Title - Steps Taken by SCR to Minimise Inconvenience to Passengers in View of Disruption to Train Services B

Due to heavy rains and discharge of flood water from upstream, water level has risen above the danger mark at the Railway Bridge o­n River Tandava between Tuni-Gullipadu Stations in the wee hours of today (4th November, 2012).It necessitated temporary suspension of train services o­n this stretch from around 02 30 hrs today keeping in view the Safety considerations. It resulted in disruption of Rail traffic between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Several Express Trains have suitably been regulated at various stations o­n Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam section. As the water level receded in the evening, the Track o­n the Up line was cleared fit at 17 55 Hrs after running of a Light Engine across the Railway Bridge and Train services got restored.
Opening of Emergency Control Rooms:-
Emergency Control Rooms have been opened at SCR HQ-Rail Nilayam / Secunderabad and also at the Divisional Office at Vijayawada, manned round the clock by multi-disciplinary team of senior officers. Senior Officers from Vijayawada Division are camping at the Tandava River Bridge to constantly monitor the situation. Chief Engineers from SCR/HQ rushed to Vijayawada Division to assess the field condition and to assist for early restoration of Services. Liaison is being maintained with the local state Government officials, especially the Irrigation Engineers to monitor the discharge of flood water.
To minimise the inconvenience to passengers, South Central Railway has taken several
  Steps as detailed below:-

1)Catering Arrangements:-
The Managers of the Pantry Cars o­n the Trains have been regularly contacted and ensured adequate supply of food materials to the passengers o­n board. For the passengers of the trains without Pantry Car facility, Snacks / Food packets have been made available from the Platform Catering Stalls and also involving assistance fromlocal Voluntary Organisations ( at Tuni and Rajahmundry); nearby Temple authorities (at Annavaram and Samarlakota) and local Trade and Merchant Associations (at Rajahmundry) .
2) Setting up of Help-Lines:-
Wide dissemination of information o­n the train services has been taken up through Help Lines. Help Lines have been set up at major stations such as Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Samalkot and Tuni in the affected section and also at Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Kazipet and Khammam Stations to convey information o­n the current status of train services to the Public. These Help Line Numbers have been widely publicised through Media.
3) Arrangements at Stations:-
As the trains got regulated at various stations, special care is taken to minimise inconvenience to the passengers. Frequent announcements have been made through public announcement systems at Stations o­n the current position. Additional Enquiry Counters have been opened. Officers / Senior Supervisors are deployed at major Stations to monitor the situation and to assist the stranded passengers. Watering of Coaches has been done at Vijayawada / Rajahmundry as per need.
4)Refund of Fare:-
Full refund of fare has been granted to the passengers of cancelled / partially cancelled trains and also for the trains which are long delayed / rescheduled, upon cancellation of their tickets. Additional refund counters have been operated at major stations to handle the rush.
5) Rationalisation of Running of Train Services:-
Keeping in view the Rail traffic disruption, 14 trains have been fully cancelled, 11 partially cancelled to avoid any further congestion o­n the Section. 12 Long distance trains destined to Bhubaneswar/Howrah and beyond have been diverted via Kazipet, Balharshah and Nagpur to avoid waiting in the affected Section. 04 trains have been rescheduled.