling between Mysore and Bangalore, Mr. Narayanaswamy said there were some issues related to land acquisition between Mandya and Maddur and he had appealed to the district administration and the State government to expedite the process.“The work till Mandya is over but there are issues of shifting the Tipu’s armoury at Srirangapatana and acquisition of early 9.7 acres between Mandya and Maddur. Once this was done and the Cauvery bridge completed, then only the rail links will have to be provided as most of the civil and earth works have been done,” Mr. Narayanaswamy said.The electrification of tracks was taking place concurrently and once completed, the railways could introduce additional train services between Mysore and Bangalore, he added. Mr. Narayanaswamy will soon visit Hassan and other major stations as part of his official tour.

Southern Railway has announced that Thanjavur–Kumbakonam–Thanjavur passenger trains will be extended up to Mayiladuthurai as Mayiladuthurai–Kumbakonam–Mayiladuthurai (06039/06040) passenger specials with effect from September 23 for three months.

There is no change in timings and stoppages of the passenger in both the directions in between Thanjavur and Kumbakonam. The train will leave Thanjavur at 6.05 p.m. and will reach Kumbakonam at 7.13 p.m.

The Kumbakonam–Mayiladuthurai passenger (06040) will depart from Kumbakonam at 7.15 p.m.; Tirunageswaram 7.21 p.m.; Tiruvidaimaruthur 7.25 p.m.; Aduthurai 7.30 p.m.; Narasingapettai 7.36 p.m.; Kuttalam 7.40 p.m.; Malliyam 7.48 and will reach Mayiladuthurai at 8.25 p.m. In the return direction, the train will leave Mayiladuthurai at 7.15 a.m.; Malliyam 7.21 a.m.; Kuttalam 7.28 a.m.; Narasingapettai 7.35 a.m.; Aduthurai 7.43 a.m.; Tiruvidaimaruthur 7.49 a.m.; Tirunageswaram 7.54 a.m. and arrive Kumbakonam at 8.03 a.m.

It will leave Kumbakonam at 8.05 a.m. and reach Thanjavur 9.15 a.m.

प्रतापगढ़ : रेलवे जंक्शन के बाहर आरक्षण काउंटर पर तत्काल टिकट के लिए आए दिन मारामारी होती थी। इस पर अंकुश लगाए जाने के उद्देश्य से अब फार्म वितरण के लिए अलग काउंटर बना दिया गया है। वहां से फार्म बांटे जाने के बाद उसके बगल स्थित विंडो पर टिकट दिए जाने की व्यवस्था कर दी गई है। इससे कुछ हद तक बवाल कम हो गया है। हालांकि काउंटर पर अभी कर्मचारियों की संख्या काफी कम है। इससे दिक्कतें आ रही हैं।

रेलवे आरक्षण काउंटर पर तत्काल टिकट के लिए लोग रात से ही लाइन लगा दिया करते थे। सुबह टिकट बंटने के दौरान कई बार बवाल व मारपीट की घटनाएं हो रही थीं। जीआरपी और आरपीएफ भी टिकट वितरण के समय हलाकान होती थी। अब कुछ दिनों से तत्काल टिकट के लिए फार्म वितरण को अलग से काउंटर बना दिया गया है। वहां फार्म बांटने के बाद टिकट के लिए दूसरे काउंटर पर जाना होता है। जब से यह व्यवस्था हुई है तब से तत्काल टिकट के लिए मारामारी काफी कम हो गई है। उधर जुगाड़ से टिकट लेने वालों के कारण तत्काल टिकट में अभी भी आम लोगों को परेशानी उठानी पड़ रही है। लोगों का मानना है कि पितृपक्ष शुरू होने के कारण भी टिकट लेने वालों की संख्या कम हुई है। बेल्हा से होकर चलने वाली गाड़ियों की संख्या तो बढ़ा दी गई है, लेकिन आरक्षण काउंटर पर कर्मचारियों की कमी बनी हुई है। प्रभारी समेत सात कर्मचारी आरक्षण काउंटर पर लगाए गए हैं। इनमें से तीन-तीन लोगों को बारी-बारी से ड्यूटी करनी पड़ती है। सीआरएस भाई लाल ने बताया कि कर्मचारियों की संख्या बढ़ाने को लेकर रेल के उच्चाधिकारियों को पत्र भेजा गया है।

------

कर्मचारियों को रास नहीं आ रही अतिरिक्त ड्यूटी

प्रतापगढ़ : आरक्षण काउंटर पर टिकट वापसी के लिए दो घंटे का समय बढ़ा दिया गया है। यह कर्मचारियों को रास नहीं आ रहा है। यह व्यवस्था सिर्फ तीन जिलों में की गई है। प्रतापगढ़, सुलतानपुर व फैजाबाद। यहां 22 बजे तक काउंटर खोलकर टिकट वापस करने के निर्देश दिए गए हैं, जबकि रायबरेली व अमेठी जैसे जिलों के साथ अन्य बड़े जनपदों में भी पुरानी व्यवस्था लागू है। पुरानी व्यवस्था में रात आठ बजे तक की ही ड्यूटी है। इसे लेकर कर्मचारियों में अंदर ही अंदर आक्रोश फैल रहा है।

------

डीआरएम के आने को लेकर हड़कंप

प्रतापगढ़ : रेलवे जंक्शन पर शुक्रवार को डीआरएम के आने की खबर तैरती रही। इसे लेकर रेल महकमे में हड़कंप रहा। रेल कर्मी अपने परिधान में दिखाई पड़ने लगे। सूत्रों के अनुसार डीआरएम जौनपुर के रास्ते भदोही पहुंचे और वहां से वाराणसी होकर वापस चले गए। एसएस केएन शर्मा ने बताया कि डीआरएम के आने की कोई सूचना अधिकृत रूप से नहीं आई है।

GUWAHATI, Sept 20 – The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has announced three more special trains to cater to the extra rush of passengers during the Durga Puja festive season.
Among the special trains are 02435/02436 AC Special between Guwahati and New Delhi. The train will depart from Guwahati every Wednesday at 5.55 am between September 25 and November 27 and will depart from New Delhi at 9.30 am every Friday between September 27 and November 29.

The 07150 will leave at 6 am every Monday between October 7 and December 2 for Secunderabad. The 07149 will depart Secunderabad at 7.30 am every Friday between October 4 and November 29.

In addition, the 05609 will leave from Guwahati for Gorakhpur every Friday at 9 pm between October 11 and November 29. The 05610 will depart from Gorakhpur to Guwahati at 11.30 pm every Saturday between October 12 and November 30.

रेलवे दो त्योहार विशेष वातानुकूलित साप्ताहिक सुपर फास्ट एक्सप्रेस ट्रेन चलाने की घोषणा की है। 02815/02816 (भुवनेश्वर- नई दिल्ली वातानुकूलित साप्ताहिक सुपर फास्ट एक्सप्रेस) : यह ट्रेन 29 सितंबर से 24 नवंबर तक हर रविवार सुबह 8.10 बजे भुवनेश्वर से रवाना होगी और अगले दिन सुबह पौने नौ बजे नई दिल्ली स्टेशन पहुंचेगी। नई दिल्ली से यह ट्रेन 30 सितंबर से 25 नवंबर तक हर सोमवार दोपहर एक बजे रवाना होगी। अगले दिन सुबह 11.05 बजे भुवनेश्वर पहुंचेगी। रास्ते में इसका ठहराव कटक, भद्रख, बालासोर, हिजिली, बंकुरा, गोमो, गया, मुगलसराय, इलाहाबाद व कानपुर में होगा।
02435/02436 (गुवाहाटी-नई दिल्ली वातानुकूलित साप्ताहिक सुपर फास्ट एक्सप्रेस) : यह ट्रेन 25 सितंबर से 27 नवंबर तक गुवाहाटी से हर बुधवार सुबह 5.55 बजे चलकर अगले दिन सायं सवा चार बजे नई दिल्ली पहुंचेगी। 27 सितंबर से 29 नवंबर तक हर शुक्रवार को सुबह साढ़े नौ बजे नई दिल्ली से रवाना होकर अगले दिन सायं सात बजे गुवाहाटी पहुंचेगी। रास्ते में यह ट्रेन रंगिया, न्यू बोंगाईगांव, कांकराझार, न्यू अलीपुरद्वार, न्यू कूच विहार, न्यू जलपाईगुड़ी, किशनगंज, कटिहार, बेगुसराय, बरौनी, हाजीपुर, छपरा, बलिया, वाराणसी, लखनऊ, बरेली और मुरादाबाद में रुकेगी।

Indore, Ujjian, Mhow, Rau, Pithampur and Tehi stations to be modified
Three more platforms for city; platform four’s length will be increased.
Mhow station to be used as source station
Indore: In view of the forthcoming Simhastha- 2016, the railway has chalked out various development and modification plans for the convenience of the passengers. It is planning to run more than 100 special trains for the mega event.

Indore, Ujjain, Mhow, Rau and Tehi stations will be upgraded along with gauge conversion and new platforms will be developed. Highly placed official sources told Free Press that the railway is going to make elaborated arrangements to meet the heavy flow of passengers during the Simhastha.

The meter gauge track in Ujjain station will be converted to broad gauge and two new platforms will be developed there to accommodate 24- coach trains. With this, the station will be nine such platforms.

Similarly Indore railway station will also be upgraded along with gauge conversion of Mhow, Rau, Tehi and Pithampur line. Three new platforms will be developed in Indore besides extending platform No 4 to accommodate 24- coach trains. Two new platforms are under construction at old ‘ mal godam’ ( Goods storage).

The Mhow railway station will be developed as major source station in order to reduce the pressure at Ujjain and Indore station during the Simhastha.

Two new pit- lines will be constructed for maintains and examinations of the coaches. Western Railway’s Ratlam Division PRO Pradeep Sharma said more than 100 special trains would be run during the Simhastha.

Chief operating manager of Western Railway R K Tandon visited Indore, Ujjain, Mhow, Pithampur, Rau and Tehi stations recently assess the modification and expansion of these stations.

Railway authorities are focussing more on hygiene and security

The authorities are focussing more on security and hygiene at the city railway station here following the high footfall of passengers in view of Mysore’s status as a major tourism destination.Officials have been directed to increase passenger amenities with more emphasis on drinking water and toilets and special attention on women.Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, chairman, Passenger Amenities Committee, told The Hindu that the thrust on security was to ensure smooth conduct of Dasara.“Metal detectors will be installed at the station while CCTV cameras will be positioned at critical places for round-the-clock monitoring. These facilities will be in place within a week to ensure that security is tightened ahead of Dasara,” Mr. Narayanaswamy said. He apprised himself of passenger amenities and issues pertaining to rail commuters and passengers during a visit here on Thursday.“Mysore is way ahead compared to other stations and far better with some of the facilities being in excess of the actual requirements. But being a heritage and tourist city, more passengers arrive and depart from here compared to other stations in the division, and it is prudent to have increase the capacity for future,” he added.Mr. Narayanaswamy said hygiene in catering would be accorded high priority and officials had been instructed to ensure there was no compromise on cleanliness. On enhancing connectivity to different centres, he said the number of passengers and daily commuters had increased significantly and introduction of additional trains would depend on the availability of rakes, platforms and operational feasibility. “There was demand for additional trains across the country, but track capacity constraints are also a limiting factor,” he added.On the track-doubling between Mysore and Bangalore, Mr. Narayanaswamy said there were some issues related to land acquisition between Mandya and Maddur and he had appealed to the district administration and the State government to expedite the process.“The work till Mandya is over but there are issues of shifting the Tipu’s armoury at Srirangapatana and acquisition of early 9.7 acres between Mandya and Maddur. Once this was done and the Cauvery bridge completed, then only the rail links will have to be provided as most of the civil and earth works have been done,” Mr. Narayanaswamy said.The electrification of tracks was taking place concurrently and once completed, the railways could introduce additional train services between Mysore and Bangalore, he added. Mr. Narayanaswamy will soon visit Hassan and other major stations as part of his official tour.