Monday 16 March, 2009

Over 8,500 Railway officers
booked for fraudulent practices
New Delhi : In a drive to check corruption and bring in transparency in its administration, Indian Railways has ordered departmental action against more than 8,500 officers for their alleged involvement in various fraudulentpractices. The data updated till November 2008 shows that in 25,845 drives carried out bythe Vigilance Directorate of the Railway Board, 8,638 officers including 117 gazetted ones, were booked for various charges including making of traffic under charges and fraudulent payment to staff.
There are about 13,000 gazetted officers and nearly eight lakh non-gazetted officers in the world's largest employer which has a total strength of 14 lakh approximately. Of the staff booked for fraudulent practices, a maximum number of them -- 1,403 -- including 1,395 non-gazetted and eight gazetted officers were from South Western Railway, followed by 1,334 in Northern Railway, 760 in Southern Railway and 728 in North Eastern Railway zone.
"The Vigilance department carries out regular checks to bring in transparency and accountability in administration. It will intensify its drive in the coming months to check leakage of revenue," a senior ministry official said. Railways has realised Rs 79.88 crore from its drives during the said period. In another development, the Railway Ministry has identified 10 sectors as thrust areas for intensive vigilance, to monitor misuse of various concessions, implementation of various schemes to boost traffic and checking in general coaches to detect fraud in the unreserved tickets.
"Railways, in line with the instructions of Ministry of Home Affairs, every year prepare two lists -- Agreed and Secret list -- as a measure to combat corruption and to keep awatch on the officials whose integrity is suspected," the official said. The Agreed List, prepared in consultation with CBI, includes names of officers whose integrity are doubtful. While, the Secret List are of those officers of doubtful integrity on the basis of accepted inquiry reports or proved charges of corruption. "Persons in Agreed and Secret List are not assigned any sensitive posts and their working is kept under constant surveillance," he said.
Rlys freight loading declines
marginally in February '09
New Delhi : Despite posting overall good results in the current fiscal, Railways saw a marginal decline in freight loading in February. The decline was about 0.86 per cent as the Railways carried 70.02 million tonnes of freight traffic as compared to 70.63 million tonnes carried during the sameperiod previous year. However, the total freight loading during the first 11 months this fiscal saw anincrease of 5.03 per cent as compared to the same period last year.Railways carried 751.30 million tonnes of freight traffic from April 2008 to February 2009, which was an increase of 35.97 million tonnes over the freight traffic of 715.33 million tonnes carried during the corresponding period lastyear.
Similarly, the total passenger revenue earnings during the first 11 month of the current financial year went up by 11 per cent as the Railways earned Rs 19,906 crore compared to Rs 17,934 crore during the same period last year. Passengers booked during this period was Rs 648 crore compared to Rs 609 croreduring the corresponding period last year. This was an increase of 6.3 per cent. The total goods earned went up from Rs 43,283 crore during the said period to Rs.48,800 crore during the same period last year, which is also an increase of12.75 per cent, according to a release.
Indian Railways earnings up
12.02 pct in Apr-Feb 2009
New Delhi : Indian Railways' earnings rose by 12.02 percent to 717.66 billion rupees during the first eleven months of 2008/09, a government statementsaid on Monday 16th march. Railways earnings from goods' transport were up 12.75 percent from 432.83 billion rupees during April 07- February 08 period to 488 billion rupees during April 08 - February 09 period, the statement said. Total passenger revenue earnings during first eleven months of 2008/09 rose by11 percent to 199.07 billion rupees compared with 179.34 billion rupees duringthe same period last year, it added.
However, in February freight traffic carried by the Railways fell 0.86 percentin February though goods traffic grew by 5.03 percent on-year to 751.30 million tonnes during the first eleven months of the current fiscal.
Apr-Feb railway revenue up 12%
New Delhi : The total goods earnings have gone up from Rs432.83bn during 1st April '07-28th February '08 to Rs. 488bn during 1st April '08 - 28th February '09, registering an increase of 12.75%. The total approximate earnings of Indian Railways on originating basis during1st April, 2008 - 28th February, 2009 were Rs. 717.65bn compared to Rs640.67bn during the same period last year, registering an increase of 12.02%.
The total goods earnings have gone up from Rs432.83bn during 1st April '07-28th February '08 to Rs. 488bn during 1st April '08 - 28th February '09, registering an increase of 12.75%. The total passenger revenue earnings during first eleven months of the financial year 2008-09 were Rs199.06bn compared to Rs. 179.34bn during the same period last year, registering an increase of 11 per cent. The revenue earnings from other coaching amounted to Rs. 18.03bn during April '08 - February '09 compared to Rs16.90bn during the same period last year, an increase of 6.72%.
The total sundry earnings have gone up from Rs11.59bn during April '07-February '08 to Rs12.54bn during April '08-February '09, showingan increase of 8.15%. The total approximate number of passengers booked during April '08-February '09 was 6485 mn compared to 6099.25 mn during the same period last year, showing an increase of 6.32%. In the suburban and non-suburban sectors, the number of passengers booked during April-February 2009 was 3465.89 mn and 3019.11 mn compared to 3372.75 mn and 2479.24 mn during the same period last year, an increase of 2.76% and 10.73% respectively.
Indian Railways have carried 751.30 mn tonnes of revenue earning freight trafficduring April '08-February '09. The freight carried shows an increase of 35.97mn tonnes over the freight traffic of 715.33 mn tonnes actually carried duringthe corresponding period last year, registering an increase of 5.03 per cent. During the month of February 2009, the revenue earning freight traffic carriedby Indian Railways was 70.02 mn tonnes. This is in comparison to the actualfreight traffic of 70.63 mn tonnes carried by the Indian Railways during thesame period last year, registering a decrease of 0.86%.

Friday 13 March, 2009

Thane railway station's makeover
would be looked into : GM/CR
MUMBAI : BB Modgil, the General Manager (GM) of the Central Railway (CR) visited Thane station last weekend to check the station's presentstate. He was accompanied by railway officials like divisional railway manager JN Lal, senior divisional commercial manager Kamal Jain, divisional security commissioner SK Pahri and officials of Thane station.During his visit, Modgil inspected the toilets near platform 10A, the areas between the platforms and the booking counters and said that the station's makeover would be looked into. The GM also met several members of organisations that have pressurised thestation authorities to put up a FOB and met their demands. While he did not makeany promises, he assured them that they have been speaking to the union railway board to put Thane in their plans in the next budget. In the railway budget that was presented in February, Thane station was nottaken into consideration. This was a blow to the Central Railway authorities andthe commuters who had demanded that Thane station be cleaned up and anadditional Foot Over Bridge be added in its premises. Interestingly, the GM's visit is the first visit made by a GM in nearly 27years. Commuters are hopeful that the station authorities will at least gettheir act together in keeping the railway station premises clean.
NFR : Two bison crushed under trains
JALPAIGURI : Two bison were run over by two speeding trains at the Chapramari wildlife sanctuary early on Thursday morning. The carcasses, that werehurled several yards away from the tracks, have been sent for post-mortem. Forest officials blamed the railways for violating the speed limit that has beenset for trains running through North Bengal sanctuaries. An FIR has been lodged against the railway authorities with Nagrakata police.At around 3 am, the first bison was hit by a Guwahati-bound train. Within acouple of hours, another had been run over by a New Jalpaiguri-bound train. "Despite repeated reminders and accidents, the railways never bother to stick tothe speed limit. In this case, too, both trains were running faster than the permissible speed limit. We have lodged an FIR and complained to the North-East Frontier Railway authorities," said Silvant Patel, chief conservator of forests, wild life, north Bengal.
Mysore Maharaja to develop
Kabini rail bridge as tourist site
New Delhi : With the aim to conserve and promote heritage properties, Indian Railways is joining hands with Maharaja of Mysore to develop the 270-year-old Kabini bridge lying abandoned near Mysore as a tourist spot."We will sign an agreement with Maharaja of Mysore who has shown interest in the Kabini project to convert the oldest rail bridge as a tourist spot as part ofour harnessing the heritage programme," said a senior Railway Ministry official. Railways had sought the help of corporate houses through Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for developing the 270-year-old Kabini railway bridge inKarnataka, which is currently lying unused, as a tourist site. Built in brick, sand and stone with Gothic style arches, the bridge across the Kabini river is situated between Tandavpura and Nanjangud town stations on the Mysore-Chamaraj nagar section. It has been rendered redundant in the wake ofgauge conversion of the Mysore - Nanjangud section. Railways has suggested commissioning of a restaurant and a heritage gallery inthe metre-gauge coaches to be placed on the Kabini bridge, besides developing some colourful play stations for children on a public-private participation model. "We will not invest any money in the project but allow the Maharaja to develop the property with certain guidelines," said the official.
Rail trail
New Delhi : Locomotives in steam-12, The photographs, on display at the Rail Museum, show three generations of steam locomotives. The first is the MAWD-class meter gauge loco from the War-timedesign era, the second is B-class narrow gauge Darjeeling Himalayan Railway loco from the non-standard design era and the last is the broad gauge WP class locofrom the Post-war IRS design era. The meter gauge loco is 2-8-2 MAWD 1798 built in 1944 at Baldwin loco works. It was recommissioned in 2001. Later in June 2006, the crew cab and tender wasre built at the Siliguri shed. The narrow gauge loco is 0-4-0 ST B 802, built bythe North British Locomotive Company in 1927. The broad gauge locomotive is WP7161. On the occasion of 125 years of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, aunique run on three gauges was organised at Siliguri junction station on August23, 2007. This station has the unique distinction of being the only station inthe world that has three gauges broad, meter and narrow. The broad gaugetrain hauled by WP 7161 ran from Siliguri to Chalsa station. The meter gaugetrain hauled by MAWD 1798 ran from Siliguri to Bagdogra station. The narrow gauge train hauled by B802 ran from Siliguri to Kurseong station.A display panel at the Rail Museum bears the signature of the original eight-member crew that had worked on the BG locomotive-WP 7161.
Sayaji Rao Gaekwad III
Sayaji Rao Gaekwad III (1863-1939) was born on March 11, 1863 in a village inthe Nashik District of the then Bombay Presidency.Originally named Gopalrao, he, with his two brothers, went to a dilapidated primary school, the only one in the village. At the age of 13, the DowagerMaharani of Baroda State adopted him. He was re-named Sayaji Rao Gaekwad-III andput through a 'crash course' to prepare him for life as a ruler.Almost from the word go, Sayajirao was in conflict with the British, having continuous and long standing verbal and written disputes with British residents. On assuming the reins of government, some of his first tasks included educationof his subjects, uplift of the downtrodden, judicial, agricultural and social reforms, building a network of railways to connect areas of his dispersed territories. Fully aware of the fact that he was a Maratha ruler of Gujarat, he identified himself with the people and developed their cosmopolitan attitude and progressive, reformist zeal. His rich library became the nucleus of today's Central Library of Baroda. He was the first Indian Ruler to introduce, in 1906, compulsory and free primary education in his State. The extensive narrow gaugerailway around Dabhoi and Vadodara was built during his tenure.'
VIKAS SINGH, RAIL ENTHUSIAST
Slowdown in fatalities on railway tracks
Mumbai : For the first time in six years, the number of fatal accidents on railway tracks on the suburban network has shown a dip. The fall in figures --from 2,603 deaths in 2007 to 2,448 in 2008 -- is attributed to the construction of concrete walls on both sides of the railway tracks by the railway administration. AK Sharma, Mumbai Railway Police commissioner, said, "The railway administration started constructing concrete walls on both sides of tracks on a war-footing last year to prevent people from trespassing the railway tracks." In 2008, Kurla tracks witnessed 331 fatalities (357 in 2007), Borivili 298(363), Thane 229 (213) and Kalyan 224 (219), pointed out Sharma.Senior divisional security commandant of Railway Protection Force, NC Padhi, said: "We have carried on a sustained drive against trespassers since July 2004. We collected over Rs1.66 crore as fine from 38,701 people in 2008. Our aim isnot only to collect the fine, but also to save precious lives." He said awareness programmes have been held at various stations to pass on safetylessons to commuters. 12 kms of concrete walls. The CR decided to erect 30 kms boundary walls in 2008 to block illegal entry by people on railway tracks in Mumbai division. "We have constructed 7-ft concretewalls with one-ft fence on them between stations like Sandhurst Road and Byculla, Matunga-Sion, Kurla-Vidhyavihar, Vikhorli-Kanjur marg, Mulund-Thane. Inthis way, we have completed 12 kms of walls," said AK Singh, PRO/CR.
At CST on 26/11, they've been
there ever since
Mumbai : Natwarlal Rotawan was at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) with his two children on November 26 when Ajmal Kasab and his partner arrived. Fifteen weeks later, they are still at the station. They keep their belongings in the lockers and roam the city during the day. At night, Rotawan buys platform tickets for all of them, and they sleep in the waiting room. 11-year-old Devika can't forget that night. As the terrorists sprayed the platforms with bullets, she was shot in the leg. She spent over a month in JJHospital. 'I don't like staying here,' she says. '
The memories of that night don't leave me. I jump when I hear loud noises. I can't stop thinking someone like that can come again and shoot all of us dead.'But her father, a dry fruits merchant who works out of Mumbai but does not havea permanent business establishment here, explains why he has no choice but tostay at the station.On 26/11, Rotawan, a widower, had come to CST with Devika and her brother Aakash to catch a train to Pune, where they have family. They had vacated their rented home in Bandra, and had intended to find a new place when they returned to Mumbai. They never left, and after Devika was hit, spent the rest of last yearin her hospital ward. 'Devika was discharged on January 2,'Rotawan said. 'On January 4, we caught a train to my native place in Rajasthan, and returned on January 30. I had business for about a week here, but no place to stay. So until February 6, we slept on the platform, after which we left for our village again. We returned to Mumbai on February 19, and spent a few more days at the station. We then left for the third time, and returned on March 5. Since then, we havebeen staying here.'With such frequent travelling, and with Devika yet to recover fully, he hasfound no time to look for a place to rent, Rotawan says. He denies he hasn't tried hard enough, or that he has just grabbed what amounts to free Government accommodation. 'I have enough money for our daily expenses. Several traders who owed me moneyhave repaid the loans,' he says defensively. 'Also, Devika has got two cheques totalling Rs 95,000 from the Collector and the Central Railway, but I have not touched them. I have put them in an account in her name in a bank inRajasthan.'He misses his dead wife, Rotawan says. 'There was no one to take care of Devika. I could not focus on my business, and I could not leave them alone to gohouse-hunting. They haven't gone to school for two years since their mother died, and my business began facing problems.”He says he can't leave the children with relatives.
They would expect moneyin return. All my relatives know that Devika's compensation money has reachedus, and have begun to ask us for loans. I did check out a couple of small rooms but the safety aspect was always so pitiable that I couldn't imagine everleaving my children alone in those houses.”But he's now had enough of this life, Rotawan says. He has made up his mind tomove into a home after the family returns from their final trip to Rajasthan, due later this month.
'We will stay in the waiting room until March 25, when we leave for Rajasthan. This will be our last trip to Rajasthan and then father will begin searching fora house,' says Devika. She sounds really happy.
Girl falls from running Vikramsheela Exp.
Patna : A 19-year-old girl died after falling from a running express train near Chousa station in Buxar district of Bihar on Wednesday.According to the Railway police the incident occurred soon after the Bhagalpur-bound Vikramsheela Express from New Delhi crossed Chousa station. The girl, identified as the second-year student of Sundarbati Womens College in Bhagalpur, died on the spot. She was returning home from New Delhi, where shehad gone on a study tour. She was accompanied by her classmates and teachers. The exact cause of her death is under investigation and a case had been lodgedwith the local police station. Meanwhile, a news agency reports reaching here indicated that she died after shewas pushed from behind near the pantry car by some unruly elements, who tried tomisbehave with her.
Leading firms eye railways'
Rs 20000cr logistics parks
New Delhi : Indian Railways' ambitious Rs 20,000-crore programme inviting the private sector to build and develop multi-modal logistics parks along the proposed eastern and western dedicated freight corridors has evoked interest from leading players in the field. State-run Container Corp of India, DHL Logistics, Transport Corp of India, GATI, Adani Logistics, Sical Logistics, World Windows Infrastructure and Mahindra Logistics are some of the companies in the fray, a railways ministry officialsaid." So far, based on our invitation for sending us expression of interest, we havereceived applications from nine companies," said a senior ministry official involved in the execution of the public-private initiative. "By the time the deadline ends on March 15, we expect some more companies torespond," the official told, requesting anonymity.
He said each of theselogistics hubs would be provided 300-400 acres of land for development. Currently, two routes have been taken up for the dedicated freight corridors andthe logistics parks will come up along them.These are the 1,483-km western route from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust inNavi Mumbai to Dadri in Uttar Pradesh via Ahmedabad, Palanpur, Rewari and Tughlakabad (Delhi); and the 1,806-km eastern route from Dankuni (near Kolkata) to Ludhiana in Punjab via Sonnagar, Mughalsarai, Allahabad and Khurja.
The basic objective of the logistics projects is to enhance the volume of railfreight in the overall transport chain of the country with complete solutions tohelp companies reduce both the cost and time of transporting goods. "Private companies can also develop real estate on such land. They can build offices, commercial complexes, trade pavilions, conference facilities, hotels, restaurants and even residential accommodation," the ministry official said. According to a study by a leading global realty consultancy Cushman and Wakefield, the Indian logistics business is expected to grow at 15-20 per centper annum over the next five years.The study also said that by 2012, about 110 logistics parks will be operational in the country spread over 3,500 acres, with another 45 million sq ft of warehousing space to be developed by various logistics companies by same time frame. On being asked if any real estate and infrastructure companies had also shown interest, the railway official said there was little hope of this since such companies were themselves facing a funds crunch. But he was also candid enough to admit that the slow tendering process had perhaps kept away some companies like engineering and infrastructure major Larsen and Toubro and Delhi-based realty developer DLF. Both these companies had expressed interest in the modernisation of the New Delhi Railway Station and bid for the tender. But they have been waiting for afinal outcome for over a year. "This is obviously deterring some players. But they must understand our compulsions," the official explained. Freight carried by Indian Railways has grown at an average of nine percent perannum over the past five years and the ministry has set an ambitious target of hauling 1.1 billion tonnes of freight by the end of the 11th Plan in 2011-12. "Multi-modal logistics parks will be the hubs for providing end-to-end solutions for the supply-chain management of industrial customers and shall be well-servedby rail and road connectivity," the official said.
Yesvantpur-Hubli Express
extended upto Bijapur
HUBLI : The services of Yesvantpur-Hubli-Yesvantpur Daily Express special trains(0689/0690) will be extended till Bijapur duly cancelling Hubli-Kangunhal (354) and Gadag-Hubli Passenger trains. However the timings of the trains will remain the same as the primary maintenance of the rake will be shifted to Yesvantpur instead of Hubli. The timings of extended portion between Hubli-Bijapur-Hubli are as follows:-
The Yesvantpur-Bijapur train (0689) will depart from Yesvantpur at 10.10 pm fromMarch 12 and arrive Bijapur at 2.10 pm, the next day. The last special servicefrom Yesvantpur side is on June 30. Enroute, the train will arrive/depart Hubli at 7.25 am/8.20 am, arrive at Sisvinahalli at 8.55 am, Annigeri (9.16 am), Gadag (9.45 am), Hole Alur (10.45am), Badami (11.15 am), Bagalkot (11.58 am), Alamatti (12.38 pm) and Basavana bagewadi Road (1.09 pm). In the return direction, the train will depart from Bijapur at 4.50 pm from March 13 and arrive Yesvantpur at 6.45 am, the next day. The last special service from Bijapur is on July 1. Enroute, the train will arrive at Basavana bagewadi Road at 5.31 pm, Alamatti (5.52 pm), Bagalkot (6.30 pm), Badami (7 pm), Hole Alur (7.40 pm), Gadag (8.45pm), Annigeri (9.29 pm), Sisvinahalli (9.45 pm) and arrive/depart Hubli (8.20pm/8.40 pm). The present timings will remain same from Hubli to Yesvantpur. Meanwhile, Kangunhal-Dharwad (355) and Dharwad-Gadag (356) passenger trains willrun between Hubli and Gadag only as per existing timings and will be cancelled between Hubli and Dharwad stations.
CR : Man hit by balloon, loses eye
MUMBAI: A Mankhurd resident travelling to Dombivli by train lost his eye whensome hooligans threw a water balloon laden with stones into the compartment. The incident occurred between Kopar and Dombivli stations on Central Railway, around 9.30 am on Tuesday, when 31-year-old Sanjay Kagari was commuting to work. 'His right eye is completely damaged since the lens has been dislocated by the impact of the injury. We just can't implant an artificial lens due to thedislocation,' said Dr T P Lahane, head of the ophthalmology department at the state-run JJ Hospital. Kagari's vision in the right eye is reduced to mereperception of light. The other cases at the city's various public hospitals pertained to minor bruises. What makes Kagari's case worse is that a part of the right eye's lens hasentered the vitreous (clear gel in the posterior of the eye) and his eye hascaved in. 'Thankfully, there are no fractures,' said Dr Lahane. In two orthree weeks, Kagari will undergo a corrective surgery which may help him regainvision.
However, the chances of him recovering normal vision in this eye areslim due to the extent of the damage, Lahane said. Kagari's left eye is a notch better: a part of the upper eyelid tore in the accident and a part of it went missing. The lower lid, too, had a 3cm x 0.5cm tear. Doctors at JJ Hospital in Byculla have sutured the tear and say that the condition traumatic macularedema is treatable. Elsewhere, city hospitals on Wednesday had a steady stream of patients pouring into the casualty departments for minor injuries. As the city celebrated the festival of colours, hospitals were kept busy treating minor injuries like lacerations and eye problems. While the numbers were fewer when compared toprevious years, the cases were varied.
'Most of the patients had come forabrasions and minor injuries. All the 33 patients were treated and released. There was no need to admit anybody,' said Dr Pravin Bangar at KEM Hospital. Sion Hospital, which normally sees a number of patients with rashes and chemical burns, had 13 patients with injuries due to drunken brawls. Most of the cases at the peripheral hospitals were also of minor injuries sustained in brawls.

Wednesday 11 March, 2009

Rlys serves dead rat with egg curry
Patna : Amid the tall claims by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad to make Patna Junction aworld class station, this is how things are shaping up in the Minister's hometurf. The railway canteen at Patna Junction, while putting its best 'food' forward, served a dead rat in egg curry and rice, to a passenger, Prabhakar Prasad. A resident of the Mahendru area in the state capital, Prasad had eaten half the dish when he noticed something hard in the gravy. As he lifted it, he got the shock of his life when he found a dead rat in the meal. Prasad immediately brought the matter to the attention of the railway canteen manager, who, in turn, called the waiter and gave him a tongue-lashing for the callous act.
The manager also pleaded with Prasad not to rake up the issue and, instead, offered him another meal free of cost. 'The colour and aroma of the egg curry did not give me any idea that the item would turn out to be so nauseating that for years I wouldn't order my favourite item (egg curry) in any restaurant,'said the aggrieved passenger, who also lodged a written complaint with the Railway Minister's grievances cell at Patna Junction.
A senior official of the East Central Railway (ECR) confirmed that a complaint (No 112) had been lodged in this regard, and the matter was being looked into. 'We will also talk to Prasad, and if the incident is found to be true, stern action will be taken against the guilty,' he told 'Railway Samachar' on Thursday.

Monday 2 March, 2009

One caught for impersonation in RRB exam
ALLAHABAD : The Railway Recruitment Board examination was conducted atvarious centres on Sunday,1st march. One case of impersonation was reported. However, only 45 per cent candidates appeared from different parts of the country appeared. According to reports, Rakesh Kumar Jaiswal, son of Hari Shankar Jaiswal, a resident of Patna, was appearing in place of Mukesh Kumar at an examination centre in Bahadurganj. The invigilator became suspicious. On matching the photograph in the admit card and the photograph on the attendance sheet, the invigilator caught Jaiswal. An FIR was lodged with Kotwali police. About 48,000 candidates were scheduled to appear but 21,400 arrived at different centres. The examination was conducted in two meetings. The first meeting started from 9:30 am and ended at 11:00 am while the second meeting commenced at 3:00 pm and terminated at 4:30 pm. The examination was conducted at 42 centres .Additional coaches were attacked in train number 1107/1108 Bundelkhand Express, train number 2403/ 2404 Mathura, train number 5003/5004 Chauri Chaura Express, train number 5159/5160 Sarnath Express.
RRB aspirants create ruckus at Allahabad station
ALLAHABAD : Irate over being thrashed by Army personnel at the Allahabad junction after they were forcibly trying to board a reserved Army compartment of 2506 New Delhi-Guwahati North East Express, aspirants for Railway Recruitment Board examination on Sunday created ruckus between the Naini and Allahabad sections, stalling movement of the train for about 20 minutes. After additional force was summoned and the protesters were chased off, the train continued its onward journey. According to reports, thousands of aspirants from neighbouring districts and states had arrived at Allahabad to appear for the RRB examination. After the examination ended, the aspirants reached the junction to board trains for their respective destinations. In the meantime, however, a group of aspirants from Patna tried to forcibly occupy seats in a compartment reserved for Army personnel. Initially, the personnel tried to reason out with the aspirants who refused to take no for an answer. But, soon things turned violent andthe Army personnel gave the errant aspirants a sound bashing. Annoyed over the incident, a large group of aspirants squatted on the railway track bringing the train movement to a halt. They also pelted stones at the engine and the reserved compartments. Additional police force was rushed to the spot to gain control over the situation. Sources in the railway control room, while confirming that the trainhad been detained for a brief period, maintained that it continued its onward journey soon after. Incidentally, the GRP at Allahabad station on being asked about the incident denied any knowledge and stated things were going on smoothly.
Kerala to begin suburban train
services in Malabar region
Thiruvananthapuram : Monday, Mar 2 2009,
Kerala Sports and Youth Affairs Minister M Vijayakumar told the state Assembly today that the government was seriously considering to begin suburban trains for the rail development of the Malabar region. Replying to questions by Ms K K Shylaja Teacher (CPI-M) and others,he said the governmet had already received a feasibility report fromthe Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for the proposed suburban train service connecting the stations between Kochi and Kannur. The government was going through the report and hope that the project would be materialised soon, he said, adding, it would be implemented jointly by the state government and the Metro Rail Corporation.
Alleging that the Railway Budget had neglected the state, Mr Vijaya kumar, who is also holding the portfolio of Railways, said the government would constitute a Railway Development Corporation, with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Chairman as its advisor, for the overall rail development of the state. The government would also welcome private investors as the partners in the corporation. Stating that the allotment of railways would be based on population, he said the state had received only one per cent against the four percent required for the development of the railways in the state.
Suggesting that a Peninsular Zone was required for the basic development of the railways in the state, the Minister said now the development would end at Chennai and there was no place for thestate. The situation should be changed and the state should get itsdue consideration, he added. Mr Vijayakumar expressed the hope that the Kochi Metro Rail would be materialised soon as the Prime Minister Manmoahan Singh had given an assurance in this regard, though the Planning Commission had put a negative statement on the project.
MY DREAM

---- 50% share in Group.A. in all grades from SAG to JAG
---- DPC clearance with retrospective effect.
---- BONUS to all officers
---- ONE GRADE ONE PENSION as per the demands of Defence Forces
---- Last Pay as Pension instead of 50% at present
---- 50% of Last Pay as Family Pension instead of 30% at present
---- Complementary Pass to travel in suburban locals in all Metro cities
---- Change of colour fromGreen to WHITEof medical and pass identity cards
---- Continuation of Family Planning Incentive till death
---- HRA and CA till death.
I pray Almighty that MY DREAM may come True.
-Marcel Dsouza
(Ex President, CRPOA & VP/IRPOF)
Surprise check at CST cafe
Mumbai : It was supposed to be a simple inauguration function of the 24x7 food plaza at Mumbai CST's suburban concourse, but General Manager Bharat Bhushan Modgil, the top boss who inaugurated it stumped one and all, by conducting random checks and a thorough inspection.

Modgil stumped the management by bombarding them with numerous questions on safety, hygiene and on the basic norms that were required to set up and run the restaurant in a public premise.

Senior railway officials appreciated Modgil. "This is the first time that such meticulous checks have been done by the general manager personally at any inaugural function. Everyone usually cuts the red ribbon, gets himself photographed and walks away. But this general manager has shown that it is a job of equal responsibility."

Do your waiters and cooks have medical and fitness certificates? Get them to show me, said Modgil, making the management get him a file of medical fitness certificates of all their employees, including cooks and waiters. He personally inspected it to his satisfaction.

"Then what about licence under Prevention of Food Adulteration Act? He got a reply in the positive. "What kind of identity cards will your employees wear? He was shown a sample of ID cards that employees would wear.

"Why is there no fire safety equipment?" Modgil questioned, directing them to install one at the earliest. "This is a public place and we cannot afford any lapse. There have to be proper entry and exit points in case of an emergency like power cut etc," he said.

Earlier, he inspected the kitchen minutely asking various questions on the smoke dispersal method in the kitchen to the dish-washing cabin.
About the café
More than five lakh suburban commuters at Mumbai CST's suburban concourse can now have a good bite. Re-fresh, the state-of-the-art two tier fully air-conditioned food plaza was opened to public today. It will not only be remain 24 hours open, but also take orders to deliver food in trains.
WR TO OPERATE 392 SUMMER HOLIDAY
SPECIALS TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS

MUMBAI : To cater to the exodus during summer holidays Western Railway will operate 392 holiday specials to various destinations. These holiday specials will generate 2,55,000 additional berths/seats which will help in carrying more people to their destinations. Western Railway runs holiday specials every year and every effort is made to increase the number where ever possible. The details of the trains being run this year are:

Ø Weekly Special trains between Bandra Terminus & Porbander
Train No.0927 Weekly Special will leave Bandra Terminus on every Tuesday at 23.25 hrs to reach Porbander, the next day at 18.15 hrs from 14th April, 2009 to 30th June, 2009.
Similarly, in return direction, Train No.0928 will depart from Porbandar on every Monday at 13.10 hrs and arrive Bandra Terminus at 07.35 hrs , the next day from 13th April, 2009 to 29th June, 2009.
The train will have AC II, AC III, Sleeper class and II class general coaches.
This train will halt at Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Viramgam, Surendranagar, Wankaner, Rajkot, Hapa, Jamnagar, Lalpur Jam, Bhanvad and Wanasjalia stations in both directions.

Ø Bi-Weekly Superfast AC Specials between Bandra Terminus-Jammu Tawi
Train No.0905 Bi-Weekly Superfast AC Specials will leave Bandra Terminus at 16.00 hrs on every Monday & Wednesday and reach Jammu Tawi on every Wednesday & Friday at 21.30 hrs from 13th April 2009 to 29th June 2009.
Similarly, in return direction, Train No.0906 Bi-Weekly Superfast Special will depart from Jammu Tawi at 12.00 hrs on every Wednesday & Friday and arrive Bandra Terminus on every Thursday & Saturdary at 18.55 hrs from 15th April, 2009 to 1st July, 2009.
This train will have I AC, AC II tier, AC III tier and also a pantry car.
The train will have stoppages at Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam, Kota, Mathura Jn, Delhi Safdar Jung, Ambala cantt, Ludhiana and Chakki Bank stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly Special trains between Bandra Terminus - Jodhpur
Train No.0913 Weekly Special will leave Bandra (T) at 23.25 hrs on every Friday to reach Jodhpur the next day at 17.35 hrs from 10th April, 2009 to 26th June, 2009.
Similarly, in return direction, Train No.0914 Weekly Special will leave Jodhpur at 19.15 hrs on every Saturday and arrive Bandra (T) at 13.05 hrs, the next day from 11th April, 2009 to 27th June, 2009.
The train will have II AC, AC III tier, sleeper class and II class general coaches.
Enroute this train will halt at Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Mahesana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Falna, Marwar Jn., Pali Marwar and Luni stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly Superfast Special train between Bandra (T)-Ahmedabad
Train No. 0917 Weekly Superfast Special will leave Bandra (T) at 23.25 hrs on every Sunday to reach Ahmedabad at 08.00 hrs the next day from 12th April, 2009 to 28th June, 2009.
Similarly, in return direction, Train No. 0918 will leave Ahmedabad at 20.05 hrs on every Saturday and arrive Bandra (T) at 04.50 hrs, the next day, from 11th April, 2009 to 27th June, 2009.
The train will comprise of AC 3 tier, sleeper class & II class general coaches.
The train enroute will stop at Borivali, Surat and Vadodara stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly Superfast Special train between Bandra (T)-Ahmedabad
Train No. 0919 Weekly Superfast Special will leave Bandra (T) at 23.25 hrs on every Monday to reach Ahmedabad at 08.00 hrs the next day from 12th April, 2009 to 28th June, 2009.
Similarly, in return direction, Train No. 0920 will leave Ahmedabad at 23.15 hrs on every Sunday and arrive Bandra (T) at 07.55 hrs, the next day from 12th April, 2009 to 28th June, 2009.
The train will comprise of AC 3 tier, sleeper class & II class general coaches.
The train enroute will stop at Borivali, Surat and Vadodara stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly Superfast AC Specials Between Bandra Terminus-Amritsar

Train No.0907 Weekly Superfast AC Specials will leave Bandra (T) at 23.15 hrs on every Friday and reach Amritsar at 04.00 hrs on Sunday from 12th April 2009 to 26th June 2009.
Similarly, in return direction, Train No.0908 Weekly Superfast AC Special will depart from Amritsar at 14.20 hrs on every Sunday and arrive Bandra Terminus at 18.55 hrs on Monday from 12th April, 2009 to 28th June, 2009.
This train will have I AC, AC II tier, AC III tier and also a pantry car.
The train will have stoppages at Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam, Kota, Mathura Jn, Delhi Safdar Jung, Ambala cantt and Ludhiana stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly Special Train Between Bhavnagar .- Kochuvelli
Train No.0929 Bhavnagar - Kochuvelli Weekly special train will leave Bhavnagar on every Saturday at 20.10 hrs to reach Kochuvelli at 15.40 hrs, on Monday from 11th April to 6th June, 2009.
Similarly, Train No. 0930 Kochuvelli - Bhavnagar Weekly special will depart from Kochuvelli on every Tuesday at 08.50 hrs to arrive Bhavnagar at 08.45 hrs on Thursday from 14th April to 9th June, 2009.
The train will have AC III tier, sleeper class and II class general coaches.
It will halt at Sihor, Dhola Jn, Botad Jn, Ranpur, Limbdi, Viramgam, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Valsad, Vapi, Vasai Road, Panvel, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg , Madgaon, Karwar, Ankola, Gokarna, Bhatkal, Byndoor, Kundapura, Udupi, Mangalore, Kannur, Kozhikkode, Shornaur Jn, Thrisur, Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Quilon stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly Special Train Between Bandra Terminus-Gandhidham
Train No.0909 Bandra (T) – Gandhidham Weekly special train will leave Bandra (T) on every Thursday at 23.25 hrs to reach Gandhidham at 14.55 hrs, the next day from 16th April to 25th June, 2009.
Smilarly, Train No. 0910 Gandhidham - Bandra (T) Weekly special will depart from Gandhidham on every Friday at 16.50 hrs to arrive Bandra (T) at 07.55 hrs the next day from 17th April to 26th June, 2009.
The train will have AC III tier, sleeper class and II class general coaches. It will halt at Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Viramgam, Dhrangadhra, Halvad, Maliya Miyana, Samakhiali and Bhachau stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly special train Between Bandra Terminus - Gorakhpur
Train No.0911 Bandra (T) – Gorakhpur weekly special train will leave Bandra (T) on every Sunday at 08.10 hrs to reach Gorakhpur at 22.40 hrs, the next day from 12th April to 28th June, 2009.
Smilarly, Train No. 0912 Gorakhpur-Bandra (T) Weekly special will depart from Gorakhpur on every Tuesday at 09.30 hrs to arrive Bandra (T) at 22.35 hrs the next day from 14th April to 30th June, 2009.
The train will have AC III tier, sleeper class and II class general coaches. It will halt at Borivali, Valsad, Udhna, Nandurbar, Amalner, Jalgaon, Bhusaval,, Khandwa, Itarsi, Bhopal, Bina, Jhansi, Kanpur Central, Lucknow, Barabanki, Jarwal Road, Gonda, Mankapur, Basti, Khalilabad stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly Superfast AC Specials between Ahmedabad-New Delhi
Train No.0915 Weekly Superfast AC Specials will leave Ahmedabad at 17.25 hrs on every Monday and reach New Delhi next day at 7.25 hrs from 13th April 2009 to 29th June 2009.
Similarly, in return direction, Train No.0916 Weekly Superfast Special will depart from New Delhi at 19.55 hrs on every Tuesday and reach Ahmedabad the next day every at 10.05 hrs from 14th April, 2009 to 30th June, 2009.
This train will have I AC, AC II tier and AC III tier
The train will have stoppages at Mahesana, Palanpur, Abu Road, Ajmer, Jaipur, and Delhi Cantt. stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly Special Train Between Ahmedabad-Madgaon
Train No.0921 Ahmedabad-Madgaon Weekly special train will leave Ahmedabad on every Sunday at 11.25 hrs to reach Madgaon at 07.40 hrs on Monday from 12th April to 7th June, 2009.
Similarly, Train No. 0922 Madgaon-Ahmedabad Weekly special will depart from Madgaon on every Monday at 09.10 hrs to reach Ahmedabad at 06.40 hrs on Tuesday from 13th April to 8th June, 2009.
The train will have AC III tier, sleeper class and II class general coaches.
It will halt at Anand, Vadodara, Ankleshwar, Surat, Navsari, Valsad, Vasai Road, Bhiwandi, Panvel, Mangaon, Ratnagiri, Kankavli and Thivim stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly Special Train Between Ahmedabad-Lucknow
Train No.0923 Ahmedabad- Lucknow Weekly special train will leave Ahmedabad on every Friday at 23.25 hrs to reach Lucknow at 21.25 hrs, the next day from 10th April to 26th June, 2009.
Smilarly, Train No. 0924 Ahmedabad- Lucknow Weekly special will depart from Lucknow on every Sunday at 07.10 hrs to reach Ahmedabad at 05.50 hrs the next day from 12th April to 28th June, 2009.
The train will have AC III tier, sleeper class and II class general coaches.
It will halt at Vadodara, Ratlam, Kota, Bayana, Agra Fort, Tundla and Kanpur stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly Special Train Between Ahmedabad- Yeshvantpur
Train No. 0925 Ahmedabad- Yeshvantpur Weekly Special will leave from Ahmedabad at 19.30 hrs on every Tuesday and reach Yeshvantpur at 04.30 hrs on Thursday from 14th April to 30th June, 2009.
Similarly, Train No 0926 Yeshvantpur-Ahmedabad Weekly Special will leave from Yeshvantpur at 06.20 hrs on every Thursday and reach Ahmedabad at 15.10 hrs on Friday from 16th April to 2nd July, 2009.
The train will have AC III tier, sleeper class and II class general coaches.
Train will halt at Nadiad, Vadodara Bharuch, Surat, Vasai Road, Pune, Daund, Wadi, Yerragunta, Raichur, Mantralayam, Adoni, Guntakal,Anantpur, Dharmavaram, Shri Satya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam, Hindupur and stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly Superfast Special train between Bandra (T)-Indore
Train No. 0931 Weekly Superfast Special will leave Bandra (T) at 23.15 hrs on every Sunday to reach Indore at 14.25 hrs the next day from 12th April, 2009 to 28th June, 2009.
Similarly, in return direction, Train No. 0932 will leave Indore at 17.30 hrs on every Saturday and arrive Bandra (T) at 9.45 hrs, the next day from 11th April, 2009 to 27th June, 2009.
The train will comprise of AC 2 Tier, AC 3 tier, sleeper class & II class general coaches.
The train enroute will stop at Borivali, Surat , Vadodara, Dahod, Ratlam, Nagda, Ujjain and Dewas stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly AC Specials Between Mumbai Central –
H. Nizamuddin (Rajdhani type)
Train No.0901 Weekly AC Specials will leave Mumbai Central at 16.00 hrs on every Friday and reach H. Nizamuddin at 09.50 hrs on Saturday from 10th April 2009 to 26th June 2009.
Similarly, in return direction, Train No.0902 Weekly AC Special will depart from H. Nizamuddin at 15.50 hrs on every Saturday and arrive Mumbai Central at 11.25 hrs on Sunday from 11th April, 2009 to 27th June, 2009.
This train will have I AC, AC II tier and AC III tier .
The train will have stoppages at Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam and Kota stations in both directions.

Ø Weekly AC Specials Between Mumbai Central –
H. Nizamuddin (Rajdhani type)
Train No.0903 Weekly AC Specials will leave Mumbai Central at 23.15 hrs on every Monday and reach H. Nizamuddin at 18.15 hrs on Tuesday from 13th April 2009 to 29th June 2009.
Similarly, in return direction, Train No 0904 Weekly AC Special will depart from H. Nizamuddin at 21.35 hrs on every Wednesday and arrive Mumbai Central at 17.50 hrs on Thursday from 15th April, 2009 to 1st July, 2009.
This train will have I AC, AC II tier and AC III tier .
The train will have stoppages at Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam Kota and Sawai Madhopur stations in both directions.

Sunday 1 March, 2009

Naxals attack key railway junction in Bihar
New Delhi : Naxals attacked a railway station in Bihar on Sunday. They damaged arailway track at Jamalpur Railway station in Bihar's Munger district on Sunday morning. Jamalpur is a big junction, and is best known as a workshop for the railways. The attack is likely to affect train schedules as the junction is a stop forseveral trains. The attack comes in the wake of a bandh called by the Naxals in Bihar, Jharkhandand Orissa after a Naxal leader was arrested five days ago.Apart from Jamalpur junction, the Naxals had blown up a railway track in Lakhi Saria. There were no casualties in the attacks."We were hiding in a house and we informed our higher authorities. They reverted and told us that police have come for our rescue. We then came out," said an eye witness. Meanwhile, in another incident, a group of 25 to 30 Naxalites exchanged fire with police in Gadchiroli district of Nagpur on Saturday. Police recovered five single barrel rifles, two kilograms explosives, two detonators and other material from the place.
Lalu Yadav slams Bihar Govt. for failure
in ensuring railway security
Patna : Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has severely criticised the early morning Naxal attacks on two railway stations in Bihar which led to the disruption of train services on the Patna-Howrah main line formore than seven hours on Sunday. He slammed the Nitish Kumar-led NDA Government for its failure to protect railway property from attacks by Maoists.' The Railways are the life line of the country and we cannot protect every in chof the tracks. It is the duty of the state to ensure the safety of lakhs of people who travel by train every day and the Nitish Kumar Government has failedin it,' Lalu said. Naxals had attacked the Bhalui railway station between Keul and Jamui on the Danapur-Howrah main line in Bihar early this morning. Another railway station at Ratnapur on the on Keul-Bhagalpur line near the West Bengal border was also set afire by around 100 Naxals. The blast uprooted the tracks and damaged the overhead traction wires, Chief Public Relations Officer of East Central Railway said. There have been regular incidents of violence in the state, following the 24- hour Bihar-Jharkhand-Orissa-West Bengal strike called by CPI (Maoist) on Saturday. While a BSNL mobile tower was damaged in Aurangabad district, another mobile tower of a private service provider was damaged in Rohtas district yesterday.In another incident in Munger, a Maoist group beat up the station master of Ratanpur on Kiul-Bhagalpur section at Saturday midnight and set ablaze a portion of the station building. The track-changing panel and documents in the cabin of station master Lalit Kumar were gutted in the fire, Railway sources said.
Lalu flags off a train to Shirdi
Shirdi : Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav flagged off a train to the holy pilgrimage spot of Shirdi on Saturday. There was no rail link to Shirdi and the pilgrims used to reach the shrine byroad. The new broad gauge line will provide connectivity to this revered shrine from all parts of the country. Yadav, who also visited the shrine, said a large number of devotees irrespective of their faith, pay homage to the seer. The new line, originating from Puntamba on Daund-Manmad route will provide direct rail link to Shirdi from all parts of the country. The beginning journey will be from Puntamba to Shirdi. Regular services will commence from today. The train will leave CST at 10.55 p. m. and reach Shirdi at 10.30 a. m. the next day. The return train will leave from Shirdi at 4.40 p. m. and reach CST at 4.25a. m. via Dadar- Thane- Kalyan- Pune- Daund- Ahmednagar- Puntamba stations with22 halts on the way. The average ticket of a journey from CST to Shirdi will cost nearly Rs. 130.The entire project has been completed at a cost of Rs 78 crore.
Train hits bus in UP, 11 dead
Lucknow : Police said a train has hit a bus at an unmanned railway crossing in UP, killing at least 11 people and injuring 22. Local police official Jagdish Singh says the bus was filled with passengers returning home from a wedding party. He says at least six of the injured are in critical condition. The Saturday night accident was in the Badaun district in Uttar Pradesh, 155 miles (250 kilometers) north of the state capital of Lucknow. Singh says police are searching for the bus driver, who fled the scene.