An inquiry was ordered by the Western Railway after Ahmedabad-Mumbai Tejas Express moved past Andheri on Sunday without halting at the scheduled halt.

However, an unscheduled halt was promptly arranged at Dadar where approximately 42 passengers deboarded.

“Ahmedabad-Mumbai Tejas Express moved past Andheri today without halting as scheduled halt. The matter was brought to the notice of officials immediately and an unscheduled halt was promptly arranged at Dadar where approximately 42 passengers deboarded. The matter is being inquired,” read a statement by the Western Railway.

A woman escaped being run over by a train yesterday simply by lying low on the track as the carriages passed above her. The incident took place in Rohtak district of Haryana and was witnessed by scores and captured on camera.

The goods train had halted awaiting signal when the woman tried to cross over to the other side through underneath the train. She was trapped when the train suddenly began to move, ANI reported. The woman then lay still till all the bogies passed even as anxious, helpless onlookers watched. A few could be heard asking her to remain motionless.

Moments after the train passed, she was helped to her feet by people and she walked away, as captured by the video.

Last September, a video had emerged of a two-year-old boy emerging scratch-less from under a train that had passed just as he was pushed onto the track by his brother while playing. That incident took place at Ballabhgarh station in Faridabad district near Delhi.

The capex utilisation in the Indian Railways’ dedicated freight corridor (DFC) project increased by 21 per cent as compared to the year-ago period. According to a recent statement by the Railway Ministry, in the first 10 months of the financial year 2020-21, capital expenditure of ₹ 8201 crore was registered as compared to ₹ 6783 crore for year-ago period, even though the pace of the rail infrastructure project got severely affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and induced lockdown. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal directed the authorities to increase the pace of work across all sections of the 1,504 km long Western DFC and the 1,856 km long Eastern DFC projects.

According to the railway authorities, 657 km of the DFC section has already been opened and more than 1000 trains have operated so far. In the first phase, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) is constructing the 1,504 km long Western DFC project and 1,856 km long Eastern DFC project including a public-private partnership (PPP) section between Sonnagar-Dankuni.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 351 km long section of the eastern dedicated freight corridor and the operating control centre, situated at Prayagraj, through video conference on December 29, 2020. Indian Railways’ indigenous Alstom’s WAG 12 e-locomotive was flagged off for the inaugural run on the Bhaupur – Khurja section. Along with this, the 306 km long Rewari-Madar section of the western dedicated freight corridor was inaugurated on January 7.

Two labourers were killed and several were injured in an accident at a tunnel construction site for the railways in Assam.

“The incident happened at 1.30 pm when concrete slabs were being placed after earth-cutting by the staff of the contractor. While placing the concrete slabs, loose soil fell on the labourers,” the Northeast Frontier Railways said in a statement.

“Nine people got trapped in the incident. Seven were rescued with the help of local authorities. However, two died in the accident. Four injured people were shifted taken to hospital,” it said.

“The railway authority is extending all necessary help to the injured labourers. Senior railway officials including additional divisional railway manager and chief bridge engineer from Guwahati are already at the site,” it said.

Railway sources said construction of a road under-bridge between Panbari and Thakurkuchi stations in the Guwahati-Lumding section under Lumding division was going on.

CommentsRoad overbridge is being constructed on railway lines across the country for ensuring safety. The Northeast Frontier Railway said it will hold an enquiry to find the reason leading to the incident.

In line with the government’s initiative “Dekho Apna Desh” to promote domestic tourism, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will run a deluxe train for “Jyotirlinga and Statue of Unity” tour on February 27.

The train will depart from Delhi Safdarjung on February 27 and will cover two prominent Jyotirling temples Mahakaleshwar (Ujjain) and Omkareshwar along with the tallest statue in the world, ‘Statue of Unity’ near Kevadia, Gujarat.

Tourists can board the train at Delhi Safdarjung, Mathura, Agra and Gwalior stations.

The train features two fine dining restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles in coaches, sensor-based washroom functions and foot massagers.

The fully air-conditioned train provides two types of accommodation — the first AC and second AC. Besides CCTV cameras, the train will have a deployment of private security guards for enhanced security.

Situated near Kevadiya in Gujarat’s Narmada district, the ‘Statue of Unity’ is the world’s tallest statue and monumental tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, independent India’s first home minister as well as deputy prime minister.

CommentsThe statue was inaugurated in October 2018 by Prime Minister Modi on the occasion of Mr Patel’s 143rd birth anniversary.

Railways on Wednesday rolled out its first air conditioned three-tier economy class coach which is being touted by the ministry to be “synonymous with the cheapest and best AC travel in the world”.
These coaches, officials said, will be “economical” and in between the current AC three-tier and non-AC sleeper class.

This LHB coach was rolled out from Rail Coach Factory (RCF) Kapurthala to Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) Lucknow for the upcoming trial.

It was conceived by RCF and work on its design started on war footing in October 2020. The new coach can carry more passengers as the berths have been increased from 72 to 83.

“Many innovations have been incorporated in the design of the coach. The high voltage electric switchgear presently installed on board has been shifted below the under frame, thereby increasing the passenger capacity by introducing 11 additional berths,” a statement from the ministry said.

Each coach is provided with a wider and one disabled friendly toilet entry door which is a new initiative, it said.

Several design improvements have also been made for improving passenger comfort like redesigning the AC ducting to provide individual vents for each berth, it said.

The coach also has improved and modular design of seats and berths, foldable snack tables in both longitudinal and transverse bays, injury free spaces and holders for water bottles, mobile phone and magazines, it said.

 

Individual reading lights and mobile charging points are provided for each berth in addition to the standard socket.

A new ergonomically improved design of ladder for accessing the middle and upper berths is also a new feature. There is an increased headroom in the middle and upper berths as well.

The design has been improved for both Indian and the Western style lavatories while public address and passenger information systems have been installed as part of passenger facilities, it said.

“Ambience and ease of access into coach has been improved by aesthetically pleasing and ergonomic entrance. The interior of the coach has luminescent aisle markers, illuminated berth indicators integral with night lights with luminescent berth numbers,” the statement said.

“There is also improved fire safety by ensuring compliance to world benchmark of EN45545-2 HL3 for materials, thus meeting the high requirements of the new fire protection standard,” it said.

The RCF has production plan of 248 such coaches during the current and next fiscal.

“Series production of these coaches will be started from this month. This new 3-tier air conditioned economy class coach is a symbol of aspirational India bringing AC travel to larger number of people and enhancing the capacity of our express trains. Undoubtedly, now every rail journey will become a journey of pleasant memories,” the statement said.

A Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel on Friday saved life of a differently-abled man by preventing him from falling under a moving train at a railway station in Maharashtra’s Panvel.

The RPF shared a video of the incident which took place at around 3:44 PM at Panvel Station, when a differently-abled man tried to board the running train and a passenger was helping him. However, the RPF personnel came in time and pulled him back.

 

The allocation of ₹ 6,636 crore to West Bengal is the highest ever funds earmarked for the state in the history of Indian Railways, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday, blaming successive state governments for the delay in rail projects in the state.

West Bengal has 53 ongoing projects including new lines, gauge conversion, doubling projects costing ₹ 48,275 crore for 4,463 km.

“The allocation for West Bengal is the highest ever in the history of Indian Railways. It is 2.5 times the average amount allocated between Budget 2009-2014 and 26 per cent more than last year,” Mr Goyal told reporters.

“Projects there remain incomplete or are delayed because the state governments – first it was the Left front government and now the TMC (Trinamool Congress) – have been unable to provide land to us. Projects which are 45 year old are pending in the state,” he said. “I appeal to Mamata didi to expedite the process and give us land,” he said.

Mr Goyal said due to non-availability of land, as many as 34 projects in the state have received only token allotment in the budget 2021-22.

Assembly election in Bengal is due soon. “I want to assure the people of West Bengal that there is no shortage of funds for projects in the state. Only there should not be any shortage of land and local issues are sorted then projects will be completed on time,” Mr Goyal said.

Mr Goyal took a dig at pre-BJP budgets where the Railway Budget was separate and said that at that time there was a tendency to announce rail projects for political gains and not for the need of the people.

1Comments”Once someone became a minister, he would announce projects without first checking if there were funds available, if land was available and if the project was feasible. That is the reason why none of the projects which were announced then could be completed and there would be major cost overruns. So, inspired by politics this harmed the railways,” he said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced that the central government is allocating ₹ 1,10,055 crores for Railways.

She also announced an outlay for capital expenditure amounting to ₹ 1,07,100 crores.

Presenting the Union Budget 2021-22, Ms Sitharaman said that the plan of the government is to create a future-ready Railways system by 2030.

“Indian Railways has prepared a National Rail Plan for India 2030. The plan is to create a future-ready railways system by 2030 – bringing down the logistic cost for the industry is at the core of a strategy to enable Make in India. I am providing a record sum of ₹ 1,10,055 crores for Railways of which ₹ 1,07,100 crores is for capital expenditure only,” she said.

The Finance Minister said to further strengthen, high-density network and highly utilised network routes of Railways will be provided with indigenously developed automatic train protection system that eliminates train collision due to human error.

“High-density rail networks and highly utilized rail routes to be provided with indigenously developed automatic train protection system which will eliminate train collision due to human error100 per cent electrification of rail broad gauge routes to be completed by December 2023,” she added.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced that the central government is allocating ₹ 1,10,055 crores for Railways.

She also announced an outlay for capital expenditure amounting to ₹ 1,07,100 crores.

Presenting the Union Budget 2021-22, Ms Sitharaman said that the plan of the government is to create a future-ready Railways system by 2030.

“Indian Railways has prepared a National Rail Plan for India 2030. The plan is to create a future-ready railways system by 2030 – bringing down the logistic cost for the industry is at the core of a strategy to enable Make in India. I am providing a record sum of ₹ 1,10,055 crores for Railways of which ₹ 1,07,100 crores is for capital expenditure only,” she said.

The Finance Minister said to further strengthen, high-density network and highly utilised network routes of Railways will be provided with indigenously developed automatic train protection system that eliminates train collision due to human error.

“High-density rail networks and highly utilized rail routes to be provided with indigenously developed automatic train protection system which will eliminate train collision due to human error100 per cent electrification of rail broad gauge routes to be completed by December 2023,” she added.