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  Indian Railways News  / Exhibition on train to showcase country’s biodiversity

The ‘Science Exhibition-Biodiversity Special’, a mobile Exhibition Train, will arrive at Chennai Central on August 11 and showcase its wares at select stations in the Southern Railway network over the month.The 13-coach train will be on display at Chennai Central from August 11-15, Kudal Nagar (Madurai) from Aug. 16-19, Kanyakumari (Aug. 20-23), Ernakulam (Aug. 24) and Kozhikode (Aug. 25-28).The exhibition, which is into its fifth phase, will be open for public viewing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and there is no entry fee. All sections of the public especially the school and college students / teachers are expected to visit the exhibition.In tune with the declaration of 2011-2020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity and United Nations Decade for Deserts and Fight against Desertification, the exhibition aboard the train, therefore, is based on the theme 'Biodiversity'. The exhibition aims to showcase the wide array of biodiversity in the country, conservation measures, aspects of climate change, water, energy conservation, environment and legacy of the Science Express. The train also houses the extremely popular Vikram Sarabhai Community Science Centre’s ‘Joy of Science’ hands-on lab as well as teachers’ training facility.Flagged off on October 30 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on its first phase, the Science Express Exhibition Train so far covered over 68,000 km across the country during its previous four phases. With over 63.60 lakh visitors during its 220 halts /exhibitions on 801 exhibition days, Science Express is now the largest, longest and most visited mobile science exhibition in India, the Railways said.

  Indian Railways News  / Mira-Bhayander to be linked to Mumbai Metro, promises Congress manifesto

MUMBAI: Additional drinking water, improved bus and rail services and linking Mira Road and Bhayander to the Mumbai Metro project are some of the promises made by the Congress in their party manifesto for the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) polls to be held on August 12.The manifesto released by state Congress President Manikrao Thakre, promises to make efforts to extend the Mumbai Metro project upto Mira Road and Bhayander. In July this year, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) had announced its plans to add more metro lines to the Western Express Highway from Bandra to Dahisar.The party manifesto also promises to improve road connectivity of the region and ensure better rail services for the residents.The manifesto has addressed the issue of water which is top most priority of the voters. Thakre promised that efforts were being made to get additional 100 mld water for the region from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). Thakre said that with the growing population of the region, the issue of water needs to be addressed.The Congress manifesto also promises to make the region into an educational hub with engineering, medical and law colleges. A special industrial zone and better facilities for industries have also promised in the manifesto. The Congress has promised to give special emphasis on environment protection and develop tourist spots in the region.The party has taken credit for the 100 bedded municipal hospital, blood bank, library, judicial academy, Kashimira flyover, skywalks, playgrounds, gardens and has claimed to have worked for it over the last 10 years. Projects like storm water drain, development of Jesal Park chowpatty, three new police stationsThakre promised that the state and central government will offer all possible help to make the various projects a success. The Congress will contest all the 95 seats and will fight the polls without the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

  Indian Railways News  / PMPML pushes for CCTVs at four major bus stands

PMPML pushes for CCTVs at four major bus stands
MANOJ MORE
Posted: Aug 05, 2012 at 0256 hrs IST

Transport utility to create awareness about unclaimed bags
Rlys also in process of upgrading security system at station

The Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) has decided to get CCTV cameras installed on priority at the city's four most crowded bus stands. The PMPML has also decided to pitch in by creating awareness among commuters about abandoned bags.

PMPML spokesperson Deepak Pardeshi said the PMPML plans to install CCTV cameras at the bus stand near PMC headquarters, at Deccan, Swargate and Pune station bus stands. "As the four bus stands are heavily crowded through the day, we plan to put the cameras there on priority. After this, we would seek permission to put CCTV cameras at other bus stands like Katraj bus stand," he said.

PMPML officials said the CCTVs will not only help identity suspected bomb planters, but it will also help in nabbing pick-pockets and other trouble-makers. The Deccan bus stand on J M Road is not very far from PMC headquarters. Both are highly crowded till late evening. The Swargate and Pune station bus stands are no different.

However, the PMPML officials said they were expecting that PMC will install the CCTV cameras for them. "Since PMC is installing CCTV cameras and monitoring them with the help of the police, we are looking at them to help us in this task." PMC executive engineer Sunil Kesri said the decision regarding installation of CCTV cameras might be taken at Sunday's meeting with the police commissioner. "There is a meeting scheduled with the police commissioner tomorrow. The meeting is likely to discuss the spots where the CCTV cameras will be installed. I don't know whether PMPML stops are in the scheme of things."

The PMPML has also decided to create awareness among commuters about unclaimed bags lying either at bus stands or in buses. "We have already alerted our conductors and drivers about the threat. They have been briefed about as to what to do in such cases and who to contact. Similarly, we will display emergency numbers and messages on buses, especially those moving in the heart of the city," said Pardeshi.

PMPML said the announcing system outside the Pune station area would now include messages alerting people. "We are also planning to ask the announcer, who informs commuters about arrival and departure of different buses, to alert citizens about unclaimed bags or suspicious movements. We will discuss these points with the city police before taking a decision," he said.

Central Railways spokesperson Y K Singh said the railways have put over 30 CCTV cameras inside and outside the Pune railway station premises. He said the railways are in the process of upgrading security system by implementing the Integrated Security System on the station premises. "There is no deadline set but the new security will soon be implemented," Singh said.

  Indian Railways News  / Child made to carry dead body handed over to NGO

GUWAHATI: The Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR) handed over a child, who was forced to carry a dead body in a hand cart by Government Railway Police (GRP) officials in Guwahati Railway Station, to Childline, an NGO on Saturday.The incident that took place in June sent shock waves through the state. The hearing on the incident was held in presence of ASCPCR chairperson Suchitra Kakoty and other members of the commission. The accused officer-in-charge was also present during the hearing.Kakoty said soon after the incident was telecasted on TV, the commission wrote to the GRP seeking a report on the incident. "The GRP has already taken necessary disciplinary action against the concerned GRP officer-in-charge and he has been transferred. The child has been handed over to Childline. The NGO will soon produce the child before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). The CWC will then send him to a children's home," said an ASCPCR official.The official said the nine-year-old child has admitted that he was engaged by the police to carry dead bodies to crematoriums and police used to pay him Rs 100 to 200 for carrying them.The incident of the child carrying a dead body from the railway station was aired in a Guwahati-based private television channel on June 26. Based on this TV report, the state child right commission registered a sue motto case against the accused police officials.

The official said the GRP engaged children for carrying dead bodies earlier too. "The CWC will see the capabilities of the boy and help him become a responsible citizen," the official said.

  Indian Railways News  / आज से बाइपास होंगी ट्रेनें

खड़गपुर : दक्षिण-पूर्व रेलवे के खड़गपुर स्टेशन में रुकती आ रही चार ट्रेनें शनिवार से खड़गपुर के बजाय हिजली में रुका करेंगी। इसे लेकर एक ओर जहां रेल महकमे में तैयारियां जोरों पर रही, वहीं परिवर्तित परिस्थितियों को लेकर तमाम शंकाएं भी व्यक्त की जाती रहीं। बताते चलें कि रेलवे मंत्रालय द्वारा 4 अगस्त से पुरी-गुवाहाटी, एर्नाकुलम-पटना व चेन्नई-गुवाहाटी एक्सप्रेस का ठहराव खड़गपुर के बजाय हिजली स्टेशन पर करने की घोषणा की गई है। बाइपास की स्थिति से निपटने के लिए प्रशासन की ओर से हिजली से खड़गपुर के बीच एक जोड़ी इएमयू लोकल के परिचालन की घोषणा भी की गई है। रेलवे की ओर से इसकी औपचारिक सूचना कई दिन पहले ही प्रचारित की जा चुकी है। हालांकि इस परिवर्तन को लेकर यात्रियों में कुछ शंकाएं कायम हैं, क्योंकि हिजली स्टेशन शहर के एक कोने में अवस्थित है। इसके अलावा वहां से बीच शहर तक आने-जाने में साधन का भी घोर अभाव रहता है। उस पर जितनी भी ट्रेनों का ठहराव हिजली स्टेशन पर घोषित की गई हैं, उनमें से ज्यादातर रात के समय हिजली स्टेशन पर आया-जाया करेंगी, जिसके बाद बीच शहर तक आने या शहर से हिजली जाकर ट्रेन पकड़ने में यात्रियों को कई प्रकार की कठिनाईयों का सामना करना पड़ सकता है। हालांकि खड़गपुर के डीआरएम राजीव कुमार कुलश्रेष्ठ ने कहा कि उन्हीं ट्रेनों को हिजली से बाइपास कराने की व्यवस्था की गई है, जिनमें स्थानीय यात्री काफी कम होते हैं।