This is the second year after the accounts of Indian Railways were merged — some might say obscured — with the rest of the budget. As a result, there has been little discussion on the plans, performance and outlays of an organisation that generates revenues of over ₹2 lakh crore, employs 1.3 million people and transports a staggering 20 million or more passengers every day.

The Centre has rightly identified the focus areas, for which it has targeted a capex spending of over ₹1.48 lakh crore. These are: track doubling, gauge conversion, better designed coaches, electrification, beefing up rolling stock, and work on the dedicated freight corridor (DFC).

Besides, the refurbishing of railway stations and improvement of the suburban rail network, not to mention the ‘bullet train’, find a mention. However, the key concern here is that the capex spending will be raised through over ₹93,000 crore of borrowings. Budgetary support for 2018-19 at ₹53,060 crore is, in fact, lower than the budgeted sum of ₹55,000 crore for 2017-18, with the revised estimates for the current year at just ₹40,000 crore. The inability of the Railways to spend the Centre’s outlay perhaps tells us that the former has its task cut out when it comes to execution.

This is borne out by the tardy progress with respect to DFC. Managerial reform steps such as delegation of powers to general managers do not seem to have yielded results so far. The Centre needs to fix this issue soon, given the dire infrastructure shortcomings with respect to safety, requiring investment in track maintenance, automatic signalling and training of the workforce.

The operating ratio (of revenues to expenditure) remains adverse as ever. It is expected to reduce (improve) to 92.8 in 2018-19 from over 96 in the present fiscal, on the back of a steep increase in sundry revenues, which basically means monetisation of its real estate. While passenger earnings are based on just a 0.1 per cent growth in passengers — a concession to the growing inroads made by air travel and road transport as a medium-distance option — goods earnings are based on an additional 51 million tonnes of freight. The Railways must focus on passenger comfort and safety to improve its share in the transport mix; the Centre has rightly rationalised freight rates and the benefits are showing this year.

But a major concern over which the Centre is quiet is the impact of automation on workforce deployment. There are over two lakh vacancies in the Railways, of which a lakh, according to the Kakodkar panel, pertain to safety alone. Notably, according to the DP Tripathi committee report on loco pilots, about 16,000 posts remain unfilled. Automation will require a rejigging of workers from one job description to another, without any impact on outcomes. Indian Railways has built its reputation on the morale of its workforce. In its drive to modernise and improve efficiencies, these gains should not be frittered away.

Railway infrastructure growth in southern districts of Tamil Nadu is set to suffer a setback as the Union Budget has poorly allotted funds for the ongoing doubling works in the state. Even 10 per cent of estimated funds have not been allotted for the doubling of Madurai-Thoothukudi, Vanchi Maniyachi-Tirunelveli- Nagercoil and Kanniyakumari-Thiruvananthpauram lines.

According to the railway pink book submitted before Parliament on Tuesday, for 160-km-long Madurai-Vanchimaniyachi-Thoothukudi line, the railways has sanctioned Rs 75 crore, while the project cost is estimated at 1182.23 crore.

Similarly, another doubling project of the 102-km Vanchi Maniyachi-Tirunelveli-Nagercoil section which was estimated to cost Rs 1003.94 crore has been sanctioned just Rs 75 crore.

The Kanniyakumari-Nagercoil-Thiruvananthapuram line estimated to cost Rs 1431.90 crore has received Rs 110 crore, out of which Rs 100 crores was proposed to be sourced from extra budgetary resources.

While Tamil Nadu witnesses highest inter-state migration for education, health and employment, transportation demand has been increasing every year.

People of the southern districts hoped that speedy completion of the doubling project would connect the region with other parts of Tamil Nadu and the country. It would also accelerate the social and economic development of Madurai, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts.

P Edward Jeni, general secretary, Kanniyakumari District Railway Users Association, said that even if Rs 250 crore to Rs 300 crore was allotted for each project a year, it would take another three to four years to get completed. “With hardly Rs 75 crore a year, it’s nearly impossible to finish the project in 10 years,” he said.

According to the budget allocation, the state has received Rs 2,548 crore this year as against Rs  2,287 crore allotted last year.

Though the state has received Rs 261 crore more compared to the previous year, the funds remain insufficient to complete the rail projects in the state.

Gauge conversion

The Union Budget has also allotted Rs 80 crore for one of the much delayed Madurai-Bodinayakkanur gauge conversion works. The section track was dismantled in 2010 and Theni district has since lost its train connectivity.

Central districts

Central districts of Tamil Nadu have received Rs 239.46 crore for ongoing gauge conversions and new lines. While 64.46 crore has been allotted under capital expenditure by the  railways, Rs 175 crore is to be sourced through extra budgetary resources.

The gauge conversion work between Tiruvarur and Pattukottai has just been finished, as part of the 149-km gauge conversion of Tiruvarur-Thiruthuraipoondi-Pattukottai-Aranthangi-Karaikudi section. Similarly, the gauge conversion works are being carried out in full swing in Thirutturaipoondi-Agasthiampalli section. In addition to this, funds are to be used for laying a new track between Mannarkudi-Pattukottai (34 km) and Thanjavur-Pattukottai (47 km). Laying of these new tracks has been pending for nearly 20 years.

New lines

Projects delayed for more than 10 years have also not received funding. The 91.5-km-long Erode-Dharapuram-Palani line was allotted Rs 10 lakh this year too. It was approved in 2005.

The other two projects in northern districts – Tindivanam-Gingee-Tiruvannamalai and Tindivanam-Nagari (179.2 km)  – have been allotted Rs 10 crore each. These projects were also inaugurated in 2007-2008. For laying a new line in the Chennai-Cuddalore section via Mahabalipuram (179.28 km), the railways has allotted Rs 100.10 crore. The Madurai-Tuticorin via Aruppukkottai (143.5 km) project has been allotted Rs 20 lakh, while the 36-km long Morappur-Dhamapuri line has received Rs 36 crore.

Chennai

For laying 60-km line connecting Sriperumbudur with Avadi via Guduvanchery and Irunkattukottai, estimated to cost Rs 839 crore, has got Rs 20 lakh.

Slow track

There has been scant progress in railway gauge conversion, which began in 2004, between Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, and Kollam, Kerala. Work between Virudhunagar and Rajapalayam, in Tamil Nadu, ended in 2007 and was extended to Shencottah in Tamil Nadu a year later. Conversion between Kollam and Shencottah was finished in part in the Kollam-Punalur stretch, in Kerala, in 2010. However, in mid-2010, train services between Shencottah and Punalur were suspended. After the issue was raised repeatedly, work was completed on the Shencottah-Edamon-Punalur section.

After the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Railway, inspected the broad gauge line between Shencottah and Edamon in January this year, the green signal was given for commencing services between Edamon and Shencottah. However, given the slow pace of work so far, one wonders whether people in the region will have to wait for long for a service between Punalur and Shencottah, despite it being a long-standing demand.

Train operated in Coimbatore-Podanur-Pollachi section had poor patronage because of timings. After gauge conversion, section remains underutilised

Now, this one is a clear case of precious funds going down the drain. The railway line between Podanur and Pollachi was converted from metre gauge to broad gauge by spending several crores. The project was implemented after a long wait as it ran into funds constraints, land acquisition litigations and a rocky terrain that made work execution difficult.

Now, after completion, it remains underutilised. The only passenger train that was introduced on this section is described as tokenism by the people as it lacks patronage because of the odd timings and was withdrawn from Jan. 14.

Train No. 06081/06082 operated in Coimbatore-Podanur-Pollachi section from July 15, 2017. It has had very poor patronage from the start because of the timings. The idle rakes of Train No. 56604/56605 (Shoranur-Coimbatore Fast Passenger) shared for the passenger train to Pollachi has now been withdrawn from Jan. 14 due to the introduction of a special train between Palani and Coimbatore via Pollachi, Kinathikkadavu and Podanur from on that day. The train chugs out of Coimbatore at 1.35 p.m. In the return direction, it leaves Pollachi at 3.05 p.m. and reaches Coimbatore at 4.15 p.m., with an average patronage of only 50 to 60 passengers across 11 coaches every day. As a consequence, the revenue is a measly Rs. 750 to Rs. 900 a trip, as against the operational cost of around Rs. 1.5 lakh.

Many regular commuters suggested that the patronage will increase if the train is operated during peak hours.

After the persistent demand from the people from different corners, the Salem Railway Division had introduced the Special Train No. 06709/06710 Coimbatore-Palani-Coimbatore from Jan. 14 for three months. Coaches of this train would run as Train No. 56709/56710 Palani-Madurai-Palani.

Even though the Salem Division had submitted a proposal to extend the services of Semmozhi Express up to Pollachi, it might not serve any purpose. Rail users say this is because the train would depart Pollachi late in the night and leave Coimbatore for Pollachi very early in the morning.

It was also suggested that the Fast Passenger (Train No. 56848) in Palghat town-Tiruchirappalli could be operated via Pollachi instead of Madukkarai (as a train is already being operated via Madukkarai) in the morning to the serve commuters from Pollachi. Similarly, another section that needs more services is the Coimbatore – Mettuppalayam route. Though many train services are operated to Mettupalayamm from Coimbatore, tourists look for late night trains and also on Sundays to reach Udhagamandalam, and the Vanabadrakaliamman temple and a water theme park on the way.

Over 54 percent railway tracks in Tamil Nadu yet to be electrified

With the Railway Ministry having decided not to announce any new train in its budget, rail passengers in the state are pinning their hopes on an increased fund allocation for speedy completion of ongoing and long-pending rail projects.

Despite being sixth most populous state in the country and one of the highly passenger revenue-generating states in the Indian Railways, rail infrastructure  in Tamil Nadu lags behind on several counts.  Particularly, in terms of electrification of tracks, the state has been ignored for several decades, running with only 46 per cent of electrified tracks on its total track length.

According to a report submitted by the Railway Ministry in Parliament, as on April 1, 2017, a total of 4,027-km-long track runs through the state, out of which 1,851-km track has been electrified. The electrification percentages in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, which are relatively larger than in Tamil Nadu with respect to population stood at 77.77 and 64.84 respectively, while smaller states like Kerala, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh have got over 75 per cent of tracks electrified.

“After fighting for three decades, we got the Madurai – Kanniyakumari line doubling works,” said Kanniyakumari Rail Users Association general secretary P Edward Jeni. He said  passengers would get the benefit of track improvements only if station infrastructure was developed to handle more trains.

Even though several sections were thrown open for traffic after gauge conversion and new tracks were introduced including Mandamadurai-Virudhunagar, Karur-Namakkal- Dindigul, Pollachi-Palakkad-Podanur and Vellore-Tiruvannamalai-Villupuram, the Railways could not operate more trains. It has been more than six months since the entire stretch of Chenai Egmore-Tiruchy was completely electrified with double lines, the Railway could not ply any additional train in the section.

“More funds should be allotted for improving terminals with additional stabling lines and pit lines at Tambaram, Madurai, Tiruchy, Virudhuangar, Tirunelveli, Rameswaram, Nagercoil, Salem and Tondiarpet,” said Naina Masilamani, member of Divisional Rail Users Consultative Committee. With the Railways replacing the old ICF coaches with LHB rakes, the Southern Railway should be allotted more coaches.

The ongoing works include doubling of tracks from Chennai to Kannaiyakumari, gauge conversion of Tiruvarur-Pattukottai-Aranthangi-Karaikudi section, electrification of Villupuram – Cuddalore Port – Mayiladuthurai – Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai – Tiruvarur sections. In addition to this, Madurai-Bodi gauge conversion and new line-laying works between Tindivanm and Nagari via Walajah road have been delayed.

The Union budget is also expected to take a final call on the East Coast Railway line proposed to connect Kanniyakumari with Karaikudi via Tiruchendur. When contacted, official sources hoped that funds would be allotted for electrification and doubling works in Tamil Nadu. “We also expect fund allocation for modernising the ICF to manufacture the LHB coaches and replacing the Scherzer span of Pamban bridge,” said an official.

Infra boost needed

• Though several sections were thrown open for traffic after gauge conversion and new tracks were introduced, Railways could not operate more trains
• Even six months after the entire stretch of Chenai Egmore-Tiruchy was completely electrified with double lines, the Railway could not ply any additional train
• Madurai-Bodi gauge conversion, new line-laying works between Tindivanam and Nagari via Walajah road delayed
• Union budget is expected to take a final call on the East Coast Railway line

Those were the days of steam engines and meter gauge trains,” recalls a nostalgic Prof N Murali about his college days in the mid-1980s. “We used to reach our college, which was a good 25km away from Madurai, in 40 minutes, the time speeding moffusil buses now take to cover the same distance. And commuting for a month would cost less than Rs 10.” He was one of the many students, teachers and others who relied on the Madurai-Bodi train to commute before the section was dismantled for gauge conversion in 2011.

It was in 1984 that Madurai city took a giant leap in expansion from 51.82 sqkm to 147.99 sqkm, annexing most of town panchayats, municipalities and village panchayats on the outskirts. The city’s population expanded to 14 lakh during the 2011 census. Today, being a major shopping centre and the chief market for south Tamil Nadu, Madurai attracts roughly 5 lakh people who constitutes its daily floating population.

This has made the city lively, but has also made Madurai congested. “Madurai gets crowded by morning because people from across the region come for shopping and work here. Commuting by bus here is costly and cumbersome. An affordable suburban train service will make commuting easier for thousands of passengers,” said S P Jeyapragasam, president of the Tamil Nadu Foodgrains Merchants Association Limited.

Every day, hundreds of people from Madurai travel by rail to nearby towns for work. For A Vadivel, a telecommunications employee from Madurai working in Virudhunagar, taking the Mysore-Tuticorin Express at 7.40am is more economical and time-saving than taking a moffusil bus from Mattuthavani. He comes to Madurai junction from Thiruppalai, 15km from city, and gets into the train for another 40-minute journey. The other option is a two-hour bus trip to Virudhunagar.

“There are hundreds of commuters like me travelling to neighbouring towns for work. We fought tooth and nail with the railways to board reserved coaches with season tickets, since the unreserved coaches are cramped during peak hours,” he said, quite thrilled about the idea of a suburban rail network. “Imagining a network like in Chennai… even a quarter of its size will be of great help to regular commuters like us during peak hours,” he said.

At present, there are a few express and passenger trains on the Madurai-Virudhunagar & Madurai-Dindigul sections that are electrified. There are also passenger trains towards Rameswaram, covering the Madurai-Manamadurai section. Gauge conversion work has been going on in the Madurai-Usilampatti section of the Madurai-Bodi line for seven years. Considering that there is no line in the western direction, rail user forums have been demanding a new line from Madurai and Karaikudi via Melur.

Madurai MP R Gopalakrishnan said the new line project seemed to be shelved after a survey. “But we are not going to give up,” he said. The MP said a suburban train network is a great idea to ease traffic congestion in the city. “A 17-coach passenger train may reduce at least 20 buses on a route and save a lot of money on fuel and bring down damage to the environment. We will start pitching for this,” he said.

General secretary of the Railway Passengers Welfare Organisation in Madurai K Padmanathan said such a demand never struck rail users or elected representatives for long because the railways was taking its own time to even double the Chennai-Madurai line and has begun doubling the Madurai-Kanyakumari line only now. “Creating a suburban network is a mega project for a city like Madurai. It requires a lot of money and state government support in acquiring land. We may be able to take up the demand vigorously once the doubling work between Madurai and Kanyakumari is completed,” he added.

Arrest of Criminals involved in crime against passengers
1.MUMBAI DIVISION/MUMBAI CENTRAL LOCAL POST:- On 12.02.2018 Victim Chotelal Parshuram Mehara, age 20 yrs R/o Bandra (E) Mumbai was travelling in IInd Class coach of local train Ex BA to BCT, got down at Mumbai central local station at 16:00 hrs & while moving on stair one person named Sujam Salim Chirag Ali, age 19 yrs, stolen the Tecno company Mobile phone from his shirt pocket Rs 7000/- victim and start running mean while on duty CT Sachin Kr. V, WR- 1503969 & ASI Santosh Prasad Singh WR- 8900619 & TOPB Team ASI Bala Saheb mali WR- 8700829, CT Deepak Jilowa WR- 1505161 apprehended the running person a/w Mobile. ASI Santosh Prasad Singh after doing legal formalities a/w ASI Balasaheb Mali, went to GRP BCT a/w Victim & apprehend person along with Mobile where GRP /BCT has regd. the case vide ACR No 318/2018 U/S 379 IPC Date 12.02.2018.

2.RATLAM DIVISION/UJJAIN POST:- दिनाँक 13.02.2018 को समय करीब 08.40 बजे गाड़ी संख्या 18234 को ड्यूटि पर तैनात आरपीएफ़ स्टाफ ASI-बृज किशोर , ASI- जसवंत सिंह , HC/रमाकांत शर्मा व CT/संजय कैथवास, LCT/रजनी बावरिया द्वारा रेल्वे एक्ट के दौरान उक्त गाड़ी को अटेण्ड करने पर ट्रेन गार्ड से साइड जनरल कोच के यात्रियों ने 03 सदिग्ध लड़को के बारे मे सूचना दी व बताया कि वे लोग यात्रियों को चाकू दिखाकर डराधमका रहे है और चोरी की वारदात को अंजाम दे सकते है । उक्त सूचना पर स्टाफ द्वारा त्वरित कार्यवाही कर घेराबंदी करते हुए तीन संदिग्ध व्यक्तियों मे से दो व्यक्तियों को पकड़ा और एक व्यक्ति कोच मे यात्रियों की भीड़ का लाभ उठाकर मौके से फरार हो गया । पकड़े गए 02 व्यक्तियों के कब्ज़े से 01 धारदार बटन वाला चाकू एवं 03 मोबाइल फोन व रुपए 100 बरामद हुए । पकड़े गए दो संदिग्ध व्यक्तियों द्वारा पूछताछ करने पर उनके द्वारा अपने नाम क्रमश: (1) सलमान अली s/o सुलतान अली उम्र 21 वर्ष R/o मध्यप्रदेश (2) अनवर @अनु s/oगणमा अमीर उम्र 23 वर्ष R/o देवास, मध्यप्रदेश (3) अज्ञात होना बताया । उक्त दोनों सदिस्घ्द व्यक्तियों को मय बरामदशुदा माल के अग्रिम कानूनी कार्यवाही हेतु GRP/UJN को सही हालत मे सुपुर्द किया। उक्त मामले मे GRP/UJN द्वारा कार्यवाही की जा रही है ।

3.RATLAM DIVISION/INDORE POST:- दिनांक 11.02.18 को सवारी गाडी सं. 79318 मे समय करीबन 21/45 बजे यात्री महेन्द्रए शर्मा अपने परिवार के साथ मंदसोर से महु जाने के लिए सामान्य टिकट नं. L-48626140 के तहत यात्रा कर रहे थे इंदौर स्टेाशन आगमन पर उक्ता यात्री के हाथ से एक व्य.क्ति मोबाइल छीन कर भागा जिसे उप-निरीक्षक लक्षमण सिहं मय कॉस्टे बल जनार्दन सिहं द्वारा रंगे हाथ मौके पर पकडा, जिसे पोस्ट पर लाकर पूछताछ करने पर उसने अपना नाम पवन भार्गव पुत्र मॉगीलाल उम्र-27 रहवासी सुन्दरर नगर इंदौर होना बताया साथ ही चोरी करना स्वीवकार किया आरोपी के पास से बरामद मोबाइल आसुस कंपनी का यात्री द्वारा पहचान कर अपना होना बताया जिसे उक्तक आरोपी से बरामद किया गया, जिसकी अनुमानित कीमत फरियादी द्वारा 6000/- रू बतायी गयी, बाद एक लिखित तहरीर के साथ आरोपी, बरामद माल मय फरियादी के अग्रिम कार्यवाही हेतु जीआरपी इंदौर को सुपुर्द किया गया जहा जीआरपी इंदौर द्वारा आरोपी के विरूध्द अपराध क्रमाक 11/18 U/S 379 IPC dtd. 11.02.2018 दर्ज किया। मामले की जॉच की जा रही है।

Rescue of child
1.MUMBAI DIVISION/ SURAT POST:- दिनांक 12.02.2018 को समय करीबन 20.30 बजे के आस पास एक महिला नाम मायाबहन मोबाइल नंबर-8320104216 RPF कार्यालय सूरत मे आई और उसके साथ एक बालक को सुपुर्द करते हुये कहा कि यह बालक भूल से सूरत आ गया है । बाद उक्त लड़के से SIPF वी एन राय द्वारा पूछताछ करने पर उसने अपना नाम गौतम S/o राम सिंह उम्र-13 वर्ष निवासी- कोसादा, जिलाखेड़ी पेतलाद, MP बताया और बताया कि वह रतलाम स्टेशन से अपने गाँव जा रहा था लेकिन गलती से गलत गाड़ी मे चढ़ गया और सूरत आ गया। बाद SIPF वी एन राय द्वारा 1098 पर संपर्क करने पर बाल संरक्षण केंद्र की प्रतिनिधि चुनिलाल के आगमन पर उक्त लड़के को सही सलामत चिलड्रन होम कतारगाम ,सुरत को सुपुर्द किया गया।

2.MUMBAI DIVISION/ SURAT POST:- दिनांक 13.02.2018 को निरीक्षक विशेष आसूचना शाखा सूरत, उप निरीक्षक अपराध शाखा सूरत मय स्टाफ सवारी गाड़ी संख्या 19045 (ताप्ति गंगा एक्स.) के रवाना होने पर FOB के नीचे 04 नाबालिग बच्चे डरे व सहमे हुए पाये गए, जिन्हे पूछताछ करने पर बताया की वे चरो पूर्णिया जिला (बिहार) के रहने वाले है तथा सूरत अपने बड़े भाई के साथ आए थे और वह इनको छोड़कर कही चला गया है।बाद उक्त बच्चो को RPF थाना सुपुर्द करने पर उनसे पूछताछ करने पर अपना नाम:- (1) मो.मजहर s/o रकीम शेख उम्र:- 13 वर्ष (2) मो.नजीर s/o जुबेर शेख उम्र:- 12 (3) मो.असरफ s/o जमाल उम्र:- 10 वर्ष (4) मो.मुजफ्फर s/o जमाल शेख उम्र:- 14 वर्ष नि:- ग्राम- बलिया,थाना- बेसी,तह-चड़िया,पूर्णिया-बिहार को SIPF सुरेन्द्र सिंह द्वारा 1098 पर संपर्क करने पर बाल संरक्षण केंद्र के प्रतिनिधि के आगमन पर उक्त चारों लड़को को सही सलामत चिलड्रन होम कतारगाम ,सुरत को सुपुर्द किया गया।

Recovery of LEFT behind luggage/ Articles
1.MUMBAI DIVISION/ VALSAD POST:- दिनाक 12.02.2018 को समय 6:25 बजे सवारी गाड़ी संख्या 12954 UP अगस्त क्रान्ति के कोच नं A – 2 के सीट नं 22, 24 पर एक लेडीज बैग छूट गया है, सूचना की अनुपालना में ड्यूटी पर तैनात हैड कांस्टेबल चंद्रभान सिंह व उप-निरीक्षक हरीशचन्द्र शर्मा ने उक्त गाड़ी को अटेंड किया व उक्त गाड़ी के एस्कोर्टिंग पार्टी इंचार्ज सहायक उप निरीक्षक कुन्दन सिंह व कांस्टेबल प्रवीण कुमार के द्वारा लेडीज पर्स को हैड कांस्टेबल चंद्रभान सिंह व उप-निरीक्षक हरीशचन्द्र शर्मा को सुपुर्द किया गया , पश्चात समय 19:00 बजे बैंग के मालिक नाम- गौरव पुत्र हरीशंकर खरे उम- 30 वर्ष पता –भोपाल ( मध्यप्रदेश ), मोबाइल नं . 9479706797 RPF पोस्ट वलसाड में उपस्थित हुआ, उक्त गाड़ी से उतरते समय उक्त बेग को उक्त गाड़ी में भूल जाने के कारण छूटना बताया । तथा उक्त बेग को चेक करने पर 1800/- रुपये नगद तथा 02 मोबाइल जिसमे एक मोबाइल सेमसंग J- 2 व दूसरा मोबाइल Lenova K-2 पाया गया आगे की कार्यवाही स्वयं उप-निरीक्षक हरीशचन्द्र शर्मा ने दो पंचो के समक्ष सामान को चेक करवाया साथ स्वयं गौरव ने चेक किया सही होना बताने पर बैग को सही हालत में सुपुर्द किया ।

2.RATLAM DIVISION/ INDORE POST:- दिनांक 13.02.2018 को मं.सु.नि.क./रतलाम से सूचना प्राप्त हुई कि गाडी संख्या 12961 अवंतिका एक्सप्रेस में पीएनआर नं 8301649203 के तहत मुम्बई से उज्जैन तक एस -2 कोच की सीट नं 34 से 38 तक यात्रा रहे यात्री ने 182 पर शिकायत की है कि उज्जैन स्टेशन पर उतरते समय उक्त सीट पर उसका मोबाइल छूट गया है जिसकी अनुपालना कार्यवाही करते हुये उप निरी. शिवनाथ मीणा ने उक्त गाडी को अटैंड कर अपर बर्थ पर रखा संमसंग जी-7 मोबाइल प्राप्त कर उक्त यात्री को उसके मोबाइल पर बात कर उसे बताया कि आपका मोबाइल आरपीएफ कार्यालय/इंदौर से आकर ले जाये। बाद उक्त यात्री नाम अवनीश पाण्डे उम्र 30 वर्ष आरपीएफ कार्यालय/इंदौर आये एवं उनको सही सलामत उनका मोबाइल (जिसकी कीमत 10000) सुपुर्द किया गया।

Recovery of Narcotics/Contraband Goods /Articles.:-
1.RATLAM DIVISION/ INDORE POST :- दिनांक 13.02.2018 को समय लगभग 13.00 बजे सहायक उपनिरीक्षक ब्रजकिषोर ने एएसआई जसवन्त सिह द्वारा दौराने गश्त आईओसी तरफ जबरन कालोनी छुनछुन बाबा की दरगाह के पास सटे रेलवे परिसर मीटर लाईन के पास 02 बाहरी व्यक्ति को 03 क्वार्टर देषी शराब (देषी मदीरा मषाला) के साथ पकडा। जिन्होने पूछताछ में अपने नाम क्रमषः दिलीप पिता रामषंकर निवासी प्रेमनगर, गधा पुलिया उज्जैन उम्र 35 साल, जीवन बाथम पिता टेकचन्द्र बाथम उम्र 22 साल निवासी मंछामन कालोनी कुए के पास बताया। उनके कब्जे से 03 क्वार्टर देषी शराब (देषी मदीरा मषाला) के अलावा 1970 रूपये पाये गये। एवं उक्त पैसो बाबत पूछने पर उनके बाबत बताया कि उक्त पैसे देषी शराब के क्वार्टर बेचकर कमाये है। उक्त दोनो बाहरी व्यक्ति मय कब्जे से प्राप्त शराब व पैसे के अग्रिम कानूनी कार्यवाही जीआरपी को सुपुर्द किया।

Women run the show at Jaipur’s Gandhinagar railway station. From operation, reservation and booking staff personnel to railway protection force, 40 women have been tasked with the responsibility to operate and manage the important railway station, making it an “all-women railway station”. The Gandhinagar railway station is situated on the Jaipur-Delhi rail route and more than 50 trains pass through this station every day. The station has a daily footfall of more than 7,000 passengers.

The women employees working at this station have been trained to manage all operations at the station. CCTV cameras and sanitary napkin vending machines have also been installed at the all-women railway station. Five other stations – Ajmer, Udaipur, Abu Road, Bikaner and Sadulpur – have samitary napkin vending machines.

The Gandhinagar railway station is the second in the country to be managed solely by women – the first being Matunga in Mumbai.

Prior to this, an all-women police patrol team was also deployed in Jaipur last year to set eve-teasers right. The squad, deployed at over 200 check-points in the city, patrol on two-wheelers to help women and girls in distress.

After several aspirants went online with complaints of four times increase in the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) jobs’ fee, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said yesterday that there was no hike in the examination fee for the ongoing recruitment process. Addressing the concerns of the candidates who are set to apply for more than 89,000 posts, for which the national transporter had advertised recently, the minister said the exam fee was fixed at Rs. 250 for the exempted categories and Rs. 500 for the general category to ensure that only serious candidates applied.

Exempted categories include SC/ST, ex-serviceman, PWDs, female, transgender, minorities and economically backward class.

Ministry of Railways, through its RRBs, has announced one of the world’s largest recruitment processes for 89409 posts in Group C Level I & Level II Categories recently. Online applications have been invited for posts like Assistant Loco Pilots, Technicians (Fitter, Crane Driver, Blacksmith, and Carpenter), Track maintainer, Points man, Helper, Gateman and Porter.

According to the RRB notifications available online, in last four years, Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) and Technician categories saw an increase of more than 1000 per cent. No examination fee was notified for SC/ST, ex-servicemen, persons with disability, women, minorities and economically backward candidates having annual family income less than 50,000 when RRB released its 2014 notification.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal today said the railways is planning to build Ayodhya station on the model of a temple to connect people to Lord Ram’s birthplace and there was nothing objectionable if its design was the one conceptualised by the VHP for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple .

Responding to a question on reports of railways’ junior minister Manoj Sinha’s comments on Tuesday in Ayodhya, where he said that the railway station would be built as a replica of the Ram temple, Mr Goyal did not deny the plan but said the design was yet to be finalised.

He said that the idea was conceptualised by him to link railway stations with the history of the place.

Giving an example, he mentioned he had recently instructed that the entrance of Belagavi Railway Station in Karnataka be built like the Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat. It was in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi who had used the same station when he came to attend the All India Congress convention held in 1924, Mr Goyal said.

“In Ayodhya, if it (railway station) is connected to the birthplace of Lord Ram which all of us are well aware of, if Mathura is connected to the Vrindavan temple if Ajmer Sharif is connected to the dargah or mosque over there and if Agra is connected to the Taj Mahal, I think its a great contribution of the Indian Railways to teach our history, our heritage and our tradition to the next generation”, he said on the sidelines of a book release event in New Delhi.

Union minister Manoj Sinha today said the the Railways Ministry would submit a proposal to the Union Cabinet to re-construct the Ayodhya railway station as a replica of the Ram temple.

The minister of state for railways made the announcement after laying the foundation stone of projects worth more than Rs. 200 crore, including Rs. 80 crore for the reconstruction of the railway station.

He said the proposal for the reconstruction of Ayodhya railway station as the replica of the Ram temple would be submitted by the Railways Ministry to the Union Cabinet.

BJP MP Vinay Katiyar was also present at the event.

“The development of Ayodhya railway station was being discussed from the time of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. When its construction will be completed, then the construction of Ram temple will be started,” he said.

A senior television journalist was allegedly attacked by around eight passengers inside a local train on the Western railway line in Mumbai this morning, a railway police official said.

Sudhir Shukla, who works for a Hindi news channel, sustained injuries in the attack that took place between Mira Road and Andheri railway stations, the official said.

“A group of passengers standing on the foot-board of the local train, tried to stop Shukla from boarding the Andheri-bound train at Mira Road, saying that there was no space inside,” a senior Government Railway Police (GRP) official said.

“However, Shukla managed to get inside the train, following which an argument broke out between him and those passengers,” the official said.

Soon, the group started assaulting him and even snatched his phone when he tried to click their pictures, he said.

Mr Shukla, who sustained injuries in the incident, was taken to a hospital for treatment.

“Once his treatment gets over, we will initiate the process of identifying the accused and a very strong action will be taken against them,” Purshottam Karad, DCP of Western Railway GRP, said.

The process of registering a case in this connection was underway at the GRP unit in Andheri, he added.

Condemning the incident, the Mumbai Press Club said in a statement that it has informed the government and police authorities and sought the arrest of the attackers.

“These commuters are known for blocking others from traveling on trains in peak hours. The violence goes unchecked by the police despite repeated incidents,” the Press Club said.

Mumbai Crime Reporters’ Association also condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the accused.