Tamil Nadu has been allotted Rs. 2548 crore for the railway projects for the year 2018-19.

The railway pink book tabled before Parliament on Tuesday revealed that Rs. 2548 crore to be spent for ongoing doubling, electrification, new lines, gauge conversion and other development works this year.

The state has received Rs. 261 crore more for this year, compared to the previous year allocation of Rs. 2287 crore.

While the state has not received funds for laying new lines under southern railway jurisdiction, 48 km long train track between Bayapanahallai and Hosur which comes under Southern Western Railway (SWR) to be doubled with electrification at the cost of Rs. 376 crore.

The proposal aimed to improve the train connectivity from Western districts of Tamil Nadu with Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka.

The Union Budget has fixed the target of electrifying 6000 km long tracks across the country for the year 2018-19, out of which 319 km long tracks in Tamil Nadu are expected to be electrified.

This includes, the 141 km long Erode – Karur – Tiruchirapalli and 74 km length of Dindigul – Karur section and Tiruchirapalli – Thanjavur – Thiruvarur section for the distance of 104 km to be completed this year. More than 60 per cent of the tracks had already been already electrified.

In addition to this, doubling of 15.5 km long tracks of Nagercoil – Kanniyakumari has also been aimed for completion this year as part of Kanniyakumari – Thiruvananthapuram doubling works

Ministry of Railways and Ministry of AYUSH have decided to scale up AYUSH Health Services in the following Railway Hospitals

1. B.R. Singh Hospital in Eastern Railway
2. Perambur Railway Hospital Southern Railway
3. Central Hospital of Northern Railway
4. JR Hospital in Western Railway
5. Central Hospital of Northeast Frontier Railway.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Ministry of Railways and Ministry of AYUSH in New Delhi today to augment the AYUSH system services in its zonal hospitals at New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Guwahati. Principal Executive Director/Health Dr. Gajendra Kumar, on behalf of the Ministry of Railways and Advisor Dr. Manoj Nesari from Ministry of AYUSH, signed the MOU. Minister of State of Railways & Minister of State (I/C) of Communication, Manoj Sinha, Minister of State (I/C) for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State of Railways, Rajen Gohain, Chairman Railway Board, Ashwani Lohani, other Railway Board Members & dignitaries from both the Ministries were present on the occasion

Speaking on the occasion MoS Mnaoj Sinha said that ensuring wellness of Railway employees is of prime concern. The traditional knowledge of AYUSH systems can be harnessed to particularly help the vast majority of railway staff who are required to put in stressful field duties on site. MoS Sh Rajen Gohain said cooperation of Ministry of Railways and Ministry of AYUSH would go a long way in propagating the age old benefits of traditional systems of medicine. Sh Gohain added that he is particularly aware of the good work and benefits being availed of the AYUSH services at the Guwahati Railway Hospital. Minister of State (I/C) for AYUSH, Shripad Yesso Naik pointed out that AYUSH Systems of Medicine offer safe, effective and complete holistic treatment in many diseases. He said the proposed collaboration would play a pivotal role in offering healthcare needs to the people serving the railway sector.

Under the terms of the MoU signed, Ministry of Railways will arrange for providing logistics and infrastructure in the form of Land & building, Equipments, Furniture, AYUSH medicines and consumables as well as Manpower as per its guidelines. It will organize and provide orientation training to newly recruited AYUSH Doctors and AYUSH Paramedicals. Ministry of AYUSH in turn will provide all other technical inputs required for introduction of AYUSH Systems in the five identified Railways Hospitals. The Ministry will also provide technical knowhow regarding the pharmacopoeia, medicine inventory, hospital planning. Guidelines of manpower requirement and Recruitment Rules; Procedures of AYUSH Doctors, AYUSH Para medical required for introduction of AYUSH Systems in five Railway Hospitals including the guidelines for contractual AYUSH doctors and paramedical staff would be aided by MoAYUSH.

Presently Indian Railways is running 126 Homeopathic Clinics and 40 Ayurvedic Clinics through Staff Benefit Fund under Welfare Section of Establishment Directorate.

After tabling of Summary of Works and Grants in Parliament the details of budget allocation and work sanctioned was available to Railway. Today Shri A.K. GUPTA, General Manager, South Western Railway has conducted press Conference and shared the details of work sanctioned to SWR &allocation of funds to SWR. In the current year Rs. 3353 Crore is sanctioned as against Rs. 3174 Crore last year. He was sharing the Union budget announcements with the media at Rail Soudha, Hubballi. Shri B.B. Singh, Additional General Manager; Shri G.J. Prasad, Principal Chief Operations Manager; Shri K. Shiva Prasad, Chief Commercial Manager; Shri Rajiv Kumar, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer; Shri D.L. Chowdhry, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer; and other senior officers were present in conference.

The details of funds allocation and various projects sanctioned to South Western Railway as follows:

Achievements of Railways in karnataka

• 252 Km of New Railway line completed–

Including 2 long pending works of

Ø     Connecting Bengaluru with Hassan via Shravanabelagola

Ø     And Gulbarga to Bidar (2 important cities in North Karnataka)

• 277 Km of doubling completed including three major sections

Ø   Bengaluru – Mysuru

Ø   Guntakal – Wadi

• 665 Km of track electrified

Ø   Yelahanka-Dharmavaram

• In last 5 years Budget outlay has been made four times
• All important lines in Karnataka are being doubled and Electrified including Bengaluru- Mumbai ,Bengaluru -Hyderabad routes
• 88 new trains introduced including Humsafar and trains with modern LHB coaches
• State of the art Manufacture facility for Bogies at Yadgir
• MEMU shed in Bengaluru
• All unmanned LC gates being eliminated
• 339 Road Over Bridges &Road Under Bridges constructed
• Passenger amenities at stations improved in a big way by providing escalators and lifts , improved station buildings, platforms, better catering facilities etc. Rs. 165 Cr. booked in last 3 years.
• Big impetus to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by Railways adopting bio toilets, On Board House Keeping Services etc.
• Towards Green India

Ø      Solar energy being harnessed in a big way

Ø      LED fittings will be provided at all stations by Mar.2018

New Works approved in the Budget 2018-19

• Suburban for Bengaluru

• Doubling

• Electrification works

• Survey

• New ROB/RUBs/Subways Sanctioned

 Ø  PH-30- ROB PROPOSALS

Ø  PH-30- RUB/Subway

Other important works approved in budget 2018-19

SWR – Plan Head wise Outlay 2017-18

Ø  6 % increase over last year

Ø  And around 50 % increase over expected capital expenditure this year OUTLAY OF IMPORTANT PROJECTS

Rs.716 CR. For new lines and Rs. 984 Cr. For doubling

Shri A. K. Gupta, General Manager, Western Railway addressed a Press Conference on Tuesday, 6^th February, 2018 at Western Railway Headquarters, Churchgate to disseminate the information regarding rail related provisions included in the Union Budget 2018-19. Shri Gupta highlighted that the planned expenditure of Western Railway for this year is Rs 5802 Cr which is 31% more than the previous year. In the current budget, the total outlay for the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat is Rs. 6658 crores & Rs. 4809 crores respectively which is more than 11.74% & 20.40% respectively as compared to the financial year 2017 -18. Also, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan which form a substantial part of Western Rly has been allocated Rs. 6359 & Rs. 4553 respectively. He further said that this will give a boost to the various ongoing as well as the future infrastructure & developmental projects.

This budget has provided a bumper allocation for Mumbai suburban network so that long awaited infrastructural projects can be taken on priority. This allocation will help in speedy renewal of assets, decongestion the existing network & further enhance capacity building as well as cover the long pending backlog of infrastructural facilities of Mumbai suburban. Shri. Gupta also elaborated the various passenger related amenities and initiatives that have been proposed in the budget for Mumbai Suburban such as redevelopment of stations, construction of Foot Over Bridges, Escalators, Platform height raising, provision of Integrated Security System (ISS) at stations, Soft upgrades / improvements at stations, which are detailed below:

• 43 new FOBs will provided over WR Mumbai suburban in the year 2018 – 19 at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 450 crores.
• Provision of Lifts & Escalators etc. has been made for the convenience of passengers, specially Sr. citizens & Divyangs.
• 372 lifts will provided over suburban section of WR & CR.
• For strengthening of security, video surveillance system will be provided in 1318 stations of WR at a cost of Rs. 303 crores.
• Adequate funds allotted for redevelopment of 15 stations while umbrella fund of Rs 300 crores has been provided for updradation of other suburban stations.
• Construction of administrative office, barracks (100 beds), class rooms, ammunition room, & dog squad in RPF barrack premises at Bhayander at a sanctioned cost of 690 crores.
• All trains including EMU, DEMU, MEMU as well as Rajdhani, Shatabdi & other premium trains to have CCTV cameras.
• Platforms of stations between Andheri – Virar slow corridor will be extended to accommodate 15 car rakes at an sanctioned cost of Rs. 59.56 crores.
• 34 Cr has been sanctioned for upgradation of Coach Maintenance depot at Bandra Terminus including pitline.
• Signalling system at Dahanu Road station will be improved and Rs 17.89 Crore will be allotted for replacement of signalling equipment.
• Upgradation of running rooms at a sanctioned cost of 225 crores.

MUTP IIIA project has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs. 54,777 crores.

• 5^th & 6^th line between Borivali & Virar,
• New suburban corridor between Virar – Vasai – Panvel,
• CBTC on Churchgate – Virar & CSMT – Kalyan & Panvel sections
• Station improvement
• Procurement of rolling stock
• Maintenance facilities for rolling stock
• Stabling lines
• Augmentation of power supply arrangements, including other major projects over C. Rly.

PROVISIONS FOR NON – SUBURBAN OVER WR

• The work of increasing the speed on Mumbai – New Delhi route including Vadodara – Ahmedabad from 160 kmph to 200 kmph has been included at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 11188 crores. This has been aimed to achieve travel time of 12 hours on Mumbai Delhi route.
• Also, adequate steps have been planned for eliminating unmanned level crossings in the next two years by providing RUBS/ ROBs or by converting them to manned level crossings.

Replying to a query during the interaction with the media, Shri Gupta informed that W.Rly will soon get CRS sanction for running of suburban local services on extended harbour line between Andheri and Goregaon. On this occasion, Shri R. S. Khurana – Chairman & Managing Director  of Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation, various Principal Heads of Departments of Western Railway alongwith other senior railway officers were also present. In the beginning Shri Ravinder Bhakar – Chief Public Relations Officer of W. Rly   welcomed all the media representatives.

The related documents of Union Budget are enclosed herewith.

State wise Outlay

Budget 2018 Statewise details

MAHARASHTRA

Works proposed for inclusion in budget 2018-19

Surveys

 Passenger Amenities (All railways combined) Rs.171 crore

GUJARAT

Works proposed for inclusion in budget 2018-19

Electrification works included in Budget 2018-19

ROBs/RUBs

12 ROBs recommended for 2018-19 for Gujarat

08 RUBs/Subways recommended for Gujarat

Surveys

 Passenger Amenities Rs 190cr

MADHYA PRADESH

Works proposed for inclusion in budget 2018-19

Electrification works included in Budget 2018-19

ROBs/RUBs/Subways:  Providing Limited Height Subway to eliminate manned Level Crossings (14 Nos.).

Mandsaur Yard-Construction of 2 lane RUB in lieu of LC No.151 at Km.290/05-06 at.

Surveys

Passenger Amenities(Combined WR WCR) Rs 125 cr

पश्चिम रेलवे के महाप्रबंधक श्री ए. के. गुप्ता ने मंगलवार, 6 फरवरी, 2018 को चर्चगेट स्थित पश्चिम रेलवे प्रधान कार्यालय में केन्द्रीय बजट 2018-19 में रेल सम्बंधी प्रावधानों के सम्बंध में जानकारी देने के लिए आयोजित प्रेस कॉन्फ्रेंस बजट में नियोजित व्यय के रूप में पश्चिम रेलवे को गत वर्ष की अपेक्षा 31 प्रतिशत अधिक यानी 5802 करोड़ रु. की राशि प्राप्त होगी। नये बजट में महाराष्ट्र एवं गुजरात राज्यों के लिए क्रमशः 6658 करोड़ रु. एवं 4809 करोड़ रु. आवंटित किये गये हैं, जो वित्तीय वर्ष 2017-18 के मुकाबले क्रमशः11.4 प्रतिशत और 20.40 प्रतिशत अधिक हैं। साथ ही पश्चिम रेलवे के अंतर्गत आने वाले अन्य प्रदेशों मध्यप्रदेश और राजस्थान को क्रमशः 6359 करोड़ रु. एवं 4553 करोड़ रु. आवंटित हुए हैं। उन्होंने बताया कि इस उल्लेखनीय आवंटन के फलस्वरूप वर्तमान में चल रही विभिन्न परियोजनाओं के साथ-साथ उज्ज्वल भविष्य के लिए नियोजित इन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चर एवं विकासपरक परियोजनाओं को भी अच्छी गति मिलेगी।

इस बजट में मुंबई उपनगरीय नेटवर्क को बम्पर आवंटन मिला है, जिसके फलस्वरूप इस रेल खंड पर बहुप्रतीक्षित इन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चर परियोजनाओं को प्राथमिकता के आधार पर पूरा करने में उल्लेखनीय मदद मिलेगी। इस आवंटन से परिसम्पत्तियों के तेज़ी से नवीनीकरण, वर्तमान नेटवर्क की सघनता में कमी लाने और यातायात कैपेसिटी को आगे बढ़ाने के साथ-साथ मुंबई उपनगरीय खंड पर कुछ लम्बे समय से अधूरी आधारभूत सुविधाओं को पूरा करने में भी सहायता मिलेगी। श्री गुप्ता ने यात्रियों से जुड़ी विभिन्न सुविधाओं तथा मुंबई उपनगरीय खंड के लिए स्टेशन पुनर्विकास, पैदल ऊपरी पुलों के निर्माण, एस्केलेटरों की स्थापना, प्लेटफॉर्मों की ऊँचाई बढ़ाने, इंटीग्रेटेड सिक्युरिटी सिस्टम के प्रावधान तथा स्टेशनों पर सुधार कार्य के लिए प्रस्तावित राशि आदि के बारे में विस्तार से बताया, जिनका विवरण निम्नानुसार हैः-

• पश्चिम रेलवे के मुंबई उपनगरीय खंड पर वर्ष 2018-19 में 450 करोड़ रु. की स्वीकृत राशि से 43 नये पैदल ऊपरी पुलों का निर्माण।
• यात्रियों विशेषकर वरिष्ठ नागरिकों एवं दिव्यांगों की सुविधा के लिए लिफ्टों एवं एस्केलेटरों का प्रावधान।
• पश्चिम एवं मध्य रेल पर कुल 372 नई लिफ्टें लगाई जायेंगी।
• सुरक्षा को और पुख्ता बनाने के लिए 303 करोड़ रु. की लागत से पश्चिम रेलवे के 1318 स्टेशनों पर वीडियो निगरानी प्रणाली लगाई जायेगी।
• 15 स्टेशनों के पुनर्विकास के लिए पर्याप्त निधि का प्रावधान, जबकि अन्य उपनगरीय स्टेशनों के अपग्रेडेशन के लिए 300 करोड़ रु. का अम्ब्रेला फंड।
• भायंदर स्टेशन पर आरपीएफ बैरक परिसर में प्रशासनिक भवन, 100 बिस्तरों वाली बैरकों, क्लास रूम, एम्यूनेशन रूम तथा डॉग स्क्वायड के लिए 690 करोड़ रु. की राशि स्वीकृत।
• ईएमयू, डेमू, मेमू के साथ-साथ राजधानी, शताब्दी तथा अन्य प्रीमियम ट्रेनों सहित सभी ट्रेनों में सीसीटीवी कैमरों का प्रावधान।
• अंधेरी-विरार स्लो कोरिडोर पर 59.56 करोड़ रु. की स्वीकृत राशि से 15 डिब्बों वाले रेक के समायोजन के लिए प्लेटफॉर्मों की लम्बाई का विस्तार।
• बांद्रा टर्मिनस पर पिट लाइन सहित कोच मेंटेनेंस डिपो के अपग्रेडेशन के लिए 34 करोड़ रु. की स्वीकृति।
• दहानू रोड स्टेशन पर सिगनलिंग प्रणाली में सुधार तथा सिगनलिंग उपकरण के रिप्लेसमेंट के लिए 17.89 करोड़ रु. की राशि स्वीकृत।
• रनिंग रूमों के अपग्रेडेशन के लिए 225 करोड़ रु. की राशि स्वीकृत।

एमयूटीपी IIIA के लिए  54,777 करोड़ रु. स्वीकृत  

• बोरीवली एवं विरार के मध्य पाँचवीं एवं छठी लाइन
• विरार-वसई एवं पनवेल के मध्य एक नया उपनगरीय कोरिडोर
• चर्चगेट-विरार तथा सीएसएमटी-कल्याण एवं पनवेल खंडों पर सीबीटीसी प्रणाली
• स्टेशनों में सुधार
• रोलिंग स्टॉक की खरीद
• रोलिंग स्टॉक के लिए मेंटेनेंस की सुविधा
• स्टेबलिंग लाइनें
• पॉवर सप्लाई अरेंजमेंट में बढ़ोतरी सहित मध्य रेल पर अन्य प्रमुख परियोजनाएँ

पश्चिम रेलवे पर गैर-उपनगरीय प्रावधान

• 11188 करोड़ रु. की स्वीकृत राशि से वडोदरा-अहमदाबाद खंड पर 160 किमी प्रति घंटा से 200 किमी प्रति घंटा के साथ मुंबई-नई दिल्ली रूट पर ट्रेन की रफ्तार में वृद्धि की योजना। इससे मुंबई-दिल्ली रूट पर यात्रा समय को 12 घंटे में पूरा करने का लक्ष्य।
• अगले 2 वर्षों में आरयूबी/आरओबी के निर्माण तथा रेल समपारों पर चौकीदार उपलब्ध करा कर सभी चौकीदार रहित समपारों को बंद करने की योजना के लिए आवश्यक कदम उठाना।

मीडिया से वार्तालाप के दौरान एक प्रश्न के उत्तर में श्री गुप्ता ने बताया कि अंधेरी और गोरेगाँव स्टेशनों के मध्य विस्तारित हार्बर लाइन पर उपनगरीय लोकल ट्रेन चलाने के लिए जल्द ही सीआरएस की स्वीकृति मिल जायेगी। इस अवसर पर मुंबई रेल विकास कॉर्पोरेशन के अध्यक्ष एवं प्रबंध निदेशक श्री आर. एस. खुराना, पश्चिम रेलवे के विभिन्न प्रधान विभागाध्यक्षों के अलावा अन्य वरिष्ठ रेल अधिकारी भी उपस्थित थे। प्रेस सम्मेलन की शुरुआत में पश्चिम रेलवे के मुख्य जनसम्पर्क अधिकारी श्री रविंद्र भाकर ने सभी मीडिया प्रतिनिधियों एवं वरिष्ठ रेल अधिकारियों का स्वागत किया।

The Indian Railways has identified more than 13,000 employees in its ranks who are on unauthorised leave for a long time and initiated disciplinary action to terminate their services, it said today.

The railways had launched a drive to improve performance of the organisation and boost the morale of sincere and diligent employees. The action is part of that campaign.

“A massive drive to identify long-term absentees in various establishments of Railways has been initiated. As a result of the drive, more than 13,000 employees out of about 13 lakh employees were found to be on unauthorised absence for a long time,” the railways said in a statement.

The establishment has initiated disciplinary action under the rules to terminate the service of such absentees.

Indian Railways has come up with another major recruitment drive; for 62907 vacancies for Group D posts: Track Maintainer grade IV (Trackman), Gateman, Pointsman, Helpers in Electrical/ Mechanical/ Signal & Telecommunication departments, porter, etc. Candidates in the age group of 18-31 years who have cleared class 10th with (or without) ITI or NAC in the relevant trade are eligible to apply. As of now official websites of the RRBs are not carrying any such updates. Candidates are urged to wait for the official notification in this regard which, as per the reports, will be available at the official websites and the coming edition of Employment News.

As per the updates, Railways have advertised for the recruitment through notification number CEN 02/ 2018. On 3 February 2018, RRBs had released official notification CEN 01/ 2018 for more than 27000 Assistant Loco Pilot and Technician posts.

Online registration for the same has begun and will continue 5 March 2018. Candidates will be selected on the basis of their performance in computer based test (two stages), computer based aptitude test and document verification. ‘The date, time and venue for all the activities viz First stage CBT, Second stage CBT, Computer Based AT and DV or any other additional activity as applicable shall be fixed by the RRBs and shall be intimated to the eligible candidates in due course.’

Online registration will, supposedly, begin tomorrow (10 February 2018) and the last date for submission of applications is 12 March 2018.

In response to the hue and cry over upper age limit in the recent railway recruitment (CEN 01/ 2018), RRBs have clarified on the matter. Through an official notification, Indian Railways has made it clear that the upper age limit set for Assistant Loco Pilot and Technician post is 27 years, as per para 137(2)(ii) of the Indian Railway Establishment Manual Vol.I revised in 1989(Reprint in 2009). The Board further mentions that as a temporary measure Ministry of Railways had allowed a relaxation of 3 years, till 3 February 2015. As per the manual, the upper age limit for OBC candidates is 30 years and SC/ ST is 32 years.

With more than 27000 job vacancy, Indian Railways recruitment notification was not received well by candidates: the reason being decrease in upper age limit. Candidates, who followed the recruitment notification of 2014, had been complaining of the upper age limit issue. ‘This has deprived many aspirants from applying for the recruitment.

However the railways have cleared the air over this confusion. Railways will reduce the age limit relaxation phase wise over a period of 4 years. For this year, the upper age limit is 28 years.

For the convenience of passengers and to clear the extra rush during summer vacation, Western Railway will run Train No. 02834/02833 Hapa–Santragachi Holiday Special train on special fare from 6^th April to 2^nd July, 2018 as per the details given as under :-

02834/02833 Hapa – Santragachi Special  Train on Special Fare (26 trips)

Train No. 02834 Santragachi – Hapa Special train will leave Santragachi at 21.05 hrs on Friday and reach Hapa at 15.50 hrs on Sunday. This train will run from 6^th April, 2018 to 29^th June, 2018.

Similarly, in return direction Train No.02833 Hapa – Santragachi Special train will leave Hapa at 10.40 hrs on Monday and will reach Santragachi at 05.45 hrs on Wednesday. This train will run from 9^th April, 2018 to 2^nd July, 2018.

The train will have 14 coaches of AC 3 Tier and will run on special fare. This train will halt at Rajkot, Wankaner, Surendranagar, Viramgam, Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Nandurbar, Amalner, Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Malkapur, Akola, Vadnera, Wardha, Nagpur, Gondia, Durg, Raipur, Bilaspur, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Chakradharpur, Tatanagar and Kharagpur  stations in both directions.

The booking for Train No. 02833 will be opened from 6^th February, 2018 for 120 days at all PRS counters and IRCTC website.

पश्चिम रेलवे द्वारा हापा – सांत्रागाछी सुपरफास्ट विशेष ट्रेन

मुंबई: ग्रीष्मावकाश के दौरान यात्रियों की सुविधा के लिए तथा अतिरिक्त भीड़ को कम करने हेतु पश्चिम रेलवे द्वारा ट्रेन सं. 02834/02833 हापा -सांत्रागाछी सुपरफास्ट विशेष ट्रेन विशेष किराये के साथ 6 अप्रैल से 2 जुलाई, 2018 तक चलाई जायेगी।

• ट्रेन सं. 02834/02833 सांत्रागाछी-हापा सुपरफास्ट विशेष ट्रेन (26 फेरे)

ट्रेन सं. 02834 सांत्रागाछी-हापा सुपरफास्ट विशेष ट्रेन प्रत्येक शुक्रवार को सांत्रागाछी से 21.05 बजे प्रस्थान करेगी औररविवार को 15.50 बजे हापा पहुँचेगी। यह ट्रेन 6 अप्रैल से 29 जून, 2018 तक चलाई जायेगी।

इसी प्रकार, वापसी में ट्रेन सं. 02833 हापा-सांत्रागाछी सुपरफास्ट विशेष ट्रेन प्रत्येक सोमवार को हापा से 10.40 बजे प्रस्थानकरेगी और बुधवार को 05.45 बजे सांत्रागाछी पहुँचेगी। यह ट्रेन 9 अप्रैल से 2 जुलाई, 2018 तक चलाई जायेगी।

यह ट्रेन यात्रा के दौरान दोनों दिशाओं में राजकोट, वाँकानेर, सुरेन्द्रनगर, वीरमगाम, अहमदाबाद, नडियाड, आणंद, वडोदरा,भरूच, सूरत, नंदुरबार, अमलनेर, जलगाँव, भुसावल, मलकापुर, अकोला, बडनेरा, वर्धा, नागपुर, गोंदिया, दुर्ग, रायपुर, बिलासपुर,झारसुगुडा, राउरकेला, चक्रधरपुर, टाटानगर तथा खड़गपुर स्टेशनों पर ठहरेगी।

इस ट्रेन में 14 एसी III टियर डिब्बे होंगे। और यह विशेष किराये पर चलाई जायेगी।

The Southern Railway has informed the Kerala High Court the alignment of the proposed Sabari rail line project was finalised after considering all aspects, including the cost-effective acquisition of land and the ventilation of the grievances of the majority of the public. Recording the submission, the court granted permission to proceed with the project.

The court was considering a petition filed by the Action Committee for Angamaly-Muvattupuzha-Pala-Erattupetta- Erumeli Railway line challenging the revised alignment.

According to the Railways, the old alignment approved by the Railways was changed in a meeting held on May 14, 2013, after considering various issues and evaluating the materials on record. The revised alignment has been approved by the state government. The proposed alignment was finalised as early as in 2013.

The petitioners had maintained stoic silence for over five years. When the survey was in progress through the petitioners’ area they approached the court alleging the proposed alignment was finalised taking into consideration extraneous matter. There was no illegality or malafide intention in finalising the proposed alignment, the Railways submitted.

Indian Railways is set to miss its target of 3,500 km of new tracks, gauge conversion and doubling/tripling for capacity augmentation due to a shortage in supply of rails, and available rails are being diverted for renewal of existing tracks.

The Railways is focusing on capacity augmentation as some rail routes carry traffic way beyond their capacity.

A shortage of rails supplied by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is delaying track renewal work. However, the Railways is expected to achieve 2,000 km of track renewal by the end of the fiscal year 2017-18, said a Railway Ministry official.

Data with the ministry show a worrying picture. The railway network has a total track length of 1,14,907 km, and of this, 4,500 km of track, on average, should ideally be renewed annually.

But Indian Railways has been able to carry out only 2,000-2,500 km of track renewal each year during the last five years, leading to a backlog of 5,000 km by 2016.

“The shortage of rails has slowed down capacity augmentation work. Besides, the ministry has decided to focus on track renewal to ensure passenger safety in the wake of rising derailments in the past one year. This means that we will miss the target of capacity augmentation in 2017-18,” the official said.

For the first time, the Railway Ministry in October 2017 invited a global tender for supply of rails by private players to meet the demand.

The ministry called for procurement of an additional 7 lakh tonnes of rails worth about Rs.3,500 crore.