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  Indian Railways News  / Rail Projects struggle for funds

The Indian Railways, the third largest rail network in the world, is facing a shortage of funds to implement its ongoing projects across the country.As of April 2012, the Ministry of Railways was executing 347 projects consisting of 132 new line, 42 gauge conversion and 173 doubling projects. An expenditure of 60,791 crore was incurred on these projects up to March 2012 and an outlay of 11,133 crores has been made for the projects for the year 2012-13.

"There is a huge shelf of ongoing projects and limited availability of resources. Funds have to be provided for all the ongoing projects. As on April 1, 2012, there are 347 ongoing new line, gauge conversion and doubling projects requiring about 1.5 trillion for their completion. The projects are progressing as per availability of resources," the Ministry of Railways informed Parliament during its monsoon session this year.

During the last three years i.e. 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12, some 121 new line, gauge conversion and doubling projects were included in successive railway budgets. All these projects are currently in various stages of execution. No project sanctioned during the last three years has been completed, the ministry revealed.

The Ministry of Railways is in the process of expanding and modernising India's vast rail network comprising 63,974 route kilometres 7,083 railway stations, 1,31,205 railway bridges, 9,000 locomotives, 51,030 passenger coaches and 2,19,931 freight cars. The Railways operate 19,000 trains each day consisting of 12,000 passenger trains and 7,000 freight trains. It also transports 2.65 million tonnes of freight traffic and 23 million passengers every day and 7.2 billion passengers per year.

In the ongoing 12th Five-Year Plan (2012 to 2017), the Railways proposes to construct 2,202 km of new line, 3,338 km of Western and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridors, 3,462 km of gauge conversion, 7,635 km of doubling and 6,500 km of electrification.

Moreover, for speedy network expansion, the Railways has also proposed a scheme, Pradhan Mantri Rail Vikas Yojana, envisaging the creation of a nonlapsable fund of 5 lakh crore through budgetary support towards investment in the rail sector, mainly for connecting the remote and backward areas over next 10 years.

Some of the measures to provide higher quality passenger services at affordable prices include augmenting the load of the existing services on popular routes by adding coaches; enhancing speed of mail, express and passenger trains; introducing faster moving electrical multiple units and diesel multiple units, introducing modern coaches with better passenger amenities; decongesting passenger terminals by providing extra platforms; developing alternate passenger terminals; and redeveloping stations.

To finance the railway projects under the 12th Plan, the Ministry of Railways has proposed an outlay of 5.48 lakh crore to the Planning Commission. The projects would be funded both through adequate gross budgetary support and successful implementation of PPP in identified areas.

PROJECTS INCLUDED IN RAILWAY BUDGETS FOR 2009-10, 2010-11 & 2011-12 No. Year of Inclusion in Budget Project Length in Km     New Line   1 2011-12 Hansdiha-Godda (30 km) 30.00 2 2011-12 Murkongselek-Pasighat (30.617 km) 30.62 3 2011-12 Qadian-Beas NL 39.68 4 2011-12 Ratlam -Dungarpur via Banswara 176.47 5 2011-12 Gudur-Durgarajapatnam 41.55 6 2011-12 Nadikude-Srikalahasti 309.00 7 2011-12 Wadsa-Gadchiroli (49.5 km) 49.50 8 2011-12 Bhadutola-Jhargram via Lalgarh (54 km) 54.00 9 2011-12 Madurai-Tuticorin via Aruppukkottai 143.50 10 2011-12 Marikuppam-Kuppam NL 23.70 11 2011-12 Shimoga-Harihar (78.66 km) 78.66 12 2011-12 Tumkur-Chitradurg-Davangere 199.70 13 2011-12 Whitefield-Kolar (52.9 km) 52.90 14 2010-11 Hasnabad-Hinalganj (14 km) 14.00 15 2010-11 Tarakeshwar-Magra (51.95 km) and Tarakeshwar-Furfurasharif (21.75 km) 73.70 16 2010-11 Balurghat-Hilli (29 km) 29.00 17 2010-11 Byrnihat-Shillong (108.40 km) 108.40 18 2010-11 Kaliyaganj-Buniadpur (33.13 km) 33.13 19 2010-11 Rishikesh-Karanprayag (125.09 km) 125.09 20 2010-11 Bhadrachalam Road-Sattupalli 56.25 21 2010-11 Bowaichandi-Arambagh (31 km) 31.00 22 2010-11 Digha-Jaleswar (41 km) with new MM for Digha-Egra (31 km) 72.00 23 2010-11

Bagalkot-Kudachi (142 km) 142.00 24 2009-10 Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri (63.1 km) 63.10     Gauge Conversion   1 2011-12 Lucknow-Pilibhit via Sitapur, Lakhimpur (262.76 km) 262.76 2 2011-12 Miyagam-Karjan-Dabhoi-Samalaya GC with electrification 96.46 3 2010-11 Dholpur-Sirmuttra with extension to Gangapur City (144.6 km) 144.60 4 2010-11 Gwalior-Sheopurkalan with extension to Kota (284 km) 284.00 5 2010-11 Chhindwara-Mandla Fort(182.25 km) 182.25     Doubling   1 2011-12 Kirandul-Jadgalpur (150 km) 150.00 2 2010-11 Sambalpur-Talcher (174.11 km) 174.11 3 2011-12 Mudkhed-Parbhani 81.43 4 2011-12 Vijaywada-Gudivada-Bhimavaram-Narsapur, Gudivada- Machlipatnam & Bhimavaram-Nidadavolu DL with Electrification (221 km) 221.00 5 2009-10 Daund-Gulbarga Doubling (224.90 km) and Pune-Guntakal Electrification (641.37 km) 224.90 6 2010-11 Dangoaposi- Rajkharswan 3rd line 65.00 7 2010-11 Hospet-Hubli-Londa-Tinaighat-Vasco-de-Gama (352.28 km) 352.28 8 2011-12 Bina-Kota (282.66 km) 282.66 9 2011-12 Viramgam-Samakhiali 182.23 10 2010-11 Viramgam- Surendranagar 65.26 Source: Ministry of Railways

  Indian Railways News  / MLA seeks train halt at Duvvada

Gajuwaka MLA Chintalapudi Venkatramaiah has sought provision of halts for the Visakhapatnam – Chennai and Visakhapatnam – Shirdi Express trains at Duvvada.In a letter to the Divisional Railway Manager, the MLA said Duvvada was the nearest railway station for over nine lakh people who reside in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, BHPV, Hindustan Zinc, Gajuwaka, NTPC Township, Paravada and Sabbavaram.He expressed surprise that unlike in most other major cities, many of the trains originating in Visakhapatnam do not have a halt at Duvvada, which is a local station. In the absence of a halt, passengers have to go to Anakapalle or Visakhapatnam, which are both about 30 km away from Duvvada.

  Indian Railways News  / Badal calls for Munda's help over coal supplies

Apprehending a critical power situation due to stoppage of coal supply to Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday called for intervention by his Jharkhand counterpart Arjun Munda to resolve the deadlock caused by the ongoing political agitation there.In a letter to Mr. Munda, Mr. Badal asked him to pave the way for smooth and uninterrupted supply of coal to Punjab which had been halted due to the agitation. According to an official release here, he wrote that the shortage of coal would impact the power scenario as the bulk of Punjab capacity was drawn from thermal generation.The release said the Pachwara (Central) coal block in Pakkur district allotted in 2002 to the Punjab State Electricity Board (which is now Punjab State Power Corporation Limited-PSPCL) was developed and operated by Panem Coal Mines, a joint venture company of the PSEB and EMTA Coal Limited. This captive coal block met a substantial part of coal requirements of the thermal power stations in Punjab.The supplies have been disrupted since November 16 as former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi and his supporters have launched a sit-in near the mine, blocking the approach road, which had completely disrupted transportation to the railway siding at Pakkur. Since November 20, another dharna at the Pakkur railway siding had disrupted dispatch of coal as well.

Mr. Badal said since the approach road to the mines was blocked, diesel could not be transported, bringing the mining operations to a standstill. M/s Panem had informed that the people affected by the project were satisfied with the rehabilitation package, he said, adding that it appeared Mr.

Marandi had been misinformed as the rehabilitation package worked out by the company had been approved by the State and Central governments.

  Indian Railways News  / CONDITION OF CARRYING ORIGINAL PROOF OF IDENTITY EXTENDED TO ALL RESERVED CLASSES WITH EFFECT FROM 1

In an initiative to further facilitate the travel of bonafide and legitimate passengers and to reduce the scope for misuse of reserved ticketing system by unscrupulous elements / middlemen, the Ministry of Railways will extend the condition of carrying original proof of identity during travel o­n reserved tickets toall reserved classes for Train journey with effect from 1st December, 2012. Accordingly,  the said condition is extended to the remaining reserved classes also such as Reserved Segment of Second Class (2S); Sleeper Class (SL); III Economy Class (3E)  and  First Class (FC)  with effect from 1st December 2012.Further, the Ministry of Railways has expanded the list of prescribed proofs of identity by including photo identity cards having serial numbers issued by Public Sector undertakings of State / Central Government, District Administrations, Municipal Administrations and Panchayat Administrations.The expanded list of the Prescribed Proofs of Identity for undertaking journey by any  reserved class by tickets obtained from Passenger Reservation System Counters from general quota / Tatkal quota, or through e-booking will  be as follows:-

1.Voter Photo Identity Card issued by Election Commission of India.
2.Passport.
3.PAN Card issued by Income Tax Department.
4.Driving License issued by Regional Transport Authorities.
5.Photo Identity Card having serial number issued by Central / State Government such as:-
(i)Pension Pay Orders (PPO) (ii) Ration Card with photographs (iii) Senior Citizen Cards (iv) Below Poverty Line (BPL) Cards (v) ESI Cards with photograph issued for taking treatment in ESI dispensaries. (vi) CGHS Cards with photograph issued to individual family members of Central Govt. employees.

6.Student Identity Card with photograph issued by recognized School/College for their  Students.
7.Nationalized Bank Passbook with photographs.
8. Credit Cards issued by Banks with laminated photograph.
9. Unique Identification Card “Aadhaar”.
10. Photo identity cards having serial number issued by Public Sector Undertakings of State /

    Central Government, District Administrations, Municipal Bodies and Panchayat

    Administrations.

According to the new provisions any o­ne of the passengers booked o­n a PNR for undertaking journey in any reserved class has to produce any o­ne of the above mentioned prescribed proofs of identity in original during the journey failing which all the passengers booked o­n that ticket will be treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly.  The existing provision of the Tatkal scheme where the passenger is required to show the same original proof of identity as indicated o­n the ticket shall continue.”


Presently o­nly the following categories of passengers travelling in reserved classes have to produce original proof of identity during the journey:-

·Passengers undertaking journey in all AC classes o­n tickets issued by  computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) Counters from general quota, except in III Economy Class (3E).
·Passengers travelling o­n e-tickets
·Passengers travelling o­n Tatkal tickets.

  Indian Railways News  / दाउदपुर में युवको ने ट्रेन पर जमाया कब्जा

छपरा-सिवान रेलखंड पर चेनपुलिंग की घटनाएं बढ़ती ही जा रही है। दाउदपुर स्टेशन के पास चेनपुलिंग तो जैसे नियति हीं बन गयी है। मंगलवार को तो हद ही हो गयी। मनचले युवकों ने 55010 सवारी गाड़ी की चेनपुलिंग कर उसे घंटों रोक कर रखा। प्रशासन से बेपरवाह युवकों ने ट्रेन पर कब्जा जमा लिया। इंजन पर सवार होकर चालक को भी परेशान किया। इस दौरान रेलवे सुरक्षा बल के जवानों का कहीं अता-पता भी नहीं था। ट्रेन पर कब्जा जमाए युवकों ने महिला यात्रियों पर फब्तियां भी कसी। बाद में युवक ट्रेन से उतर फरार हो गये। इसके बाद ट्रेन आगे के लिये रवाना हुई। इस संबंध में स्टेशन अधीक्षक ने बताया कि चेनपुलिंग के कारण परिचालन पर बुरा असर पड़ रहा है। प्रतिदिन बेवजह की परेशानी झेलनी पड़ रही है। बताते चलें कि दाउदपुर रेलवे स्टेशन के पास पैसेंजर से लेकर एक्सप्रेस ट्रेनों तक की चेनपुलिंग युवकों द्वारा प्रतिदिन की जा रही है। रेलवे प्रशासन द्वारा सख्त कार्रवाई नहीं करने के कारण चेनपुलिंग की घटना बढ़ती हीं जा रही है। जिससे यात्रियों को काफी परेशानी का सामना करना पड़ रहा है।