RailEnquiry

  Indian Railways News  / Hizb chief echos Geelani’s stand on Amarnath yatra

SRINAGAR: A day after Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani alleged that the Union government was trying to change the demography of the Valley by promoting the Amarnath pilgrimage, he was joined by Hizbul Mujahideen supreme commander Syed Salahuddin, bringing them on the same page on any issue for the first time.

Agreeing with Geelani, POK-based Salahuddin, who is also the chief of United Jihad Council, said the government of India was sending non-local labourers and increasing number of pilgrims for Amarnath every year so as to eventually make the area Hindu majority. Salahuddin alleged that the Islamic character of Kashmir is being diluted by issuing state subject certificates to outsiders.

"Adopting certain design, non-local labourers from other parts of India are being settled in Jammu & Kashmir to change its demography. Many state subject certificates have been issued to non-locals in Baramulla district," Salahudin told a Srinagar-based news agency on telephone from POK.

Calling for limiting the number of Amarnath yatris visiting the cave shrine every year, Salahuddin said the increasing number of pilgrims, setting up of permanent infrastructure for them along with increasing interference of non-local labourers in private and public sector, was an indication of the government's plans to change the Muslim majority character of J&K. He said manipulation in the figures of the census by the government is a step towards changing the demography of the state.

He said the death of Amarnath yatris is natural in view of the difficult terrain and hostile climatic conditions. This, he said, could be reduced if the number of yatris is brought down.

"The saffron brigade including the BJP is trying to make an issue out of this to pave the way for changing the Muslim majority character of the state. We will raise voice against such designs and any move to settle non-state subjects in will be resisted," he said.

Incongruously, however, Salahuddin also said Hizbul wasn't against any religion in particular, which he said is evident from the fact that Kashmiris have facilitated smooth yatra of the yatris.

Salahuddin also criticized the setting up of railway lines and constructing roads and tunnels terming it a conspiracy by the "government of India" to extend its military infrastructure in the state. He added that although India and Pakistan were working for better relations, peace will elude the subcontinent if the Kashmir issue was not resolved.

Confidence building measures like cross-LoC trade, people-to-people contact, etc., are futile, he said. "The situation in the state in volcanic and it can erupt any time. India is trying to establish its supremacy in the region by ignoring the sacrifices of Kashmiris", he said

  Indian Railways News  / Travelator at Habibganj railway station soon

BHOPAL: A travelator installed on platform number one at Habibganj railway station would be functional shortly.Installed at a cost of Rs 70 lakh, test run of travelator has already been carried out. "It is in perfect shape," West Central Railways' (WCR) Bhopal division officials said.The new walkway would prove a boon for passengers who face problem in climbing stairs to reach platform.Around 25,000 passengers make journey from Habibganj station from where more than 50 trains pass and originate daily. A large number of people come to the station to receive or see off their relatives boarding trains, officials said.

  Indian Railways News  / Is safety our primary concern?

Even as the city faces security threats quite often, authorities do not seem to be serious about the issue. The Police department has failed to monitor the installation of CCTV cameras and other surveillance systems at prominent places including the City Railway Station and BMTC Bus Stand. While police personnel are deployed at the main entrance of the City Railway Station, there are two other entries; the entry gate from Oklipuram and the one from Mahatma Gandhi Colony, which allows people to enter the station without any security check. There are no metal detectors at the main entrance while the other one on platform number eight is not functional. “Metal detectors are sent for repairs. We have CCTV cameras installed in many parts of the station and our security personnel are monitoring it,” Suvankar Biswas, PRO at Bangalore City Railway Station said. Speaking about unauthorised entries to the station he said, “Unlike airports, railway stations cannot be a closed environment. So, it is difficult to monitor everyone entering the station.’’ Many opt for unauthorised entries to save time. “I travel by train daily. I take the Oklipuram side entrance to reach platform number 10 as it saves time,” said Gurumurthy, a student. Besides, two LCD display units were stolen last month despite CCTV cameras and men in khakee deputed at the station. Ironically, the CCTV cameras could not provide evidence to capture the thieves. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mir Arif Ali had asserted that the CCTV installed in the station produces poor quality video. So is the case in BMTC Bus Stand. The Bus Stand seems to be in a worse condition; neither is it installed with CCTV camera nor does it have any functional Metal Detector Machines.

 There are around 13 entries to the Bus Stand and no security personnel is deputed at any entrance.

 “Metal detectors were faulty.

 We will make sure that they are replaced soon,” said D Devraj, Divisional Traffic Officer, KBS.

 “Survey has been done for the installation of CCTV cameras and it will be installed in a week or two,” he added.

 The terminus has a capacity of handling 4,500 BMTC buses which ferry around seven lakh commuters a day.

 Approximately 55 buses enter the terminal every minute.

 There are 15 policemen who guard both KSRTC and BMTC bus stand round the clock.

 But, most of them were just armed with nothing but a ‘Lathi’.

 Lack of adequate security measures have made commuters feel insecure.

 “We cannot wait for more than 15 minutes here.

 If we do, men keep staring at us and some pass comments and that make us uncomfortable.

 With no sponsible authority around, it becomes very difficult to file a complaint,” said Sowmya, a student

  Indian Railways News  / Railways to pay over Rs 10K for issuing ticket for wrong date

The Indian Railways has been asked by a consumer forum here to pay Rs 10,459 to a 73-year-old man as compensation for issuing him a ticket for a wrong date. A District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum said the railway authorities cannot blame the elderly traveller for not checking the date of journey and asked the concerned officials of the Northern Railway and the Old Delhi railway station to pay the amount to the Delhi resident. "When there is glaring and palpable negligence on the part of booking clerk, merely because a senior citizen at the ticket counter, where there is always a rush, could not notice the mistake on the part of booking clerk, it is no answer to the negligence of the booking clerk ..., contributory negligence is no defence to the claim of the complainant." "In our considered opinion, ends of justice will be met if opposite parties (Old Delhi railway station and Northern Railway) are directed to refund the amount of wrongly issued ticket dated June 19, 2009 for which complainant (Ramesh) had paid Rs 459 and some compensation should be awarded. "Accordingly, we direct the opposite parties to refund the amount of Rs 459. Further, they are also directed to pay an amount of Rs 10,000 to the complainant towards compensation and cost," the bench presided by Babu Lal said. In his complaint, Delhi resident Ramesh had said he had booked three tickets for his journey from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Ashok Nagar on April 14, 2009 and then for onward journey from Ashok Nagar to Haridwar on April 16, 2009 and return journey from Dehradun to Hazrat Nizamuddin on April 19, 2009. The return ticket issued to him, however, was for June 19, 2009 instead of April 19 and he found it out on the date of journey, he said adding as a result of which he had to face much inconvenience in getting back to Delhi. The Railways had contended in their defence that as he had failed to check his tickets, therefore he is responsible for his own sufferings.

  Indian Railways News  / Railways may ban bikes on long-distance trains after fire - Mumbai - DNA

The railways are contemplating a complete ban on transport of fuelled two-wheelers, including motorbikes, on long-distance trains, as they can lead to fires.

Senior railway officials said that a final decision would be taken soon on the issue that was raised after smoke began emanating from a train belonging to South Central Railway, which was passing by Nagpur recently due to the petrol from a bike on board.

The CR has already decided to drain out fuel from motorbikes before loading it. Right now, there is strict inspection of petrol tank of motorcycle before they are loaded in the train, but if the railway board approves, all bikes would soon be banned by the railways.
Many citizens living elsewhere and working in a different city usually transport their bikes in trains’ cargo for convenience. The Hampi Express mishap on May 22 that killed 25 passengers occurred due to fuel from bikes being carried in the train’s cargo.

The officials came to the conclusion that fire started from the luggage carrying bogie, adjacent to the ladies general compartment, just behind the train engine, when the train rammed into a stationary goods train. The investigating officials concluded that the fire had sparked from the fuel in the two-wheelers being carried in the parcel van and found fault with the parcel section officers, for not making proper inspection before packing and writing receipts for the bikes.

City commuter associations said the railways should not arrive at such a decision as the railway cargo is a cheap way of transport and such a blanket ban wouldcause problems.