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  Indian Railways News  / Railway services in northeast partially restored

The railway services between southern Assam and other states in the region were partially restored, connecting Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram with rest of the country a month after landslides damaged tracks, an official said Wednesday.Train services were suspended in the region June 25 following heavy rains and landslides that damaged large stretches of railway tracks, bridges, tunnels and adjoining areas in southern Assam's mountainous Dima Hasao district, around 300 km from Guwahati, Assam's main city."The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) authority has decided to resume services of one or two goods trains in this region. Normal services would be restored by this month end," an NFR spokesperson told reporters at Silchar, southern Assam's main commercial city."The restored tracks might not take the pressure of many trains for a few days, but we hope to restore normal services by July 30 or July 31," the official said.The engineers, employees and workers of the NFR's Lumding division have been working round-the-clock over the past month to clear the debris and restored over 300 metres of rail tracks, the spokesperson said, adding that senior officials have been camping in the area to supervise the work.The landslides at about 90 places, following incessant rains, have in some places washed away or damaged nearby surface roads in mountainous Dima Hasao district, formerly North Cachar Hills district.

The Dima Hasao district connects Tripura's capital Agartala and parts of Manipur, Mizoram and southern Assam with the rest of India by a single 108-year-old metre-gauge railway track.

The foundation stone for conversion of this metre-gauge track to broad-gauge was laid by former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda in January 1996. The cost of the project has now mounted to Rs.2,800 crore from Rs.648 crore in 1996.

The suspension of train services has severely hit supplies of essential commodities and food grain, increasing their prices. The region is heavily dependent on the supplies of rice, essential commodities and vital items from other parts of the country.

"The Tripura food and civil supplies department has in separate letters requested the Food Corporation of India and the union ministry of food and civil supplies to ensure immediate stocks of essentials, specially rice," an official of the Tripura government told IANS.

In June-July 2010, railway traffic was disrupted for 34 days after a 300-metre track between Harangajao and Mailongdisa, 78 km from southern Assam's main city, Silchar, was washed away by heavy landslides.

  Indian Railways News  / Ex-Rail Min Murder: SC Ponders Over 37 Yr Delay in Trial

A 37-year delay in the trial of former Railway Minister L N Mishra's murder today left the Supreme Court pondering whether 'quietus' (an end) could be granted to the case due to prolonged hiatus or the criminal proceeding should be allowed to go on. "Now, we have reached a stage where either you will be acquitted or you will be convicted or after the delay of 37 years in the trial, can we give quietus to the case," a bench comprising justices H L Dattu and C K Prasad said.The bench made the remarks during the hearing of the petition filed by 65-year-old advocate Ranjan Dwivedi seeking quashing of the trial against him in the 1975 murder case of Mishra.Mishra was killed in a bomb blast in a function at the Samastipur Railway station in Bihar on January 3, 1975, and Dwivedi, who was 24-year-old at that time, was made accused along with three Anand Margas members, one of whom has died.Senior advocate T R Andhyarujina, who described the case as "unique", wanted to know from the court that when "there is no end of the case in sight," can the system "tolerate this type of trial which is going on for 36-37 years" and which violates the fundamental rights of right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution."How could the sword be hanging over the head for 37 years"? he said.The Bench, which heard the arguments for two hours, asked Andhyarujina to think and answer by tomorrow whether it could ask the trial court to expeditiously carry forward the trial and conclude it in a time-bound manner.

"Before we hear it further, can we tell the trial court that both the parties would cooperate and it will conclude the trial within three months. Think about it and tell tomorrow," the bench said.

  Indian Railways News  / गुस्साए यात्रियों ने स्टेशन में की तोड़फोड़

निचले असम में हुई हिंसक घटनाओं का असर घोक्साडांगा रेलवे स्टेशन पर भी महसूस किया गया। मंगलवार को सारे दिन घोक्साडांगा स्टेशन पर इंतजार करते हुए ऊब चुके बामनहाट-सिलीगुड़ी डीएमयू ट्रेन के यात्रियों ने स्टेशन परिसर में जमकर तोड़फोड़ की। वहां के स्टेशन मास्टर को मारा पीटा जिसके बाद स्थिति तनावपूर्ण हो गई। हालांकि इस दौरान रेल कर्मचारियों की सुरक्षा के लिए कोई सशस्त्र पुलिस कर्मी वहां मौजूद नहीं था। स्थानीय लोगों के हस्तक्षेप से स्टेशन मास्टर की जान बची। संबंधित ट्रेन के छूट जाने के बाद माथाभांगा पुलिस के सीआइ के नेतृत्व में विशाल पुलिस बल पहुंचा। बाद में जब ट्रेन छूटने को हुई तो मामला शांत हुआ। स्टेशन अधीक्षक ने बताया कि इस बाबत डीआरएम व अन्य शीर्ष अधिकारियों को अवगत कराया गया है। उन्होंने बताया कि रेल कर्मचारी खुद को असुरक्षित महसूस कर रहे हैं। जानकारी अनुसार मंगलवार की सुबह 11:08 बजे असम जाने वाली सरायघाट एक्सप्रेस को घोक्साडांगा स्टेशन पर रोक दिया गया। देर तक रुके हुए यात्रियों ने खाने पीने की कमी को देखते हुए अपनी नाराजगी जताई। हंगामे की असली वजह यही थी। बाद में स्थानीय बीडीओ कल्लोल राय, विधायक विनय कृष्ण बर्मन घटनास्थल पर पहुंचे तो मामला शांत हुआ। इसके बाद शाम सात बजे के करीब सरायघाट एक्सप्रेस कूचबिहार के लिए रवाना हुई। इसके बाद मालदा-न्यू कूचबिहार डीएमयू ट्रेन को रवाना किया गया। रात 11 बजकर पचास मिनट पर सिलीगुड़ी-बामनहाट डीएमयू ट्रेन घोक्साडांगा स्टेशन पहुंची। 12 बजे इसी ट्रेन के यात्रियों ने हंगामा शुरू किया। इन्होंने स्टेशन मास्टर के कक्ष में घुसकर वहां के फर्नीचर वगैरह तोड़े। आरोप है कि आक्रोशित यात्रियों ने स्टेशन मास्टर से हाथापाई भी की। स्टेशन मास्टर को बचाने के क्रम में स्थानीय युवक समीर विश्वास भी जख्मी हुए। यात्रियों ने स्टेशन की खिड़की, दरवाजे, विद्युत बोर्ड समेत कई जरूरी चीजें क्षतिग्रस्त कर दी। 12:20 मिनट पर सिलीगुड़ी-बामनहाट ट्रेन को न्यू कूचबिहार के लिए रवाना किया गया। जानकारी मिलने पर घोक्साडांगा थाने के ओसी जयदेव घोष के नेतृत्व में पुलिस की टीम पहुंची। इसके कुछ देर बाद सीआइ विनोद छेत्री पहुंचे। तब तक पूरी घटना घट चुकी थी। उस रात स्टेशन परिसर में पुलिस पिकेट बैठाई गई। इस घटना के बादउ से स्टेशन मास्टर और अन्य कर्मचारी खुद को असुरक्षित महसूस कर रहे हैं। दरअसल, रेलवे संपत्ति की सुरक्षा का दायित्व जीआरपी और आरपीएफ का होता है। लेकिन स्टेशन परिसर में कोई जीआरपी नहीं दिखाई देता है। बिना आग्नेयास्त्र के ही दो आरपीएफ जवान तैनात रहते हैं जिनसे सुरक्षा की विशेष उम्मीद नहीं की जा सकती। इन दोनों का भी दोपहर तक कोई अतापता नहीं था। स्टेशन अधीक्षक परिमल चंद्र दे ने बताया कि इस घटना के बाबत डीआरएम को अवगत कराया गया है। यहां के स्थानीय नागरिक कमेटी व अन्य निवासियों की मदद नहीं मिली होती तो हालात संगीन हो सकते थे। घोक्साडांगा थाने की पुलिस ने भी मदद की है।

  Indian Railways News  / असम की घटना को लेकर ढ़ाई घंटे रुकी रही राजधानी एक्सप्रेस

असम में सांप्रदायिक हिंसा की फैलती जा रही आग का असर बिहार होकर जाने वाली प्रमुख ट्रेनों पर भी पड़ी। बुधवार को दिल्ली से गोहाटी को जाने वाली 12236 राजधानी एक्सप्रेस को करीब ढ़ाई घंटे खगड़िया स्टेशन पर रोक रखा गया। सूत्र का कहना है कि इस महत्वपूर्ण ट्रेन को हसनपुर स्टेशन भी देर तक रोक रखा गया था। सहायक स्टेशन मास्टर के अनुसार कंट्रोल के आदेश के आलोक में ढ़ाई घंटे तक उक्त ट्रेन का यहां रोका गया था। गोहाटी की ओर जाने वाली ट्रेनों के परिचालन को नियंत्रित करने के उद्देश्य से ऐसा किया गया। स्टेशन मास्टर के अनुसार उक्त ट्रेन सुबह के 8 बजे दो नंबर प्लेटफार्म पर लगी। उसपर सवार यात्रियों को भी समझा-बुझा दिया गया कि वे इस असुविधा से आहत न हों। ऐसा ट्रेनों व यात्री सुरक्षा को ख्याल में रखकर कंट्रोल के आदेश पर किया जा रहा है। उक्त ट्रेन दिन के 10 बजकर 30 मिनट पर खगड़िया स्टेशन से खुली। इधर, उक्त ट्रेन पर सवार कई यात्रियों ने बताया कि इतनी देर एक स्टेशन पर ट्रेन रोके जाने से परेशानी तो है ही, मगर स्थानीय रेल अधिकारियों द्वारा बता दिया गया है कि सुरक्षा की दृष्टि से ऐसा किया गया है, इसलिए कोई खास मलाल नहीं है।

  Indian Railways News  / CRS probe into train accident unlikely - Business Exchange

PATNA: The train-jeep collision at an unmanned railway crossing near Rajnagar in Madhubani district under Samastipur division of East Central Railway (ECR) on Sunday in which 18 people were killed, has prompted the railways to review its safety measures at unmanned level crossings across the country.

The Railways has chalked out a five-year master plan to convert all unmanned gates into manned ones. About 200 road over bridges and 325 road under bridges would be built during 2011-2012 fiscal at vulnerable places across the country to check recurrence of such accidents, a Railway Board official said.

The railways has, however, completely ruled out the possibility of holding a Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) inquiry into the Rajnagar accident even as the collision between Delhi-Jayanagar Garib Rath and a private vehicle took place at an unmanned gate in broad daylight.

According to sources, Section 113 of Indian Railways Act, 1989, requires intimation of serious accidents to Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to conduct a probe into them. railway mishap. Under the Railway Accident Rules, 1998, the statutory provisions issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, a statutory inquiry by the CRS, an official of Civil Aviation department, is obligatory in every serious accident of any train carrying passengers, sources said.

During 2009-2010 alone, the CRS inquired into 23 train accidents including collisions (6), derailments (7), accidents at unmanned gates (3), accidents at manned gates (2) and five cases of unusual occurrences across the country. The ECR had witnessed two major accidents that occurred on July 21, 2009, under Samastipur division and on March 22, 2010, under Mughalsarai division. Though the casualty figure was not as high as in the Rajnagar incident, the CRS had inquired into these mishaps, sources said.

According to a Railway Board official, while 41 accidents had taken place at different places at manned railway crossing gates across the country, altogether 329 accidents occurred at unmanned gates taking a toll of several lives between March 2004 and March 2009. The number of unmanned gates was 16,976 in the country till April 1, 2009. However, there has been a sharp increase in this figure, he said.

According to the Board official, the White Paper issued by former railway minister Mamata Banerjee had listed the highest number of unmanned crossing gates in Gujarat (2,621), followed by Andhra Pradesh (1,164), Bihar (1,042) and Madhya Pradesh (929). However, the number of accidents at unmanned gates has been more frequent in Bihar, mainly due to lack of awareness about safety rules among people, he said. The Board official claimed that the number of accidents at unmanned gates had been reduced by 36%.