RAILWAY SAMACHAR

Breakthrough in theft cases on board trains

Coimbatore : The Railway Police on Monday made a significant breakthrough in cases of passengers being looted of their belongings while on board running trains by arresting a person from Bihar. Following frequent incidents of thefts from stacked luggage on the upper racks of the coaches of Coimbatore – Nagercoil passenger train reported in the months of June and November 2008, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Railway Police, S.N. Seshasayee, and the Superintendent of Police, N. Manoharan, formed special police teams under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Railway Police, K. Periasamy. The teams led by Inspectors S. Balraj (Podanur) and K. Elangovan (Jolarpet) fanned out in different directions in search of the accused. A constant vigil was maintained on trains especially from Coimbatore towards Chennai, Bangalore, Nagercoil and Tiruchirapalli via Erode.The special teams stumbled on Rajesh kumar alias Rajesh Prasad alias Munna (35) of Patna in Bihar. It is learnt that the gangsters from Bihar used to board crowded trains and sit on the upper rack. Under the pretext of reading news papers, the gang used to deceive the passengers and silently open suitcases and locked baggage using duplicate keys and decamp with valuables. The gangsters never interacted with fellow gang members. Based on the descriptions, on Monday, the police nabbed the accusedand recovered implements and duplicate keys from him. Based on his confession, the special team is on the job of apprehending three moregang members and for recovering the stolen property. Vigil has been stepped up on all trains, Railway Police sources said.

Arbitration panel inspects

railway properties

Compensation row between SCR and GHMCThere are 132 railway properties on the Sangeet Junction-Tarnaka routeBoth parties differ on methodology of payment for affected structuresBetter connectivity: Road widening work in progress at Tarnaka inSecunderabad on Monday.

HYDERABAD : Construction of compound walls and road laying works are underway on the Sangeet Junction to Tarnaka route even as the High Court-appointed Arbitration Committee to sort out the compensation dispute between South Central Railway (SCR) and GHMC too has begunits job. The committee headed by former Law Commissioner Chairman Justice (retd.) M. Jagannadha Rao with senior engineers S.S. Quadri (Irrigation Department) and P. Jagan Mohan Reddy (BHEL) as members inspected the railway properties to be affected on the weekend. Senior SCR officials – Munna Kumar, Anil Goyal and others were present. Hearing arguments Chief City Planner B. Purushothama Reddy said that lawyers belongingto both parties had submitted their respective stands on the issueand hearing of arguments is to start from February 22 onwards. Confident of an amicable settlement in the arbitration process, hesaid it could take up to three months to bring the road to theplanned state.Boundary walls and road construction has begun in the vacant sites of 19,000 Sq.mts (of the 52,938 sq.mts) sought from SCR) as already agreed upon and it can be seen near the Hyderabad Divisional Office, Mettuguda and the Railway Degree College. There are 132 railway properties and municipal officials say thatsave for some bungalows, most of the buildings have been vacated. Twoto three private properties too are yet to be acquired. But, the boneof contention between both organisations continues to be about assessing the methodology of payment for the affected structures along with land compensation. Land rate GHMC, which has already paid Rs. 45 crore, has stuck to its stand ofpaying Rs. 7,000 per sq. yard as per the market rate fixed by the district revenue authorities and structural compensation based on depreciation. However, SCR has been demanding a higher rate for landand also seeking "relocation" charges for the structures affected. Earlier this month, the municipal corporation has released Rs. 1.94 crore more for shifting electrical equipment and a provisional estimate of Rs. 20 crore was prepared for construction two new road under bridges at Rail Nilayam and Chordline. SCR has no issues with that and is pretty keen to begin this work, say officials.

Railway budget evokes mixed

response among the public

No follow-up action to announcements made earlier: forum

Ramanathpuram : The interim railway budget presented by the Minister for Railways, Lalu, has evoked mixed reaction among the people. Terming the budget as a populist one with an eye on the Parliamentary elections, R. Pandi, Reader in Commerce, Government Arts College, Paramakudi, said though the two percent reduction of fare across the board was on expected lines, the reduction was only meagre, which would not enthuse the public to a large extent. Though the decision to start 43 new trains and also to extend the services of 14 trains was a welcome one, the southern states had beengiven a raw deal and some states had been completely neglected. He added the announcement that the freight rates had been left untouched was untrue as it had been increased only a month beforethis budget. Moreover that increase had led to rise in prices of essential commodities. The Railways Minister had missed an opportunity to reduce the freight rates to stimulate the economy, which was showing all signs of an economic melt down. Belied hopes Industrial houses which expected a big slash in freight rates, felt that their hopes were belied. As the railways was a public utility concern, giving much importance to earn profit and to leave the coffer with a hefty Rs.90,000 crore was not a healthy attitude on the part of the poor- friendly Railways Minister. Instead, he should have taken some bold steps to plough back theprofit for the welfare of the public. P. Duraisingam, president, Federation of Consumer Organisations Tamil Nadu, said that there was no follow up action with regard to announcements made in the earlier budgets to operate new trains to Bhubaneshwar and Varanasi from Rameswaram. The available broad gauge networks were under utilised. There was no construction and long term plan to fully utilise them.

SCB staff praised for limiting train accident toll

The help provided by people and voluntary organisations ispraiseworthy, says a medical official

CUTTACK : Nearly 100 doctors and some 300 paramedics of SCB Medical College and Hospital here working tirelessly for nearly 72 hours dida commendable job to ensure that the death roll in Friday's Coromandel Express accident does not touch the double-digit figure. The accident had claimed nine lives on the spot leaving some 150 injured. "Even as we received 51 injured passengers, many of them in agrievous condition, our main focus was to ensure that all injured getproper treatment and get back to their homes fully cured," said hospital administrative officer B N Moharana. The hospital on Monday evening was treating only five train accident victims while the remaining have been either discharged or left against medical advice (LAMA). "All the five with us are out ofdanger and they will be discharged within a day or two," Mr. Moharana added.While both train drivers—Utsav Jani and A Madka -- were taken to the Railway hospital at Khurda Road, three others were shifted to Kalinga Hospital in Bhubaneswar on Monday morning, railway officials said. "Among the three shifted to Bhubaneswar, two are in ICU for acute brain and chest injuries while the other one is out of danger," said Dr J P Das, chief medical officer of Railway hospital. Meanwhile, railway officials on Monday claimed that barring a solitary gaffe, all the simple and grievous injured passengers were provided compensation as per the announcement of the Railway Ministry. Passengers with trivial injuries were not provided any compensation, they said adding that all the injured persons and their attendants were provided transportation and return passes to get backto their native places. The Railways also provided all medical expenses, including food and lodging for the attendants. But it was the SCB hospital doctors and staff who lapped all credit for their caring and compassionate services to injured passengers. "We are happy that everybody in the hospital came forward to provide selfless service at this hour of national tragedy," said atired-looking but satisfied Mr Moharana. Mr. Moharana also did not forget to appreciate the help and support provided by people of Cuttack in general and some voluntary organisations in particular. It was also equally praise worthy to note that about hundreds of youths lined up outside the temporary traumacare throughout Friday night to provide blood to the needy, he added.

NMR exceeds expectations of British visitors

Enchanted: Volunteers of Leighton Buzzard Railway in Udhagamandalamon Monday.

Udhagamandalam : The train of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) whichis normally hauled by a steam locomotive upto Coonoor from Mettupalayam and then switches to a diesel engine to complete itsjourney to Udhagamandalam on Monday did the entire trip with a steamengine. The reason: among the hundreds of passengers was a group from the United Kingdom which had come not only for the coveted experience of travelling by the NMR but also give valuable tips on how to improve services on the line.The 16 member group including three women were from the Leighton Buzzard Railway (LBR), Bedfordshire, United Kingdom. Run by a non-profit organization, the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway Society, the LBR is operated and managed by unpaid volunteers andfunded principally by the proceeds of the service. Pointing out thatthe railway which was built in 1919 was a product of the First World War and its 90th anniversary was being celebrated this year, member of the society Alfred Fisher told The Hindu that it was twinned with the Indian Railways and the two had signed a Memorandum of Understanding for exchange of expertise. The LBR which has no employees is proud to be associated with the Indian Railways, the largest employer in the World, he added. He said that for many in thegroup the trip on the NMR was the first. It was made possible by the Indian Railways. Stating that the journey was beyond their expectations, member and mechanical engineer Mike Weedon said that taking care of steam engines had become a way of life for them. Describing the NMR as amagnificent line, he said that it was possible to carry out improvements and make it fuel efficient. The Chairman of the Society Mervyn Leah said that the scenery along the NMR had taken their breath away. Stating that the NMR very much deserves the World Heritage Site status granted to it by UNESCO, he said that it was aunique railway which should be preserved at all costs. It should alsobe promoted world wide. Divisional mechanical engineer, Southern Railway J. Nagesh who accompanied the group said that the members studied every aspect of the train. At every station they got down andeven travelled in the locomotive. They will submit a report containing their observations and suggestions including ways toreduce cost and making the line environment friendly. He added thatthe LBR was already using an engine taken from the Manthahan Railwayin Mumbai.

Chargesheet silent on IM's involvement in 7/11

Mumbai : Five months ago, when the Mumbai Police arrested five alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorists and blamed them for the Ahmedabadand the Delhi serial blasts, they also claimed that these men were the backbone of a Terror module responsible for a majority of terror attacks in the country since 2005, including the 7/11 commuter train attacks in the city which killed 187 people. But the Mumbai Police chargesheet in the case due to be filed on Tuesday will be silent on these claims, sources told 'Railway Samachar', raising eyebrows within the force and once again focusing onthe turf war between rival departments. While the chargesheet beingfiled by the Crime Branch, which is in charge of the IM case, will belimited to the terror e-mails sent minutes before the blasts, the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) says it cannot seek thecustody of these IM men and file a supplementary chargesheet in the 7/11 case — which is under the ATS — as it has not receivedany "official communication" about the IM men being linked to thetrain blasts. The Crime Branch had first arrested five alleged IM operatives Afzal Mutalib Usmani (32), Mohammed Sadiq Israr Sheikh (32), Mohammed Arif Sheikh (31), Mohammed Zakir Sheikh (28) and Sheikh Mohammed Ansar (31) and Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor and Joint Commissioner (Crime) Rakesh Maria had announced on September 24 thatthese men had posed as Pakistanis and planted bombs on local trains along with Indian accomplices on 7/11.Sixteen more alleged IM operatives were arrested subsequently and arealso being charged on Tuesday."Once the chargesheet is filed, it will be up to the ATS to seek custody of the IM members and verify their involvement in 7/11. It will depend on the ATS whether or not to file a supplementary chargesheet in the 7/11 case," said a senior officer. Asked for his response, acting ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi said that hehad not received any formal communication from the Crime Branch onthe involvement of IM operatives in the 7/11 case. "If any mention ofthe involvement of those arrested in the 7/11 case is made in the chargesheet, we will definitely take further action and follow up on their involvement," Raghuvanshi told 'Railway Samachar'. If the chargesheet made no such mention, "some sort of communication and information should be given to us for us to act on it. So far, wehave not been officially informed of any 7/11 link to the IM case,"he added. The Crime Branch's IM chargesheet will name 21 men who have been arrested and seven who are still wanted, and will deal with the e-mails claiming responsibility for the Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Delhi blasts allegedly sent by a `media wing' headed by Mansoor Asghar Peerbhoy — a software engineer who was with a Yahoo subsidiary in Pune — by hacking into WiFi accounts in Mumbai. IM co-founder Riyaz Bhatkal and his elder brother Iqbal will be namedas wanted accused along with LeT commanders Ameer Raza and Azam Cheema who are believed to be in Pakistan. Top IM operative Abdus Subhan Qureshi alias Tauqeer, and a driver identified as Mohsin, are also wanted in the case. The accused will be charged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, the Explosives Act, Arms Act, Information Technology Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code such as waging war against the nation.

Railway Exam Paper Leak Probe Leads to Bihar

Lucknow : Officials looking into the leak in the Railway Recruitment Board exams are zeroing in on a senior railway official from Bihar afterover 60 candidates who were earlier arrested in Jaipur and Bhopal pointed their fingers towards one individual who took part of the money in exchange for the test papers. "We have indications that a senior official in the Railway ministry with his base in Bihar is the man behind this scandal though only a thorough investigation would bring the facts to the surface," a senior Madhya Pradesh police official said on Monday. As reported in the media, officials in Rajasthan arrested 105 candidates on Sunday after reports of leak of the test papers cameinto light just hour before the exams. At least 11 of the arrested persons belonged to the gang responsible for leaking the papers, the police had said. Officials are looking for a man named Santosh Singh believed to bethe kingpin of the gang.

Arshiya Rail Infrastructure plans 30 rakes in phase-I

Arshiya International has planned to roll out 30 rakes over the next 15 months.

Jharsuguda : Railway operations were launched on February 2nd 2009, with the very first rake pressed into service at Jharsuguda in Orissa. The rakewill offer customized rail transport solutions to Vedanta Aluminium Ltd that is building aluminium smelting capacity in the eastern state. The 30 rake roll out that constitutes phase-I of Arshiya's railway operations will be spread over 15 months, at an average rate of 2 rakes per month. The INR 1,600 crore railway business will come under Arshiya Rail Infrastructure Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arshiya International Ltd, formed in April 2008 when Indian Railways granted a pan India licence. The official said that for phase-I of the plan, equity infusion has already taken place and the company is in the final stages of mobilizing debt. ARIL's eventual plan is to have 75 rakes inoperation, making it the largest private railway operator in the country. Arshiya's early routes will mainly focus on providing eastto west and east to north connectivity in India. Mr Ajay S Mittal CMD of Arshiya International Ltd in a statement that "We are confident that the rail services, combined with the services to be provided at the free trade warehousing zones, will present a substantial value proposition to our customers."Arshiya International Ltd in August 2008 also placed an order on Finland based Kalmar Industries for sourcing seven E One+ rubber-tyred gantry and 10 reach stackers. These new units will be deployed at Arshiya's proposed free trade warehousing zones in India and Middle East. Some equipment will also be used at its railway terminals across India. Meanwhile, Arshiya International is expected to soon start work on the Mumbai Free Trade Warehousing Zone. Despite, the ongoing economic slowdown, long-term prospects for private players remain bright for railway container operations. Indiais expected to handle 200 million tonne of rail based container cargoby 2011-12 against 20 million tonne today. Much of this handling is likely to be propelled by private operators. Industry experts also feel that the advent of private players will also bring about greater efficiency in the overall Indian logistics industry. Currently, logistics costs account for 13% to 15% of the country's GDP. Private sector participation will bring about greater efficiency leading to a much lower incidence of logistics costs, experts feel. Indian Railways opened up container train services to the private sector in October 2006, ending the monopoly of public sector Container Corporation of India Ltd. (Sourced from Project monitor)