The construction sector in the country is expected to witness a boost in its order book due to the strong traction seen in the Metro rail sector, according to rating agency ICRA.

The rating agency expects orders from the Metro rail sector to help boost the order book of the construction industry by Rs.75,000 to Rs 90,000 crore over the next three to five years. “The overall cost of expansion of operational and under-implementation Metro projects is over Rs 2.5 lakh crore. This would support the order books of construction contractors.Further, Metro Rail projects (MRP) worth another Rs 2 lakh crore are at various stages of approval and are likely to come up for bidding within the next five years,” ICRA said in its note.

“Roads and urban infrastructure, including Metro Rails are two key segments that have witnessed robust order inflows for the construction companies. Further, with a sizeable pipeline of projects in these segments, the sector is expected to have sufficient order inflows and companies with a strong track record and a healthy balance sheet are expected to exhibit strong growth, going forward, “said K Ravichandran, Senior Vice-President and Group-Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA.

Among the companies that are likely to benefit for the fresh flow of orders are ITD Cementation, L&T, Afcons, NCC, and IL&FS Group. All these firms have an exposure to the Metro rail sector.

According to the ratings agency, development of the Metro Rail is being planned in over 30 Indian cities. Currently, the Metro rail network (MRN) is operational or partly operational in nine cities. Another five cities have under-implementation Metro projects. In addition to the extension of the MRN in these cities, a new Metro rail network is to be developed in another 15-20 cities.

ICRA also pointed out that private public partnerships (PPPs) in the Metro rail sector has been limited so far. “The PPP participation in Metro rail projects has been limited so far. In order to encourage PPPs, adequate risk allocation would be required in the form of concession agreements, availability of the low-cost debt funding, and the presence of a robust dispute resolution mechanism,” said Shubham Jain, Vice-President and Sector-Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA.

ICRA Limited (ICRA) is an Indian independent and professional investment information and credit rating agency. It was established in 1991, and was originally named Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited (IICRA India). It was a joint-venture between Moody’s and various Indian commercial banks and financial services companies. The company changed its name to ICRA Limited, and went public on 13 April 2007, with a listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.

IRCTC through its website offers online Tatkal reservation facility for the benefit of passengers. Tatkal facility helps passengers plan their journey at the last moment. Under the Tatkal online booking facility, customers can go to IRCTC website and book tickets on ‘first come first served’ basis by paying Tatkal charges. After reports on social media and some websites that Tatkal booking and cancellation rules will change from July 1, 2017, Indian Railways has issued a clarification, saying that there has been no changes. “It has been noticed that a news item is in circulation in various social media platforms, WhatsApp groups, and some websites which mentions that Indian Railways is introducing several changes and new facilities with effect from 1st July, 2017. This news is totally incorrect and baseless,” the Railways said in a statement on June 30.

In this context, the Railways also reiterated the existing Tatkal reservation and cancellation rules.

The booking timings for Tatkal tickets were changed in 2015 with booking for AC classes opening at 10:00 AM and for Non-AC classes at 11:00 AM (one day in advance of actual date of journey excluding date of journey). There has no change in these timings and the same arrangement is continuing, the Railways said.

Again, there is no change in the refund rules of Tatkal tickets, the Railways said. Under the existing rule, no refund is granted on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets/duplicate Tatkal tickets. This rule continues to be in operation.

Here are other things to know about the Tatkal reservation rules:

A maximum of four passengers per PNR can be booked on Tatkal e-tickets.

Tatkal charges per passenger are in addition to normal tickets.

Premium Tatkal Facility: From October 2014, in select trains, a premium tatkal facility was introduced and tickets are sold on dynamic pricing. Fares go up depending on percentage of berths sold subject to a maximum cap.

No concession is allowed in Tatkal booking.

Modification of ticket in any form is not permitted in Tatkal ticket.

The Tatkal charges have been fixed as a percentage of fare at the rate of 10 per cent of basic fare for second class and 30 per cent of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum as given here below, according to the IRCTC website.

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7th Pay Commission is proving to more lucrative for the Central Government Employees and importantly Railways. As per Central Government, 7th Pay Commission will be the final Commission and the salaries of the Central Government Employees will be enhanced and revised on the yearly basis. Sources suggested that the salary revision will be done on the basis of inflation in the economy. The government will make the adjustment in the allowance every year for making balance in the price. The pay commission has now released 58 important concordance tables, which will act as an instant estimator for the Central Government Employees whose salary will be revised in July. After getting the recommendation from the Cabinet on the 7th Pay Commission, It has been communicated that revised allowance and the HRA would be applicable from July onwards. All the central government employees are not glad as they wanted that all the arrears need to paid from July 2016 onwards. Employee unions are trying hard and continuously discussing the issue with the government. Here is the complete List of Allowances, which have been doubles and more than the doubles in the special cases.

House Rent Allowance: Central Government employees importantly Railway employees will get the increase in the House Rent Allowances HRA in the range of 106 per cent and 157 per cent from their July salaries. The employees who come under the highest pay matrix, then their HRA will be enhanced from Rs 27,000 to Rs 60,000, thus resulting in a 122 per cent hike. The HRA of these employees will be revised upwards to Rs 67,500 and Rs 75,000 when Dearness Allowance crosses 25 per cent and 50 per cent respectively. The revision will translate into a 148 per cent and 176 per cent hike, respectively.

Medical Allowance: For Railway pensioners, fixed medical allowance has been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. For central government employees with 100 per cent disability, constant attendance allowance has been increased from Rs 4,500 and Rs 6,750 per month. The nursing amount has been hiked to Rs 7,200 per month, as against the earlier amount of Rs 48,00.

Education Allowance: The Union Cabinet has increased Children Education Allowance (CEA) from Rs 1,500 per month per child to Rs 2,250 per month. Hostel subsidy has also gone up by Rs 4,500 per month to Rs 6,750 per month.

Cycling Allowance: The cycling allowance speaks volumes of the legendary reach of the Indian post office-from narrow to remote locations. While the pay panel recommends abolishing it, the Union Government retained it and doubled the rate to Rs 180 per month from the existing rates of Rs 90 per month for Department of Posts and Railways.

Coal Pilot Allowance: The coal pilot allowance is paid to Shuntmen and other Group-D staff of Indian Railways who accompany pilots in the collieries for shunting and similar other duties.

The breakdown allowance is granted to non-gazetted Railway officers who are earmarked for attending to breakdown duties. While the panel recommended abolishing it, the government retained it and enhanced the existing rates by 2.25 per cent. The government revised the rates from Rs 120 to Rs 300 per month to Rs 270 to Rs 675 per month.

Allowances of Armes Forces personnel: Armed Forces personnel who have been posted in difficult terrains including hilly areas. Rates of Siachen Allowance for soldiers have been increased from Rs 14,000 to Rs 30,000 on a monthly basis and from Rs 21,000 to Rs 42,500 for officers for extreme risk and hardship.

Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu will inaugurate the Science Express Climate Action Special — Exhibition Train through video conferencing from New Delhi tomorrow.

The exhibition train will be at Roha railway station tomorrow for a day, said a senior railway official.

It will be on the display at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), here from July 19-22, said the official.

The train will be stationed at CSMT on platform number 10 and will be open to public from 10 am to 5 pm.

This Science exhibition train is an innovative mobile science exhibition train mounted on a 16 coach AC train, travelling across India since October 2007.

Since then, it has made eight tours of the country, travelling about 1,56,000 km and exhibiting at 507 locations in its over 1,746 exhibition days and 1.68 crore visitors have visited it so far.

“Science Express has become the largest, the longest running and the most visited mobile science exhibition and has twelve entries in the Limca Book of Records,” an official added.

The ninth edition of the Science Express Climate Action tour is scheduled this year from February 17 to September 8, during which it will be exhibited at 68 stations across the country, a release issued by the CR said.

State Government of Tripura has issued a notification for acquisition of land for the proposed Indo-Bangla railway project, official sources said here on Friday.

“As per preliminary reports, altogether 257 land owners are supposed to get compensation against the land acquisition”, said an official of District Magistrate (DM), West Tripura office. The entire process is scheduled to be completed by August 15.

The Centre has already released Rs 97.63 crore for land acquisition for the proposed rail project connecting Agartala railway station to Bangladesh’s Gangasagar station.

Reports from across the border indicate, land acquisition process has already begun in Bangladesh side. Of the total 15-km length railway project, around 10 km rail track will fall in Bangladesh side while remaining part falls in Indian side.

In Indian side, a major portion will be elevated corridor to save land and this has reduced the land acquisition process for the railway project.

The IRCON has been tasked to execute the 15 km ambitious project amounting to Rs 967.85 crore. IRCON is expected to start the work at the earliest.

IRCTC through its website offers online Tatkal reservation facility for the benefit of passengers. Tatkal facility helps passengers plan their journey at the last moment. Under the Tatkal online booking facility, customers can go to IRCTC website and book tickets on ‘first come first served’ basis by paying Tatkal charges. After reports on social media and some websites that Tatkal booking and cancellation rules will change from July 1, 2017, Indian Railways has issued a clarification, saying that there has been no changes. “It has been noticed that a news item is in circulation in various social media platforms, WhatsApp groups, and some websites which mentions that Indian Railways is introducing several changes and new facilities with effect from 1st July, 2017. This news is totally incorrect and baseless,” the Railways said in a statement on June 30.

In this context, the Railways also reiterated the existing Tatkal reservation and cancellation rules.

Tatkal charges per passenger are in addition to normal tickets.

Premium Tatkal Facility: From October 2014, in select trains, a premium tatkal facility was introduced and tickets are sold on dynamic pricing. Fares go up depending on percentage of berths sold subject to a maximum cap.

No concession is allowed in Tatkal booking.

Modification of ticket in any form is not permitted in Tatkal ticket.

The Tatkal charges have been fixed as a percentage of fare at the rate of 10 per cent of basic fare for second class and 30 per cent of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum as given here below, according to the IRCTC website.

The government is working to transform the railways into a “real engine of growth”, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Saturday, stressing that managing the transporter was complex.

Speaking at the silver jubilee function of Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB), Mr Prabhu said a lot of people give advice on railways.

“Some say, why are you not making a profit out of the railways. Another person will complain of charging so much. Somebody will ask why the food is not as good as the food we get in five-star hotels and at the same time, the next person will ask why are you charging Rs. 100 for a meal,” he said.

“If there is any educational institute, which is going to teach how to manage the railways, it should really be qualified to get a Noble Prize, because managing the railways is so complex,” quipped Mr Prabhu.

The minister said there is always a comparison of the Indian Railways with the Chinese and Japanese railways.

“We can do better than them, provided we do everything, Chinese and Japanese did 30-40 years ago. China invested 140 billion dollars year after year,” he said.

Heavy rains swelled two major rivers causing flash floods in Odisha’s Rayagada district, prompting the state government to seek the help of defence forces, as four IAF choppers were pressed into service for relief and rescue operations, government officials today said. A railway bridge was also washed away affecting connectivity.

The flash floods resulted from an alarming rise in the water levels in the Nagavalli and the Kalyani rivers.

Four Mi-17 V5 helicopters of IAF have been tasked for the relief and rescue operations. The choppers, detached for OpTriveni under the Central Air Command, based at Raipur/Jagdalpur, were on a standby awaiting weather clearance.

“As it is not possible to rescue the people through boat and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, the assistance of Indian Air Force is required for the rescue operation and airdrop of relief material in the affected areas of Rayagada district. Four helicopters have been requisitioned,” said a defence official.

Several areas in adjoining Kalahandi district were also severely affected by the floods caused by incessant rains, disrupting road and rail communications, they said.

“There are flash floods in Kalyansinghpur of Rayagada caused by the rivers Nagavalli and Kalyani,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said after reviewing the flood situation at an emergency meeting held at the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC).

Stating that the state control room in the SRC office is tracking the situation, Mr Patnaik said the ODRAF, fire service and CRPF were on the spot for undertaking rescue and relief.

The help of the Army, Navy and Air Force helicopters is sought and instructions have been issued to take all immediate steps to ensure relief and rescue and other mitigation measures, he said.

“No effort will be spared to ensure the safety of the people,” the chief minister said.

While the district collector is also in the charge of the situation, the development commissioner has been directed to coordinate with all the departments. The revenue divisional commissioner (southern division) and Range DIG have been instructed to closely monitor the situation, he said.

Noting that inclement weather persisted in the flood affected areas at present, Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan said IAF choppers would be pressed into service when weather conditions improved to ensure safe landing.

Helicopters would be used for rescuing a large number of people trapped on rooftops as their houses had been submerged by flood water besides dropping food packets and relief materials, said an official.

SRC Bishnupad Sethi said the concerned officials had already been alerted on the basis of forecasts by the IMD about heavy rainfall in the northern region.

He said two bridges had been washed away causing disruption of road connections, while a railway bridge was also damaged disrupting train services.

A road link between Rayagada and Bhawanipatna has been snapped as flood water is flowing on a major road.

In a significant IT initiative, the Indian Railways today launched RailCloud – a virtual server with an inbuilt security system to optimise server usage and faster connectivity.

Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu launched the RailCloud Project in the august presence of Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain. Member Staff, A.K.Mital, other Railway Board Members and senior officials who were all present to grace the occasion.

Ministry of Railways has launched the RailCloud project in association with its Telecom PSU, RailTel Corporation of India Limited.

Cloud computing is the emerging technology for faster and on-demand commensurate deployment of server resources which result in reduced costs.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said, “Efforts are being made to bring entire Railway system on Integrated Digital Platform. RailCloud is another step towards Digitization of Railways. RailCloud works on popular Cloud Computing system. Most Important works are done through Cloud Computing. Also, this is going to reduce the cost & data may be safely ensured on the servers.

Salient Features of the RailCloud

Indian Railway has started a strategic IT initiative, christened IR-OneICT, for enterprise wide digital single platform with an aim to improve customer satisfaction, improve revenue and effective, efficient and safe operations. To achieve the goal of single digital platform for IR a few foundational projects need to be implemented first, establishment of RailCloud is one such project.  Cloud Computing is the emerging technology for faster and on demand commensurate deployment of Server resources which result in reduced cost. Accordingly, RailCloud Phase-I has been sanctioned at the cost of Rs.53.55 Crore under PH-17, DF(3) in FY 17-18. Potential benefits to Railways after implementation of RailCloud are:

• Faster and on-demand deployment of application- RailCloud will pave the way for swifter deployment of application (within 24 hrs as compared to conventional time running into weeks and months). At the same time the cloud hardware and environment will be available for rigorous testing of the new applications.
• Optimum use of Servers and storage- The technology enables maximising the usage of the available server and storage resulting in accommodation of bigger data and more applications within same server space.
• Utilization of existing infrastructure as part of Cloud- The existing resources available with railway will be subsumed in RailCloud thereby ensuring that expenditure is minimized in acquiring new resources.
• Rapid scalability and elasticity- Server and storage space will scale up and down as per the demand. This makes the system suitable to meet the higher demand at peak hours with less expenditure.
• IT Security enhancement and Standardization: The cloud shall be equipped with security features as per the latest GOI guidelines, the security features can be updated in one go for all the applications hosted on the cloud, resulting in enhanced security and stability with less expenditure and effort.
• Cost reduction: The server and storage infrastructure will be deployed as per the requirement, resulting in substantial savings to railway as expenditure will be incurred as and when required instead of upfront shelling out money on procurement of expensive servers.
• Better User Experience: In Cloud, the server resources are constantly scaled up or down as per the no. of users logged on to the system. This ensures a better user experience to the customer.

The Managed Network and Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) services are also being planned, in near future, for providing faster and more efficient work environment to each rail worker.

NIVARAN – a Grievance Portal launched on RailCloud (first IT Application)

‘NIVARAN-Grievance Portal’ is the first IT application to be launched on the RailCloud. It is the platform for resolution of service related grievances of serving and former railway employees. The existing application was hosted on a conventional server; it has been made cloud-ready and being migrated as the first cloud application of Indian Railways. It will save significant revenue and at the same time user experience will also improve.

Calling their act “anti-national,” the Pune division of the Central Railways on Wednesday initiated action against passengers who had held up the Deccan Queen at the Pune Railway Station for about an hour on Monday. The commuters had stopped the train from leaving, to demand that the railway administration change its departure location to platform no. 1, as has been the case for decades. Earlier this year, the train started departing from platform no. 5.

In a press release on Wednesday, Pune Divisional Railway Manager B K Dadabhoy said, “Such anti-national activities will not be tolerated at any cost and appropriate legal action will be taken.”

Dadabhoy could not be reached for comment despite several attempts. Nearly 100 passengers, most of them daily commuters to Mumbai, had staged an hour-long protest against the railway administration’s decision to shift the train to another platform. They had said that it was inconveneinet for them to go all the way to platform no. 5 to catch the train.

The railway administration had responded by saying that long-distance trains with 24 coaches had to be accommodated on platform no. 1. The press statement also mentioned that the railway police have registered a case against three women under Section 174 (A) of the Railways Act. The women were produced before a railway magistrate, and a fine was imposed on all of them.