CR to run 1,512 Summer Special trains

Mumbai : Tuesday, Feb 24 2009 Central Railway (CR) has decided to run 1,512 summer special trains, highest ever by any railway, to 27 destinations from April. Addressing mediapersons here today, CR Chief Public Relation Officer Shrinivas Mudgerikar said, ''Considering the demand of passengers we have decided to run 1,512 special trains to 27 destinations as compared to previous year's 818 trains to 17 destination.'' Hesaid they will also run inter-state trains to clear the heavy rush during the summer vacation. The highest number of special trains would be run between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Karwar 130, followed by Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Gorakhpur 202, Latur and Pandharpur 178, Dadar and Varanasi 174,Pune and Solapur 104, CST and Nagpur 76 and others destinations, Mr Mundgekar said. The reservation of these trains will commence from February 27, he said adding that additional windows would be opened for the reservation and that people canget a token one day prior to the reservation day. Some trains with unreservedbogies will also run between CST and Gorakhpur, he added. And now, CR has announced 1512 Spltrains for Holiday/Summer Rush! The interesting ones (besides the regular Mumbai-Varanasi /Gorakhpur) are Mumbai-Latur/Mumbai-Pandharpur! WR has announced 392 summer spls.

SC refuses to extend stay against transfer of Godhra case

New Delhi : Tuesday, Feb 24 2009 : The Supreme Court today refused to extend the stay granted by the Gujarat High Court against transfer of cases from POTA court to the sessions court in the February 2002 Godhra train carnage in which 59 kar sevaks were killed and 200o thers injured. A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P. Sathasivam and J M Panchal, however, fixed March six for hearing of the petition challenging the High Court judgement upholding the recommendations of POTA review committee appointed by the Centre for reviewing all POTA cases in Gujarat. The Supreme Court in December last had directed that POTA charges will bedropped against all the accused as per the recommendations of the committee. The apex court had also directed that cases of all such accused shall be transferred from special POTA court to sessions court for their trial under the sections of IPC. Gujarat High Court had however stayed the transfer of such cases from POTA courtfor 15 days and the deadline is expiring on February 26 due to which thepetition was mentioned today before the Supreme Court for urgent hearing. With today's order, POTA cases can be transferred to sessions court with effect from February 27. POTA charges were dropped against 116 accused.

Guvernor dedicates toy train to Arunachalees

Itanagar : Tuesday, Feb 24 2009 : Much to the jubilation of kids of the capital city, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Gen. (Retd) J J Singh today dedicated the first toy train to the people of the state at Nyokum Lapang festival ground here.He also switched on the public highmast lighting system installed in thefestival ground on the occasion.The Governor had conceived the idea of converting the Nyokum Lapang ground intoa full-fledged children's park, with the toy train running in the outer circumference. In his address, Gen Singh said the project was a symbolic reflection of the future that would connect the state capital both by air and rail. ''We can take pride in having the first toy train in the entire north-east, which is like a dream come true,'' he added. While extending gratitude to the people involved in installation of the toy train, the Governor lauded the central Nyokum Committee led by former Rajya Sabha member Nabum Rebia and his secretary Vijay Sonam. ''It is their untiringco-operation that we have accomplished our mission. The role played by the Indian Army, the state PWD, the district administration and all other members ofthe Nyishi community are indeed praiseworthy,'' he said.The Governor also took a ride of the toy train. Exhorting the people tocontribute their share of hard work and dedication, Gen Singh said he was confident that 'Team Arunachal' would rise to face every challenge and give its people a pride of place in the country.Earlier, the Governor hoisted the flag to mark the beginning of Nyokum Yullo festival of the Nyishi tribe.

Indian Railways : Book Release!

Lalu Prasad Releases a Book on

"Disaster Management in the Indian Railways"

authored by Dr. R. Velu.

New Delhi : The Minister for Railways Shri Lalu Prasad has released a book, titled "Disaster Management in the Indian Railways" authored by Dr. R.Velu, the Minister of State for Railways, at a function here today. Also present on the occasion were the Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, the Minister of State for Railways Shri Naranbahi J.Rathwa, Vice Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority, General N.C.Vij, Chairman, Railway Board Shri S. S. Khurana, DG/RDSO Shri H. S. Pannu and other senior officials of Ministry of Railways. Congratulating Dr. Velu for his book on the occasion, Shri Lalu Prasad said that the Indian Railways is the life line of the nation and has frequently played an important role in the management of all kinds of disasters. He said that Dr.Velu's individual efforts to review disaster management on Indian Railways through his book are commendable. He opined that this book will not only benefit the students and researchers engaged in the study of disaster management butwill also go a long way in helping the Railway administration to review and implement the suggested recommendations so as to bring further improvement in disaster management activities on Indian Railways. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of state for Railways, Shri Naranbhai J.Rathwa showered praise on Dr. Velu for being able to produce such a meaning full document despite his busy schedule in the course of his engagements as the Minister of State for Railways. In his welcome address, Chairman, Railway Board, Shri S. S. Khurana thanked Dr. Velu for selecting this relevant subject for his research work and also for shaping his work into this wonderful book which couldset a roadmap for the Ministry of Railways for further improvement in disaster management. Dr. Velu said that his book presents in details the existing system and changes creeping into the Railway system. Dealing of similar incidents by the other international railway systems is also discussed for the sake of comparison which proceeds to reaffirm the holistic approach as is now being followed in the Indian Railways too, he added. He expressed his gratitude to General N. C. Vij, Vice Chairman, National Disaster Management Authority and is members for sparing their precious time for discussions on the subject and also express his sincere thanks to the faculty of the Department of Politics and Public Administration and Vice Chancellor, University of Madras for facilitating the study which helped him get the Doctorate and for giving shaping this book.

BEML sees Rs 10 bn revenue from rail biz in FY10

The company recently got a Rs16.72 billion order from Bangalore Metro Rail Corpand another from Delhi Metro Rail Corp to supply Rs13.65 billion worth of rail coaches

Mumbai : Bharat Earth Movers Ltd expects revenue of Rs4 billion in the currentfinancial year and Rs10 billion in the next from its railway business, a topofficial said on Tuesday.The company's orderbook now stands at Rs 54 billion, Chairman and Managing Director, VRS Natarajan told television channel NDTV Profit. "The railway metro business is the engine of growth for BEML today. We arequite bullish in the business," he said. The company recently got a Rs.16.72 billion order from Bangalore Metro Rail Corpand another from Delhi Metro Rail Corp to supply Rs.13.65 billion worth of railcoaches. "We expect to close the rail business turnover from last year's Rs172 croreto around Rs400 crores current year and have an ambitious target of 10 billion next year," he said. At 2.15 p.m., shares of the company were down 0.11% at Rs.355.15 in the Mumbai market.

This is a quick response for shri Lalu's last rail budget
1. Gimmicking of reduction in fares is usless since other supplementary charges are increased steeply.
2. Passenger needs the maximum service for their money value of ticket, be it in suburban overcrowded locals, immediate information, station cleanliness, safety of passengers, emergency needs etc.
3. He must give account of money used for safety purposes, worth Rs.5000/- crores taken as a safety charges from October 2001 onwards.
4. This safety charge was converted to development charge from April 2007 for making dedicated goods corridors for which the parliament standing committee on railways have objected. That is in effect the passengers are paying for this corridors.
5. After 60 years of independence, the railways could not built drainage filtering system in the stations. They just dump the defications on the tracks despite making Rs.10,000/- crore profit and having Rs 90,000/- crore in reserve.

For last 3 years we, at Mumbai passenger association are asking to implement the cyclic timetable for suburban local trains, even we have prepared ourselves and presented to cental and western railways but nothing moves despite umteen reminders personally.
-D. D. Panse
Member, Mumbai Suburban Rail Passengers' Association

PIL IN THE MATTER OF ILLEGAL HOARDINGS, WELCOME GATES,
BANNERS, FLAGS ERECTED FOR BJP NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEET :

HIGH COURT EXPRESSED GREAT ANGUISH :
ORDERED MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER TO

FILE DETAILED AFFIDAVIT IN THE MATTER

OF MASSIVE DEFACEMENT OF
CITY LOOK BY POLITICAL PARTIES !


Nagpur : 13th February, 2009,

NAGPUR BENCH OF BOMBAY HIGH COURT HAS EXPRESSED GREAT ANGUISH & DISPLEASURE ON INACTION ON THE PART OF NAGPUR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AND CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE OFFENDERS WHO DEFACED ENTIRE CITY LOOK BY ERECTING ILLEGAL ROAD CROSSING, HOARDINGS, WELCOME GATES, BANNERS, FLAGS ERECTED MAINLY FOR BJP NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEET, WHICH POSED GREAT DANGER & HAZARDS TO THE ROAD TRAFIC SAFETY AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

TODAY WHEN PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (pil) writ peititon filed by vidarbha janandolan samiti president shri kishore tiwari taken up for further hearing, division bench (d.b.) HEADED BY JUSTICE DILIP SINHA & JUSTICE ASHOK BHANGALE AT Nagpur BENCH OF BOMBAY HIGH COURT EXPRESSED GREAT SHOCK ON THE MASSIVE DEFACEMENT OF CITY LOOK AT THE TIME OF BJP NATIONAL MEET CONCLUDED LAST WEEK AT Nagpur WHEN ENTIRE CITY ROADS WERE ENCROACHED BY ILLEGAL ROAD CROSSING WELCOME GATES, BANNERS, HOARDINGS ERECTED IN CONTRAVENTION OF PROVISIONS OF THE LAW AND HIGH COURT ORDERS. HON'BLE H.C. BENCH DIRECTED MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER SHRI ASEEM GUPTA TO FILE DETAILED AFFIDAVIT IN THE MATTER.

IN THE MEANWHILE, PIL PETITIONER SHRI KISHORE TIWARI HAS SERVED NOTICE UNDER SECTION 80 OF CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE TO THE MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY AND STATE GOVERNMENT COMPLAINING THE FACT THAT BJP MEET PUBLICITY CAUSED LOSS OF NMC REVENUE TO THE TUNE OF RS. 3,59,00,000/- (RUPEES THREE CRORES FIFTY NINE LACS ONLY) DUE TO ILLEGAL BANNERS, POSTERS, WELCOME GATES / ARCHS, PATAKAS- TORANS, HOARDINGS FLAGS ERECTED BY BJP LEADER AND POLITICIAN DURING PERIOD 01.02.2009 TO TILL DATE IN VARIOUS PARTS OF NAGPUR CITY IN VIOLATION OF THE HC ORDER IN PIL AND PROVISIONS OF LAWS AND DEMANDING THE RECOVERY OF AMOUNT INCLUDING PENALTY FROM THE OFFENDERS. SHRI TIWARI HAS SUBMITTED DETAILED CD CONTAINING COPIES OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF ALL 6360 PHOTOGRAPHS OF SUCH ILLEGAL BANNERS, POSTERS, WELCOME GATES / ARCHS, PATAKAS- TORANS, HOARDINGS FLAGS ERECTED BY POLITICIAN IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF NAGPUR CITY. THE PIL PETITIONER HAS ALSO SERVED NOTICE OF CONTEMPT OF HIGH COURT ORDERS AGAINST ALL OFFICIALS AND OFFICE BEARERS OF NAGPUR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, APART FROM SUBMITTING DETAILED COMPLAINT TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY SHRI JOHNY JOSEPH AGAINST THE INACTION OF MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER ASEEM GUPTA WHO IS REPRESENTATIVE OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR PROTECTION OF REVENUE AND RULE OF LAW AT NMC, BUT GREAT REVENUE LOSS HAS BEEN CAUSED TO NMC.

THE COUNSEL FOR PETITIONER ADV. SHRI FIRDOS MIRZA AND ADV. VINOD TIWARI DRAWN THE ATTENTION OF HON'BLE HIGH COURT, AS HOW POLITICIANS HAVE CAUSED DISRESPECT TO THE ORDERS OF HON'BLE HIGH COURT AND VIOLATED THE PROVISIONS OF LAW IN SUCH A LARGE SCALE WITHOUT BOTHERING THE INCONVENIENCE CAUSED TO THE PEDESTRIAN AND CITIZENS AT LARGE, BY THE OBSTRUCTIONS CREATED ON ALL ROADS. THE ENTIRE CITY LOOK WAS DEFACED SO BADLY THAT THE IMPRESSION CAN BE DRAWN THERE IS NO LAW ENFORCING AGENCIES IN NAGPUR CITY. DIVISION BENCH OF HON'BLE HIGH COURT HAS EXPRESSED GREAT ANGUISH & DISPLEASURE ON THE INCIDENCE OF DAY LIGHT VIOLATION OF LAW AS WITNESSED BY ENTIRE CITY. HON'BLE COURT ALSO EXPRESSED ITS DEEP REGRET ON THE IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR AND THE ATTITUDE OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND THEIR LEADERS, THE WAY IN WHICH ALL VIOLATION HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

IN TODAY'S HEARING, PIL PETITIONER WAS REPRESENTED BY ADV. SHRI FIRDOS MIRZA AND ADV. VINOD TIWARI AND STATE GOVERNMENT WAS REPRESENTED BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER ADV. SHRI NITIN SAMBRE, NMC WAS REPRESENTED BY ADV. SHRI SUDHIR PURANIK. HON'BLE HIGH COURT HAS ORDERED TO LIST THE MATTER IN 1ST WEEK OF MARCH, 2009 FOR FURTHER HEARING AND ORDERS ON PIL.

IRFC may increase INR 7500 crore next fiscal

New Delhi : Indian Railway Finance Corporation is expected to raise market borrowings of INR 7,500 crore during the coming fiscal. This marks a substantial jump over the revised estimate of INR 6,907 crore for 2008-09 and the actual INR 4,604.43 crore in thepreceding fiscal. Mr S S Khurana chairman of the Railway Board said that "The Corporation has already mobilized INR 5,400 crore so far this fiscal. The remaining INR 2,100 crore will be mopped up before March 31st 2009."Mr R Kashyap MD of IRFC, which deploys the monies raised in acquiring rolling stock for leasing out to the railway said that "The bulk ofour borrowings have been for 15 years."The Railways, in turn, pays a lease charge on the use of IRFC' sassets. For 2008-09, the lease rental amount payable to IRFC would be INR 4,694 crore, while being budgeted at INR 5,294 crore in the ensuing fiscal. Mr Khurana said when asked that whether this did not tantamount to a debt trap wherein the annual lease rentals almost equaled the borrowings raised, these numbers did not reflect the real picture. He said that "The lease rentals are being paid on assets that have been acquired over a period and are cumulatively worth about INR 50,000 crore. So, it is not right to compare annual lease charges to annual borrowing sums."As on March 2008, IRFC had financed 54% of the 3,447 electric locos of Indian Railways, 43% of its 5,210 diesel locos, 66.43% of 41,623 coaches and 51.55% of 2,40,562 wagons.

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)

Tribal unwed Mothers Issue : Human Rights Commission

asked Maharshtra Govt. to Submit Action Taken Report

Nagpur : Maharshtra Human Right Commission (MHRC) has asked Maharashtra Govt. to submit it's action taken report (ATR) on pending issue of hundreds of unwed tribal mothers who are living in very pathetic condition on 3rd march 2009 on petition filed of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti(VJAS) in June 2005 when five cases of tribal unwed mothers were reported and then the issue was taken before Maharshtra Human Right Commission (MHRC) by Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti(VJAS) president kishor tiwari and MHRC ordered for Tribal administration to submit it's report but case was pending before the MHRC for final orders.
last year on 23rd march 2008 MHRC member subhash lala has taken special hearing of case in Nagpur and that time ATC ( Addl. Tribal Commissioner) Amaravati sunil limaye appeared before MHRC but failed to submit the action taken report (ATR) on the very sensitive issue but till date state reply is awaited. In the mean while petitioner kishor tiwari has approached the MHRC to draw it's attention to the fact that now as per recent survey of district administration the issue unwed tribal mothers has been wide spread and now total figure of such unwed mothers mostly belongs to tribal and backward class has crossed 300 mark and it has been matter of grate concern due apathy of local administration .
In a application before Maharshtra Human Right Commission (MHRC) ,kishore tiwari has drawn the attention of human right panel that Unwed mothers are shameful part of our society and the higher cases of unwed mothers are being reported as local police and administration is giving protection to accused who are doing this act against humanity. as the main accused inmost of cases are from upper class and politician they being protected but now the main issue of rehabilitation of such tribal unwed mothers is main issue before society ,petitioner has demanded the integrated rehabilitation programme of all unwed mothers by providing them regular financial aid and restoration land rights and rights in property of the accused fathers of kids of these unwed mothers, the provision of free education of these kids along with all facilities of health care and food security to the families of these unwed mothers .
"We are asking for minimum as unwed mothers is case which is act of no excuse to the society but when we look at pathetic condition of these innocent girls who are at the age group of 20 to 30 facing humiliation and insult from their own relatives more over they are becoming victims of ill elements of society who are exploiting their hostile condition .as majority of unwed mothers reported are tribal belt they facing starvation and malnutrition too but even after MHRC intervention there is no ray of hope to them. Hence we are asking for action taken report (ATR) in order to get some relief to these dying unwed mothers" kishor tiwari added in his application before MHRC.
MHRC member subhash lala has fixed this case for taking action taken report (ATR) of state on record and issue final order in the matter.

Close shave for passengers in Mumbai

Mumbai : PASSENGERS on the 6351 Mumbai-CST Nagercoil Express had a close shave after its alert driver stopped the train on seeing an obstruction lying on the track that could have derailed the speeding express train between Sion and Kurla stations on Saturday afternoon.
The incident occurred at 12:40pm. The equipment lying on the track got entangled with the wheels of the engine and got stuck, blocking the entire line for nearly two hours. The train moved ahead after the engine was replaced.
While eyewitnesses claimed there was a six-metre piece of stray rail track that was being pulled by workers across the rails, officials said there was some maintenance equipment that was lying there.
"There was such a huge noise that we thought there was a derailment. Some workers were pulling a stray rail piece across the track. They heard the horn of the approaching train and abandoned the piece on the track itself and ran away. The train's alert driver, applied brakes and halted the train just in the nick of time, but the engine's wheels got stuck," S. Gupta, an eyewitness told 'Railway Samachar'.
"A major disaster was averted today. The railways should do such things during the mega block period," Gupta added
The railways have recently begun a drive to clear abandoned pieces of rails that have been lying near running tracks.
Central Railway's spokesperson Ashok Singh said the railways have ordered an departmental inquiry into the incident. "There was some railway material lying in the track which got entangled in the wheels of the engine," he confirmed.

Technical experts rule out

feasibility of running bullet train

PATNA: The dream project of railway minister Lalu Prasad as announced in the current interim railway budget that there are plans to run bullet trains in the country is likely to prove a chimera for the Indian Railways. Technical experts of the railways rule out its feasibility on various grounds. Lalu has proposed to run high speed bullet trains on six routes, including Patna-New Delhi. The railways have about 60,000 km of tracks across the country. But the track condition is not conducive to run bullet trains or any other fast trains which will run at 150 kmph or more. It is merely a dream to think of running bullet trains on the Indian Railway tracks in the present condition, feels a technical expert of the railways. Bullet trains are specially designed to run at the maximum speed of 250 or 300kmph in foreign countries. Apart from a separate infrastructure, dedicated highspeed tracks are required to run bullet trains which are economically not viablenow. Moreover, no goods trains will run on the special tracks of bullet trains due to safety point of view which is not possible here, said a technical expertand former chief engineer of railways G N Sahay. According to him, the maximum permissible speed is 150 kmph on the Delhi-Gawalior route followed by Delhi-Ahmedabad and Ahmedabad-Mumbai routes. There are instances when accidents occurred due to higher than permissible speed of trains across the country, he said. To run bullet trains, the railways will have to lay separate tracks of super high quality. The entire route must be fenced and it has to be ensured that there isno railway crossing levels on the route of bullet trains. The railways will haveto adopt cab signalling system too. About 38,000 crossing levels are located at different routes in the country. Butthe Patna-Delhi route is heavily dotted with crossing levels, the technical expert said. According to Sahay, the railways will need about Rs 10,000 crore to build the infrastructure on a particular route. Besides, maintenance of bullet trains isvery costly, particularly of its loco motives. When a bullet train leaves its originating station, tracks are cleared up to its destination point. This is not feasible here in the sense that bullet trains cannot run at one stretch nor isit a substitute for air traffic in the country, he said. According to sources, a high-level team of technical experts from Japan and France had carried out a survey to run bullet trains in the country in 2001.However, these technical experts ruled out its feasibility on various technical and safety grounds, too. Since then the feasibility of bullet train in the country has become a million dollar question with most of technical expertsruling out the slightest possibility of its running in the country, sources said.

Light Rail Transit System launched

Kolkata : Projects today reported that Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharya CM of West Bengal launched a Light Rail Transit System at Kolkata on February 18th 2009. Kolkata Mass Rapid Transit, a SPV promoted by a consortium led by Srei Infrastructure, West Bengal Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation andCzech based Amex International, the technology partner has been floated toimplement the project. As per report, the INR 6,000 crore projects will be implemented in 2 phases andis expected to be completed within four to 5 years from commencement of construction. The LRTS project will stretch over 40 kilometer and will comprise two corridors namely Joka to Esplanade and the Esplanade to Barrackpore sector. The air conditioned LRTS will start from north and end at the southern part ofthe city through central district connecting 37 stations including Taratala,Khidderpore, AJC Bose Road, Park Street, Esplanade, Sealdah, Shyambazar, Dunlop, Khardha, Titagarh and Barrackpore. However, the state government will also announce a INR 4,676 crore East WestMetro Rail project on February 22nd 2009 along with a 46 kilometer 4 lane elevated Ring Road across the city costing INR 6,000 crore. East West Metro and the LRTS will be linked at Sealdah in central Kolkata. Consulting Engineering Services will be preparing the DPR for the LRT that willalso include figuring out a system by which passengers could seamlessly passfrom the LRT to the new Metro link. The DPR is expected by September after whichthe project will go to JNNURM for viability gap funding. (Sourced from Projects Today)

Hyderabad Metro on bumpy track

Hyderabad : Hyderabad Metro Rail Project has become uncertain after the Centre decided to take over the Maytas firms. Maytas Infrastructure Limited, headed by Mr Teja Raju, elder son of Mr B Ramalinga Rajuhad bagged the INR 12,132 crore project last August. The Maytas consortium's model of public private partnership was dubbed by the Andhra Pradesh Government as innovative and unique based on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer of the 71 kilometer long metro rail. The consortium comprises Navabharat Ventures Limited, Maytas Infra Limited, Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited and Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited. Though, the consortium is still intact, Maytas Infra was finding it hard to achieve financial closure. an official of Hyderabad Metro Rail said that "The state Government felt that Maytas had time till March 31st to achieve financial closure but the firm is in trouble after Ramalinga Raju revealed the Satyam fraud. Now that the Centre has taken over, the project becomes uncertain because it will take time to complete the legal formalities to hand over to a new boardto be appointed by the Centre."The project had courted controversy right from the beginning. Mr E Shreedharan MD of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had expressed reservations and doubts over the viability of the project. As per Maytas model, the Andhra Pradesh Government didn't have to spend a single penny on the project. Instead, the Maytas Metro Limited which would have spent INR 12,132 crore to build the elevated metro rail would also have paid the Government for being allowed to execute the project. Over the 35 years concession period of the project, Maytas would pay the state INR 30,311 crore asa payback, INR 11 crore on signing of the agreement, INR 50 crore on achieving financial closure, INR 200 crore in the 4 year, INR 100 crore a year from 7 to 9 year and, INR 1,750 crore from 18th to 34th year. The Maytas hoped to generate its revenues by developing prime real estate and leasing space for commercial use along the elevated project, at stake was nearly 18 million square feet of virtual space or 269 acres available at 66 stations and three depots along the 71 kilometer metro rail. Maytas planned to develop shopping malls, multiplexes, residential apartments, office spaces etc within the applicable laws, and give them on lease. (Sourced from Express News Service)

MH Govt. may take up the Phase II of metro

Mumbai : Projects Today reported that the Maharashtra Government may have to opt for Delhi model to implement the Phase II of Mumbai metro project as the ongoing credit crunch has kept the bidders away from the proposed rail link project. As per report, the Delhi model will entail government funding while the PPP model will mean that the private sector plays a leading role in funding, constructing and operating the line. Phase II project route stretch from Charkop to Bandra to Mankhurd which is to be implemented on PPP basis has failed to attract bidders despite of the fact thatthe bidders were granted extra time. The Phase II project is estimated to cost INR 6,500 crore. (Sourced from Projects Today)

Lucknow : Chaos at Charbagh

LUCKNOW: Chaos prevailed at Charbagh railway station on Friday evening when the passengers of Ulema Special train from Lucknow to Azamgarh pulled the train moments after it rolled out of the platform at 9.45pm. The agitated passengers alleged that the railway authorities flagged the trainoff despite the fact that the passengers were still boarding the train. Subsequently, on the intervention of senior railway authorities, the issue was resolved and the train finally left at 10.30pm, 45 minutes behind schedule. The Ulema Council Uttar Pradesh (UCUP) office bearers had booked two trains of 20 coaches each to ply between Azamgarh and Lucknow on Thursday night and return back to Azamgarh on Friday night. Around 6,000 members of UCUP had arrived inthe state capital to attend a meeting. However, when they gathered at the Charbagh railway station on 20th february Friday evening, it was discovered that the count of passengers had increased by 1,000. This led to mismanagement and subsequent delay in accommodating the additional passengers. However, the first train left Lucknow at 10.45pm while the secondtrain scheduled to leave at 11.30pm left on time. The chain pulling reportedly led to delay in some other trains arriving at Lucknow. But normal traffic was restored shortly thereafter.

ATS to grill IM founder-member about train blasts

MUMBAI: The anti-terrorism squad (ATS) will question founder member of Indian Mujahideen (IM) Sadiq Shaikh to examine the group's involvement in the September 2006 serial train blasts."On Friday, we filed an application in the MCOCA court, which has passed theorder granting his custody,'' said ATS additional commissioner Param Bir Singh. Shaikh, along with several other IM members, was arrested by the city crime branch in September last year and is accused of engineering blasts in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Mumbai since 2005. The ATS, which investigated the train blasts, had already chargesheeted 13 SIMI members for manufacturing and planting bombs in the train. Recently, the crimebranch caught IM suspects, claiming they were responsible for the blasts in Mumbai since 2005 - 7/11 and 26/11. In the chargesheet, the ATS had mentioned that the RDX used in train blasts was brought from Pakistan and 11 Pakistanis were also involved in the terror strike. Soon after the detection, the state government had announced a reward of Rs 25 lakh for the ATS team. A total of 188 people died and 817 were injured in thetrain blasts. Meanwhile, crime branch officials claimed that IM suspects, Sadiq, Arif and Saif, had disclosed during interrogation that the bombs used in the train explosions were assembled in a 225 sq-ft flat at Sewree. However, senior policeofficers were baffled as they found no links between the IM suspects and the 13 SIMI members caught by the ATS. Moroever, Faisal Shaikh, main accused in thetrain blasts told the Enforcement Directorate that he was not involved in the explosions but admitted that he had undergone training in Pakistan.

Motormen may go on strike again

MUMBAI: It has been over two months since Western Railway (WR) motormen went ona strike to protest against "inhuman work schedules''. However, not much seemsto have been done as only 10 of the vacancies have been filled. Some motormen said that with the introduction of 40 services in January, the situation worsened and they were considering going on strike again. A seniorloco inspector said there was a shortage of 30-40 motormen daily. WR chief PRO S S Gupta said 20-30 more motormen would join by March-end. Also, 450 candidates had passed the written test and would undergo training by the month end.

Kanpur Central to undergo renovation

KANPUR: General Manager, North Central Railways (NCR), Sudesh Kumar carried out annualinspection at the Kanpur Central railway station. He along with divisional railway manager (DRM), Deepak Dave and deputy chief traffic manager, Manoj Sinha inspected platform number one, passenger facilitation centre,waiting rooms under construction, the newly constructed VIP waiting room, railway hospital, tea stalls etc at the Kanpur Central railway station. Sudesh Kumar said, "we have undertaken 29 projects in order to renovate this station out of which four projects are already over. For the completion of there maining 25 projects, we will be incurring a total cost of Rs 18-20 crore. This would include platforms elongation, platform surfacing, etc will be completed bythe month of June, 09."He said, construction of washable apron and a waiting room will be over by March. "Kanpur Central railway station will have two escalators installed, this will facilitate passengers ", he added. Kumar said, that a total of 45 new trains have been introduced, out of which 19 have been given to the North Central Railways and 10 trains will pass through Kanpur railway station. Construction of boundary wall and foot-overbridge willbe done on priority basis. To resolve dearth of coolies, Sudesh Kumar said, recruitment of coolies has been invited and the process is on. Soon, the vacant post of coolies will be filled.

Phase-I work on rail affects local businesses

MUMBAI: Murali Iyer, proprietor of Vasant Restaurant on Hirachand Desai Road near Ghatkopar station, was forced to let go of some of his employees after his business recorded a 70 per cent drop in business over the last seven months. Dermatologist Dr Raksha Maniar, who has a practise in the area, has seen a 40per cent decrease in her patients. Almost all commercial establishments on H D Road said that have seen at least a 50 per cent slump in business, and it's notdue to the economic slowdown. Blame it on the construction work of Phase-1 ofthe Metro railway station at Ghatkopar. Mumbai Metro One (MMOPL) has virtually barricaded the road, and this in turn, has affected shop owners and residents. The situation, which began May 2008, has proved a death knell for the shops lining the residential-cum-commercial locality. It is unlikely to change anytime soon, as work is slated to end only in 2011. According to Iyer, the narrow space left for pedestrians, poor lighting, and the constant flow of dust is a deterrent to patrons. Even basic necessities likewater supply and electricity has been affected. "At nights, there's usually acomplete blackout in an otherwise illuminated area of Ghatkopar, said one harried resident. Alleging inordinate delay in completion of the construction work, proprietors are demanding compensation for loss of business, and are currently in negotiation with the government. "The construction will continue to hit our businesses for at least another two years. We want compensation,'' They nowintend to form a Hirachand Desai Road Welfare Association to fight for theircause. Meanwhile, MMOPL director K P Maheshwari said his company was taking care of the grievances. MMRDA spokesman Dilip Kawathkar said they will be given a proper hearing. Negotiations between residents and shop keepers and the MMRDA are goingon, but a resolution has not been reached.

Unprecedented checks by CRB in Mumbai

Mumbai : IN a day of high drama, the top boss of Indian Railways Mr. S S Khurana who is Chairman, Railway Board and ex-officio Principal Secretary to the Government of India, paid a visit to the Mumbai suburban railway section with mixed reactions.
He was impressed with certain facilities, announcing on-the-spot cash awards, but also ended up visiting the unexpected spots at Mumbai CST and Mumbai Central station, sending the entire officialdom into a tizzy.
The visit started at 10 am in the morning with him laying a wreath on the 26/11 memorial inside the CST station premises after which he boarded the first-class compartment of a local train and went to the railway carshed at Kurla.
"He inspected the facilities there and was quite impressed with the local train maintenance schedules and the entire work culture and announced a on-the-spot award of Rs 1 lakh for the staff. The money will be distributed to the staff," a senior official said.
After this, he came back to Mumbai CST, inspecting the entire route on the way till CST. Later in the afternoon at CST station, Mr. Khurana, with the zonal general manager Mr. B B Modgil and divisional railway manager Mr. J N Lal with the entire officialdom in tow, entered the crammed motormen's lobby and went straight into the canteen, a first visit by any person at this position.
There he questioned the canteen staff, checked refrigerator and asked them to maintain hygiene. "He has directed local officials to redesign the entire motormen's lobby and make it air-conditioned. After this, he spoke to motormen about their problems and assured more recruitment," said Mr. S S Siddiqui, divisional secrerary of Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh, who showed him the place around said.
After this, Mr. Khurana headed to the outstation train platform and inspected linen that are provided in trains. Unexpectedly, he opened the folds of the piled up linen at random and pulled up officials after finding that they were not clean. After this, he visited the base kitchen from where food is provided to the Rajdhani Express.
CRB travels by local, Rs 5,000 for motorman Mr. Khurana caught a suburban train at Kurla to leave for Mumbai CST. He found that the train was 9 minutes behind schedule. But motormen Pravin Tandon and guard P K Chaturvedi with the help of the signalling staff made up all the lost time and the train reached Mumbai CST on right time. He announced on the spot-cash award of Rs 5,000 for the motorman and guard.

Railawys Obsssed with MPs

My co-passenger on B1 of the 2825 Jharkhand Sampark Kranti Express and the TTE shared a hefty laugh when his ticket was compared with the name appearing on chart. The name of the passenger tarvelleing from Ranchi to NDLS was M P Sinha. His name tallied with the chart in English but did not in Hindi. “MP ” had become “Sansad ”( Member of Parliament) in Hindi. So his name in the chart in Hindi read- Sansad Sinha! Does the railway software have in-built translation command? In my case invariably “Narayan” reads “Naryan” in the charts in Hindi. It is understandable but how come “MP” become “Sansad” ! Are there other examples of such changes? -Hemen Narayan, passenger

New MRVC rakes hold up traffic
Mumbai : THE fleet of new age trains that were set to replace the older fleet and improve services and traveling conditions of Mumbai's suburban commuter are failing one after the other.
On Wednesday, 11th february, two new trains broke down due to motor and software problems holding up traffic, leading to collapse of the timetable. Siemens Ltd that has provided both the equipment has now planned to set up a special facility in railway workshops to replace all the defective parts. There were a lot of problems in the new trains and that the quality of the trains was questionable. On Wednesday, the authorities said they had identified two categorical problems, one with the motors and the other with the train software.
A Borivli-bound train that started from Churchgate at 2:29pm developed problems near Dadar and did not go beyond 30kmph. The train had to be terminated at Bandra. Another Virar-bound new train also developed a technical snag at around 3pm. These trains not only put the entire traffic behind them off schedule, but commuters had to face a lot of hardships.
"Commuters from the snag-hit Borivli train were told at Dadar that it would just go till Bandra and everyone rushed out at Dadar. There was chaos at the station," Amit Joshi, a software executive whose pocket was picked in the melee at Dadar said.
Railway officials said between January 2008 and February 2009, there have been 50 cases of motor failures with the highest 20 happening in January 2009 itself. "In the software error, you need to reboot the train's computer everytime the problem occurs," another official said.
"The software and the motors both are provided by Siemens. Officials from Siemens, Germany had a meeting with the ministry of railways and have worked out a solution," said Dr. P C Sehgal, managing director of the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC).
Mr. V B Parulekar, Director, Siemens Ltd and Head, Mobility Division in India, told that they had identified the problem and were working with railways to solve it. "We have set up special facility in railway workshops and are replacing the parts."
The new trains have been bought under the Rs 4,500-crore World Bank funded Mumbai Urban Transport Project-1, a mega project to upgrade the city's transport infrastructure. The MRVC is co-ordinating the project.
What is the problem?
Motor failures: The failure is happening as the bearings of the motors are breaking due to stress and jerks on the tracksSolution: Siemens officials have decided to change the design of the cage that holds these bearings.
Software failure: The microprocessor-based train does not run beyond 30kmph and the train's computer needs a reboot everytime it happens. This leads to the train getting detained. Solution: Siemens is reloading a newer version of the software.

Rlys ignores security : Nitish

PATNA : The overbridge collapse was the result of lack of security measures in the railways, chief minister Nitish Kumar said while expressing sorrow over the deaths. "The security system in railways has gone haywire during the last five years," Nitish said and accused railway minister Lalu Prasad of publicising only the turnaround and giving scant attention to safety. The situation, he said, has come to such a pass that IRCON did not apply safety measures while constructing the overbridge. "What a pitythat a company like IRCON cannot hold a girder," he said.

GRP turns moral police

GAYA : The Supreme Court's disapproval of handcuffing notwithstanding, government railway police (GRP) personnel not only handcuffed alovebird on Saturday and Sunday but also played the dreaded "RamSainiks" of sorts by making him and his girlfriend tie the knot lateSunday evening. Trouble first struck 18-year-old Sweetie of neighbouring Aurangabad district's Rafiganj when railway cops on Saturday morning picked herup from a platform of the Gaya station. She was then waiting for her boyfriend Sunny, scheduled to travel from Patna to meet her on Valentine's Day. Like her sweetheart, he too ended up in the Gaya GRP's lock up on his arrival. It was at a marriage ceremony that the boy, whose father runs a jewellery shop in Patna, met the girl for the first time a few months back. They had been dating each other since then. Both belonged to different castes. Interestingly, the lovebirds were not charged with any criminal offence. Yet, they were detained for two whole days during which the Gaya GRP spent all its energy in ensuring that they tied the knot. The ceremony had to be delayed as the girl turned 18 only on Sunday,a day after Valentine's Day. Parents of the boy and the girl were called from Patna and Rafiganj respectively to bless the couple who took the marriage vows at the Vishnupad Temple late on Sunday evening. Patna SP (railway) D N Gupta said he was not aware of the incident. "If it's true, it's gross indiscretion on the part of the policemen involved," he said and added he would get the matter probed and ensure that the cops, if guilty, did not go unpunished.

RRB officials grilled for paper leak

JAIPUR : A day after a racket involved in leaking the examination paper of an RRB exam was busted here, the special operations group(SOG) of state police seized documents from the RRB office in Ajmerand detained three officials. The officials were taken to the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) office for questioning, sources said. On Monday, RRB secretary R K Sharma indicated that some persons havebeen identified who could have leaked the secrets about the question paper. "We have sent a report to our headquarters in Delhi seeking an FIR against certain people," Sharma told 'Railway Samachar'. A decision in this regard will be taken by the headquarters only, he said. He, however, refused to comment on whether these persons belonged to the board. Meanwhile, the SOG produced 105 accused, including the brokers andthe applicants, in a local court on Monday afternoon. While 11 brokers were sent to police custody till February 24, the rest 94, all candidates, were sent to judicial custody. According to sources, a team from SOG is trying to get more details as things like where the paper was to be printed was known only to avery few officials including the chairman. Sources said that a team of SOG came to the board office and seized documents related to the assistant station master examination. "Theyalso made a list of persons who are responsible for maintaining secrecy about the question paper," said a source. The investigation team recorded the statement of officials at the district ACB officein Ajmer. Meanwhile, SOG sources confirmed that they detained three employees of the board. Meanwhile, sources in UP's Special Task Force said the master mind behind the railway recruitment racket — Bedi Ram and Sanjay Kumar —both ex-railway officials, are `specialists' in leaking question papers of railway recruitment board examinations throughout northern India. RRB Ajmer paper leak was their third attempt, the previous being the busted ones in Lucknow (2006) and Allahabad (2008). Bedi was a chief travelling ticket examiner (CTTE) with north-eastern railway (NER). He was arrested for the first time on February 26, 2006 for his alleged role in Lucknow paper leak and second time onDecember 14, 2008. The other man, Sanjay Kumar, was an electrical engineer with railways and was also instrumental in paper leak cases.

BIHAR : 3 die as rlys' bridge girder falls

MUZAFFARPUR : A woman, a girl child and an old man were killed and four others injured, one of them seriously, when a 40-tonne girder ofa railway overbridge, under construction for four years, fell 15 feet below on the ground near Amgola railway level crossing here around 11.15 am on Monday. While two of the deceased were identified as Rita Kumari (30) and her daughter Khushboo (4), the identity of the old man riding a bicycleis yet to be ascertained. Rita's father Dashrath Singh said his son-in-law Ashok Kumar left his Atardah house on a motorcycle along with wife and daughter to go to Kalyani. But destiny willed otherwise. Two injured persons, Ramchandra Singh of Khanpur Berai village and Jitendra Kumar of Orient Club locality were admitted to the sadar hospital while Rita's husband Ashok, with his hands and legs badly smashed, was referred to PMCH at Patna. Another injured person, a construction worker who fell on the ground along with the girder, hasbeen admitted to a private nursing home. Eye witnesses said a worker of IRCON's sub-contractor was trying todrill a hole in the 50-ft-long concrete girder with a drilling machine when it suddenly fell on the ground with a thud. The girderhad been placed between the obverbridge's two pillars only a coupleof days back.Muzaffarpur DM Vipin Kumar said the government has sanctioned acompensation of Rs 1 lakh each to the bereaved families and a sum ofRs 50,000 each from the CM Relief Fund. IRCON, the agency engaged inthe construction of overbridge, has agreed to give Rs 2 lakh to eachvictim's family.A magisterial inquiry has been ordered, and an FIR lodged againstIRCON.An angry mob, meanwhile, set afire the construction agency's gensetand blocked the movement of trains at the Amgola crossing, disruptingtrain services between Muzaffarpur and Samastipur for hours. Localssaid the crossing was closed at the time of the incident. Had itremained open, the number of casualties would have been higher.No IRCON staff could be traced to give the firm's version.

Lalu may offer sops in interim Railway Budget

New Delhi : Railways Minister Lalu Prasad is likely to dole out some sops to the travellers when he presents the interim railway budget in Parliament on February 13. Lalu, who has spared the public from the upward hike in the passenger fares despite increase in global prices of crude oil in the past five years of UPArule, may this time announce some populist schemes ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Besides highlighting ministry's achievements in the last five years, the interim budget is likely to have proposals for introduction of more Garib Raths. As the Railways have already hiked the freight rate of food-grains and fertilisers by 8.3 per cent from early February, it is likely that the freight and passenger fare will remain unchanged. While the budget is likely to register the cash surplus before paying dividend at about Rs 25,000 crore, the operating ratio is also expected to be more thanlast year's 76 per cent. The implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission for the railway employees is the reason for the higher operating ratio in the current year than the last financial year, said a senior official of the ministry.

ICF to supply power saver trains

to Mumbai suburban railway

CHENNAI : The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, formally commenced supply of electrical multiple unit trains (EMU) with air-conditioneddriver's cab and forced passenger ventilation system, to Mumbai suburbanrailway, on Monday. Union minister of state for railways R Velu flagged off the trains, which have been fitted with a regenerative braking system that savespower by 30% for the operator. ICF has been the sole supplier of dual voltage EMUs for the transition ofMumbai's suburban rail system from 1500 V DC to 25 KV AC power. Its forced passenger ventilation systems, which pump in 16000 cubic metres of fresh airevery hour, are expected provide relief in peak hours when the coaches with capacity for 100 passengers carry 600. The company, which has a turnout rate of one coach per week, is committed to supplying 177 9-car rakes in phase I. Of this, 101 rakes would be purchased onworld bank funding, and the rest by railway funding. "At the completion of phase I, Mumbai suburban railway would save 20 crore units of power and Rs.90 crore annually, by using our power saving braking systems," said an ICF spokesperson. These coaches are also eligible for Rs.12 crore worth of carbon creditsannually, for which applications have been sent to the United Nations convention for climate change. Energy Conservation Consciousness (ECC) Campaign is a step towards better Energy Habits. We can avoid wastages in work area by implementing effortless energy conservation tips to create a more sustainable and greener organization.

Sonia to inaugurate eastern DFC project

New Delhi : UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi would inaugurated the construction work of eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) at Rohtas in Bihar. She will be accompanied by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad. Construction work will commence on the Sonnagar- Mughalsarai section of the eastern corridor for which tender has already been awarded, an official release issued here said. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar, Ministers of State forRailways Naranbhai Rathwa and R Velu also present on the occasion. The DFC project on the western and eastern routes is one of the most ambitiousprojects of the Indian Railways and once completed it would meet the transport requirements of the two busy routes. The 1,801 km eastern corridor from Ludhiana to Dankuni will pass through Saharanpur, Khurja, Kanpur, Mughalsarai and Sonnagar. It will be single line onthe 426 km long Ludhiana- Khurja section and double line on the remaining section. The western corridor from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust To Tughlakabad (1483km) will pass via Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Palanpur, Ajmer and Rewari and will bea double line corridor.

Lalu flags off express train in TN

Tuticorin : Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today flagged off Tiruchendur-Chennai Egmore Weekly express train in a function held at Tiruchendur Railway Station here. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Radhika Selvi presided overthe function which was attended by State Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and Southern Railway General Manager Rakesh Chopra, among others. The special train, which left Tiruchendur station at 1605 hrs today, will arrive at Chennai Egmore station at 0620 hrs tomorrow. The train will halt at Kayalpattinam, Arumuganeri, Nazareth, Seydunganllur, Tirunelveli, Vanchi Maniyachchi, Kovilpatti, Sattur, Virudunagar, Madurai, Kodaikanal Road Dindigul, Tiruchchirappalli, Villupuram, Melmaruvathur, Chengalpattu and Tambaram.

Concern over delay in operating passenger

train in Tiruvarur-Nagore section

It has caused resentment among all sections

CRS had given clearance in December last

TIRUCHI : The delay in the introduction of passenger train servicesin the Tiruvarur – Nagore broad gauge section even after clearancefrom the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) in December has causedmuch resentment among all sections of the society in the central districts. Consumer and service organisations, rail users associations andcommon people have urged the railways to operate train services asearly as possible keeping in mind the interest of the large number of devotees and tourists visiting the Tirunallar Temple, Velankanni Church and Nagore Dargah from various parts of the country. The Tiruvarur - Nagore metre gauge line was converted into broad gauge as part of the Tiruchi - Karaikal gauge conversion project, covering a total distance of 200 km, sanctioned by the Railway Boardas early as in 1995-96. The Tiruvarur –Nagore gauge conversion work, covering a distance of31 kms, was taken up on an outlay of Rs. 75 crore in 2006. The project involved construction of a couple of major bridges, 96 small bridges, 15 manned level crossings and 10 unmanned level crossings. The trial run of the train on the new track was done on March 29,2008. The CRS inspected the track on December 18 and 19 and found the linefit for operating regular trains by giving his green signal in the last week of December. However, even after clearance from the CRS train services are yet tobe introduced. The Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Council at its meeting held underthe presidentship of R. Kaladharan at Nagapattinam recently adopteda resolution demanding the railways to immediately introduce trainservices in this section. It threatened to launch direct action ifno announcement was forthcoming from the railway by the first week of February. Meanwhile, the BG track conversion work in the 20-km Mayiladuturai –Sirkazhi section has also been completed. The trial run of the train took place on March 30, 2008.

Demand for Freight corridor till Amritsar

Amritsar : Local BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu today donned black clothes to lead about 500 slogan shouting activists to press for their demand to extend the Calcutta-Ludhiana Industrial and Freight Corridor to this holy city. Men clad inblack, led by Mr Sidhu, gathered at railway platform three due to which Amritsar-Ludhiana train was delayed by over one hour today. The activists shouted anti-Sonia, anti-Congress and anti-UPA slogans to pressfor extension of the corridor, which is scheduled to be inaugurated by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi tomorrow at Rohtas in Bihar. ''If the corridor can come up till Ludhiana, why can't it be extended to Amritsar to boost the economy ofborder areas, which are already suffering due to under-development. In addition, the volume of trade through Wagah-Attari border to Pakistan would also increase,'' he said. Moreover, Amritsar, being closest Indian International Airport to West Asia, the extension of industrial freight corridor would also boost exports to that region, Mr Sidhu said. ''Ignoring all these vital facts shows that either the Centre is short sighted or was intentionally ignoring the interests of the City, Punjab and the nation in the long run,'' he said adding that it was a pity that the city was suffering ''injustice'' even though the Prime Minister hailed from here. The BJP leader assured the people of the city that if the NDA were votedto power, he would ensure that the corridor was extended till the holy city.

NR : Yearly Inspection

ANNUAL INSPECTION OF ST. JOHN'S AMBULANCE, NORTHERN RAILWAY HELD AT DAYABASTI, DELHI

New Delhi : The Annual Inspection of Northern Railway St. John's Ambulance District No.1 was held at RPF Parade Ground, Dayabasti, Delhi yesterday (i.e. on 08.02.2009) Dr. R. N. Tripathi Addl. Commissioner/Medical & Chief Medical Director, Northern Railway unfurled the flag and took the salute of the parade. Around 1600 Officers and Members of the St. John's Ambulance Organization participated inthe parade to the tunes on National Integration played by the RPF band. Dr. Tripathi also presented Trophies and awards to the best performing Brigades/Divisions. The participants presented drills on Disaster Management, First Aid Skills & Pulse Polio Immunization Programmes. Northern Railway's St.John Ambulance brigade is affiliated to the St.John Ambulance Organization in India, which is an autonomous voluntary body imparting instructions on first aid, home nursing and allied subjects. The organization also imparts training in providing first aid in cases of accidents or sudden illness and in the transport besides instructions on the elementary principles and practices of nursing and hygiene, especially that of the sick room. Presently, Northern Railway has 31 Ambulance Brigades, 7 Nursing Divisions & 2 Cadet Divisions.

HYB : Nine bogies of goods train derail; rail traffic disrupted

Hyderabad : Nine bogies of a goods train derailed at Jangoan Railway Station in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh Monday, disrupting traffic on the Secunderabad-Kazipet route of South Central Railway. The incident occurred this morning when a goods train with empty wagons was proceeding towards Kazipet from the state capital. Several trains were either cancelled or diverted from different places following the derailment, a SCR release said. Five trains were cancelled and 17 others including Satavahana Express, Bhagyanagar Express, Charminar Express, Garib Rath Express, East Coast Expresses and Sampark Kranthi Express have been diverted, it said.

Trains cancelled for the day are: Secunderabad- Guntur-Secunderabad Intercity express, Secunderabad-Sirpur Kagazngar Telangana express, Kazipet-Hyderabad-Warangal passengers, Secunderabad-Dornakal Kakatiya passenger and Secunderabad-Repalle Delta passenger. Repair work was on to restore the traffic on the route, a report from Warangal quoting railway sources said.

Finally, a rail link to Shirdi,

from Manmad via Puntamba

Mumbai : The day is not far when thousands of Mumbai's Shirdi Sai Baba devotees can directly reach Shirdi for darshan by an overnight rail journey. The work on the new Puntamba-Shirdi line has been completed. The Commissioner of Railway Safety will inspect the tracks on February 10 and the line is expected to be opened forrailway traffic by the end of this month. According to sources, the Railway Board has decided that Train No. 1333, which goes to Manmad, will now go to Shirdi via Puntamba. The train, which departs from CST at 10.55 pm, is expected to reach Shirdi at 7.35 pm. In the return direction, it will leave Shirdi atnight and reach Mumbai the next morning. K K Sharma, chief administrative officer (construction), said: "All the major works have been completed. The final touches on the tracksand the station building at Shirdi are being done now." He said the Commissioner of Railway Safety's inspection has been scheduled on February 10. "Hopefully, the line will be opened for traffic in February itself."

Plans for 3 more stations

Kolkata : The railway standing committee of Parliament has proposed three more terminals in Calcutta to cope with the increasing passenger rush.The city now has four terminals — Howrah, Sealdah, Shalimar and Chitpur."In the proposal sent to the ministry we have said the city needs at least three more terminals, which we want in Patipukur and Howrah's Salt Gola for the Eastern Railway (ER) and Majherhat for the South Eastern Railway (SER)," panel chief Basudeb Acharya said. The two ER terminals will run only suburban trains, while the one in Majherhat will be for long-distance trains. With an annual eight percent growth in passenger count, the three major terminals — Howrah, Sealdah and Chitpur — will be saturated within a few years. "There had been proposals to set up passenger terminals in Patipukur and Majherhat which were scrapped. It's timethey were revived," said Acharya. On the proposed Majherhat terminal, Acharya said it could be analternative to the one in Shalimar which most passengers find difficult to reach because of transport problems. Railway officials said a survey was on for building passenger terminals in the city. "The survey, being conducted by RITES, is exploring the options of building up integrated passenger-cargoterminals and also whether such facilities could be shared with the Metro Railway," an official said. The ER has already sent a proposal for the Salt Gola terminal to the Railway Board. "The proposed facility will go a long way in reducing passenger load once Howrah station is upgraded into a world-classterminal," said an ER official. The standing committee members, who met senior ER and SER officials.

Special trains rake in extra bucks for S Rly

CHENNAI : Special trains just do not help clear the extra passenger rush. They also help the railways to rake in more profits. As it happened in December 2008, when Southern Railway made an extra Rs 10.43 crore when it ran 358 special services during the month. All trains were booked three months in advance. Statistics indicate that since 2005, the fortunes of the railway have doubled as it put more special trains on track. However, of late there is a greater demand for special trains and the railways is cashing in on it. For in December 2007, the railways operated only 348 special trains and made Rs 8.22 crore, said Neenu Ittyerah, spokesperson, Southern Railway. The special services are operated to cater to peak demand during holiday season, festivals, block holidays and weekends. In 2008, therailways provided 4,405 coaches for special trains. "Every endeavour is made to run these specials with a trailing loadof 22 coaches. Specials, which used to run mainly as passenger trains, have been converted to express and superfast trains. This has also contributed to increase in revenue," added Neenu. Specials are run by lie-over rakes and traffic spare coaches. As the railways maintain the trains with available infrastructure, including pit lines and staff, no additional expenses are incurred.

Nama Metro gets a relief of Rs 160 crore

BANGALORE : Nama Metro has, finally, got some relief in terms of a Rs. 160 crore reduction in the prices of rolling stock. Is the reliefgoing to be passed to commuters? The answer seems to be no. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) looks non-committalon any possible reduction in the proposed fare hike after areduction of 8.73 per cent on the original prices offered by BEML. Earlier, when BEML had offered a price much higher than what BMRCL had expected, the BMRCL was prompt to indicate that the fares would go up when the Metro starts operations. BMRCL had earlier said that a 25 to 30 per cent hike was likely inthe ticket fare which was in the range of Rs 7 to Rs 15.Now, the BEML has reduced prices by Rs 160 crore, bringing down theprices below the BMRCL's estimate. Prices of rolling stock was one-fifth of the total project cost, BMRCL had said. The same logic mustapply when the rolling stock prices go down. Now, the rolling stock prices (Rs 1,672.5 crore including spares, training and manual support) form 16.3 per cent of the total escalated project cost (Rs10,263), BMRCL clarifies Managing Director, BMRCL, N Sivasailam, said: "Higher prices from BEML might have caused a marginal hike, ifany, in the fare. The major reason for hike in proposed fares was the escalation of the project cost." The cost of the original 33-km project (Phase I) has gone up to Rs 8,500 from the original estimate of Rs 6,395 crore while a 9.3-km extension in the Phase I would costan additional Rs 1,763. This means a hike of 60.48 per cent in the project cost. Metro fare would be less than 1.5 times bus fare forthe same distance, Sivasailam explained.

Nagarjuna Construction bags Rs 712-cr orders

Mumbai : Infrastructure firm Nagarjuna Construction Company on Monday said it has bagged four orders worth Rs 712 crore for construction-related works from different companies. The first a Rs 360-crore worth order is secured from Singareni Collieries for blast hole drilling, controlled blasting to becompleted over 72 months, while second order worth Rs 161 crore is from the National Buildings Construction Corp for construction ofhouses to be completed in a year, Nagarjuna said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. Further, the third order worth Rs 150 crore is from Bangalore Metro Rail for design and construction of different works, to be completed over a period of 30 months, and the last order valued at Rs 41 croreis from Mumbai Metro politan Region Development Authority for construction of skywalk to be completed over a period of six months, it added.

Meridian Surveys of Chennai team coming today

KOCHI: The Meridian Surveys of Chennai, appointed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the peg-marking of stations and boundaries of the KochiMetro Rail, will arrive in Kochi on Saturday. The survey team is coming for relocating the boundary of the Elamkulam station. Earlier, the team had laid the boundary stone for the station in front of theFathima Matha Church. However, the authorities of the Church and the people's representatives demanded the relocation of the station. Earlier, the boundary stones for different stations and boundaries of the Metro Rail, except in Ernakulam village, had already been laid by the survey team. There will be 24 stations en route the Metro Rail passing through the seven villages of the district- Aluva West, Edapally North and South, Thrikkakara North, Ernakulam, Elamkulam and Punithura villages. The district administration and the survey team could not do any work related tothe Metro Rail project on the MG Road due to the protest of the traders, who demanded the redesigning of the alignment of the project. However, the DMRC, the consultant of the project, and the state government reiterated that there would not be any change in the alignment and it would gothrough the MG Road. Land acquisition The State Government sent back the file submitted by the district administration for acquiring land for the Kochi metro rail project under urgency clause. The district administration had submitted the file to the State Transport Departmentfor getting the approval. However, the State Law Department said that it was the State Land Revenue Commissioner, who has the authority to sanction the urgency clause. The Revenue Department can start land acquisition only after including the land acquisitionunder the urgency clause.The district administration had earlier issued 6(1) notification in Aluva West, Thrikkakara North, Edapally South and North, Ernakulam, Elamkulam and Punithura villages for acquiring the land. The survey work has already been completed except on MG road. The State Government recently had demanded a detailed report on the actions taken by the district authority in connection with the land acquisition of the metro rail project.The district administration officials said that they would soon submit the fileto the State Land Revenue Commissioner.

Central station CCTV nets its first suspect

Youth caught fighting over a bag containing money he had stolenUNDER THE SCANNER: A CCTV camera at Central Railway Station.

CHENNAI : A 19-year-old youth earned the dubious record of becoming the first suspect to be apprehended with the help of CCTV cameras installed less than a week ago at Chennai Central railway station. According to Government Railway Police sources, Saghar alias Sunilof Goothi Village, Ganapur Taluk, Maharashtra, was trying to flee with Rs.1 lakh in cash that he had stolen from a jewellery-cum-moneylender's shop in Villupuram where he was employed. The police said he escaped with the cash from the shop on Tuesday and had come to Chennai on Friday night to board a train to Maharashtra. Suspecting Saghar to have stolen the money, the jewellery shop owner, Suresh, and a few other employees came to Chennai. One of theemployees, Kathirvel, traced the accused at the station andconfronted him. "Around 1.30 a.m. on Saturday, we spotted on the CCTV monitors inthe control room two men fighting over a bag on platform number 6. The beat constable was alerted and he soon caught hold of the twopersons. During questioning, we came to know about the case in Villupuram. Saghar confessed to have stolen the Rs.1 lakh from his employer," said P. Kanthavel, Inspector of Police, GRP, Chennai Central. Police recovered the cash and a mobile phone from theaccused. S.N.Seshasai, Deputy Inspector-General, Railways, told 'Railway Samachar' that the installation of CCTV cameras in key locations at Chennai Central, including at the entry and exit points helped. "We will continue to monitor all the platforms round-the-clock on the CCTVs. It would be in addition to the patrolling by our personnel tocurb criminal activities on the station premises," he said. Superintendent of Police Railways S.Manoharan said the installation of the cameras was part of the measures to ensure safety of passengers and their belongings. Railway police intend to put inplace additional measures to strengthen security at railway stations. The CCTV network, which includes 39 cameras and a modern controlroom, was commissioned on February 3.

NFR : DHR : Museum on old tracks

Museum on old tracks- Plan for meter gauge

Siliguri : The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) has taken an initiative to set up a meter gauge heritage museum at the Siliguri Town station, where the first train here chugged in 1878. The station, which was once famous for its meter gauge tracks and the sole linkof the Northeast with the rest of the country prior to Independence, has almost slid into oblivion. The move comes at a time when the entire railway track in the city is beingconverted into broad gauge. 'This place has a historical significance. It was here that Siliguri receivedits first steam engine train from Calcutta via East Bengal travelling on metergauge. But once the Siliguri Junction and the New Jalpaiguri stations came upwith broad gauge lines, the Town station lost its importance. All the tracksthat run from this station have been converted into broad gauge and there will be no trace of meter gauge lines in the next few months. We just want topreserve some relics of the meter gauge tracks,' said Subrata Nath, thedirector of the DHR. Siliguri Junction-Aluabari section, the only meter gauge track at present, too,is being converted into a broad gauge line.A report finalised by the DHR detailing the significance of the meter gaugetracks will soon be placed before the Northeast Frontier Railway headquarters in Maligaon. 'We have spoken to MP Saman Pathak and he has assured us that he will take upthe matter with the appropriate quarters. We will approach the state departmentof tourism and culture for necessary assistance,' said Nath. He added thatartefacts not less than 50 years old would be put on display at the museum.