RailEnquiry

  Indian Railways News  / Heavy rains lash Gujarat, traffic disrupted - Eight trains, majority running between Delhi and Mumba

Ahmedabad: Heavy rains lashed many parts of Gujarat on Thursday, disrupting rail and vehicular traffic at several places.

Eight trains, majority running between Delhi and Mumbai, were stuck up at various locations in Gujarat as the tracks at Jekot railway station near Dahod district were submerged in water after incessant rains, railway officials said. “Four local trains have been cancelled.

Eight trains have been held up at various locations as the tracks at Jekot station have been submerged,” Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Vadodara, Udai Shankar Jha said.

The trains held up in Gujarat since morning due to heavy rains are 19019-Bandra Dehradun, 19037 Bandra-Gorakhpur, 12283 Ernakulam-Nizamuddin, 12980 Jaipur-Bandra, 19024 Ferozpur-Mumbai, 12472 Jammutawi-Bandra, 12449 Madgam-Nizamuddin and 12926 Amritsar-Bandra.

  Indian Railways News  / Emerging Kerala: Major projects already finalised

Emerging Kerala’, currently under a cloud of controversies, has projected various mega projects, including the Kochi Metro Rail and the once nearly-abandoned High Speed Rail Corridor (HSRC).It has been pointed out that most of the major projects, proposed to be presented at the investors’ meet, have already been finalised by the union and state governments.Though there are proposals for major land acquisition, there is hardly any mention of rehabilitation and compensation. An area of 10,000 acres of land has been proposed to set up integrated Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIRs). Furthermore, the KSIDC has identified an area of 334 acres for an Electronics Park.One of the most expensive projects could be the `53,825 crore Kochi-Palakkad NIMZ (National Investment and Manufacturing Zone).Spanning over a vast area over Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Palakkad districts, it proposes to establish industrial and commercial establishments across 20 identified nods.While the Chief Minister said that the government is yet to finalise the projects in Emerging Kerala, the notification stated that the state government and its agencies have already initiated steps for land acquisition.Detailed reports have been submitted to the state and central governments for notification of Kochi-Palakkad NIMZ.

KSIDC has identified 334 acres of land at Amballur village in Kochi for a `750-crore Electronic Park with infrastructure development cost of `336 crore.

It is nothing but old wine in a new bottle. Interestingly, such a major initiative has been proposed at a time when two other projects proposed earlier - the Electronics City and the Hi Tech City at Kalamassery - have gone in vain. According to the proposal, the government has already approved the acquisition of 334 acres of land.

The `2,000 crore Supplementary Gas Infrastructure Project by Kerala Gail Gas Limited (KGGL) is a joint venture company formed between KSIDC and Gail Gas Limited. KGGL will take up initiatives including city gas distribution, CNG stations for KSRTC buses, establishment of a gas training institute, laying of spur lines from GAIL’s main pipeline and setting up of gas-based small power generating plants.

Another mega project proposed to be presented at the investor meet is the Kochi Metro Rail.

The project has already been widely discussed across various forums, and the Union Government has issued sanction for the same. The funding methodology has also been fixed for this initiative.

A `320 crore Oceanarium project through Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) has been proposed in Kochi. The project, for which 36.5 acres of land has been earmarked, has been in the air for the past couple of years.

The High Speed Rail Corridor in the state could be another project poised to become controversial.

Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, the Monorail Project in Thiruvananthapuram, the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Kottayam, Sea Plane Services in Kerala and Gas Based Power Project at Cheemeni are some of the other projects which found a place in the list.

  Indian Railways News  / Rlys makes bid to reduce level-crossing mishaps

Worried over the fatalities and mishaps at unmanned level crossings (ULCs), the Delhi Division of Northern Railway has decided to construct subways or underpasses at all the 250 ULCs falling in its jurisdiction in a phased manner over the next two years.A senior official said that the decision on whether to construct subways or underpasses will be based on factors including volume of traffic and the number of accidents reported earlier.The move comes after the Railway Ministry decided to progressively eliminate unmanned level crossings.A senior official of Delhi Division said that despite continuous awareness campaigns at ULCs, railway authorities across the country have not been able to control accidents. Accidents at ULCs take place mostly because of negligence on part of road commuters. But despite that, every accident at such crossings is blamed on the Railways. He confirmed that the Railways has decided to build these alternatives for crossing the tracks to avert any untoward incident at ULCs.“Construction of subways has already started at a few sites. The constructions at remaining ULCs will be started in phased manner,” an official said, adding that in Delhi, there are 16 level crossings and all of them are already manned, seeing heavy vehicular movement in the Capital. Some of the ULCs under Delhi Divisions are near Sampla, Asauda, between Panipat and Jind stations of Delhi division and construction of subway is underway between Panipat and Jind.

Giving details of plan for elimination of ULCs in Delhi division in next two years, an official said that ULCs having highest traffic or pedestrian movement will be given utmost priority along with the ULCs from where earlier accidents had been reported. The remaining ULCs will be closed in phased manner.

Divisional rail manager, Delhi Divisions, AK Sachan, said that following the Ministry’s direction, the Division will close all ULCs by constructing subways and underpasses as alternative to commuters. An official said that the Railways is also planning to merge some ULCs with near-by manned or unmanned gates or Road Under Bridge (RUBs) or Road Over Bridges (ROBs) by creating diversions.

  Indian Railways News  / Byrnihat-Shillong Rail Project to be Completed by 2018

Transport Minister AT Mondal on Thursday informed the House that the proposed railway project from Byrnihat to Shillong has already been sanctioned. “The project is expected to be completed by 2018,” Mondal said while also informing that Chief Minister had held a dialogue in December last year with the various NGO leaders who are opposing the proposed railway project.

Mondal said this while replying to a question tabled by UDP legislator Ardent M Basiawmoit, “The NGOs are supposed to meet again the Chief Minister to discuss over the issue. But till date the NGOs have not yet come forward for another round of discussion with the Government,” Tranport Minister said.

  Indian Railways News  / Special trains introduced to clear Vinayaka Chavithi rush

The South Central Railway has announced four special trains to clear the rush in the festive season of Vinayaka Chavithi.According to Railway CPRO K Sambasiva Rao, train no. 07405 will start from Aurangabad on September 21 and September 28 at 6:40 pm and would reach Tirupati the next day at 7pm. In return, Train No.07406 will start from Tirupati on September 22 and September 29 at 9:15pm and will reach Aurangabad on the next day at 8:30 pm.The special trains introduced would halt at Jalna, Poorna, Nanded, Mutked, Basara, Nizamabad, Secunderabad, Kajipet, Warangal, Khammam, Vijayawada, Tenali, Chirala, Ongole, Nellore, Gudur, Venkatagiri, Srikalahasti and Renigunta stations.