Ministry of Railways

To improve safety and operational efficiencies, backend warriors of Indian Railways execute long pending major maintenance works of Bridges and Tracks besides Yard remodelling, Renewal of Scissors Crossover during this lockdown

Pending for several years, they confronted Indian Railways as bottlenecks in different zones across the country

Around 500 modern heavy duty Track Maintenance Machines along with track, signal & Overhead Equipment (OHE) maintainers have worked regularly for 10749 machine days to complete overdue track maintenance of 12270 km plain track & 5263 nos. of Turn outs

Ultrasonic flaw detection (USFD) of 30182 kms of track and 1,34,443 rail welds has been carried out with USFD machine.

Indian Railways planned these works during lockdown period considering it ‘Once in a lifetime opportunity’ to wipe out these maintenance arrears and take up the execution of work without affecting the train service

Posted On: 02 MAY 2020 1:14PM by PIB Delhi

Backend warriors of Indian Railways have successfully executed long pending Maintenance works like Yard remodelling, Renewal of Scissors Crossover, Repairs of Bridges during this lockdown. Pending for several years, they often confronted Indian Railways as bottlenecks.

Apart from ensuring  supply chains all essential commodities running  through parcel trains and freight trains, Indian Railways  executed these long pending maintenance works during this lockdown period when passenger services were suspended due to COVID -19.

Indian Railways focused on several long pending overdue maintenance works requiring Traffic block of long durations. These works were pending for several years and were confronting Railways with severe bottlenecks. Indian Railways planned these works during lockdown period considering it ‘Once in a lifetime opportunity’ to wipe out these maintenance arrears and take up the execution of work without affecting the train service.

The maintenance of assets was taken up regularly to continue the supply chain of essential goods to public.

Around 500 modern heavy duty Track Maintenance Machines along with track, signal & Overhead Equipment (OHE) maintainers have worked regularly for 10749 machine days to complete overdue track maintenance of 12270 km plain track & 5263 nos. of Turn outs.

Health of the track has been monitored through periodic runs of Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) cumulating 1,92,488 kms. of track at 5362 peak locations indicated by OMS test has been attended to ensure proper quality. Ultrasonic flaw detection (USFD) of 30182 kms of track and 1,34,443 rail welds has been carried out with USFD machine. Critical summer precaution activities like de-stressing of long welded rail (LWR)which involved huge men power has been taken up with a new procedure for carrying out the  work with ensuring social distancing norms. 2,246 kms of de-stressing of LWR has been done.

SOME OF THE IMPORTANT TRACK WORKS:

1. Renewal of wooden layout Scissors crossover with standard Pre-stress Concrete (PSC) layout in KAZIPET yard (South Central Railway).

A major block of 72 hrs was taken in Kazipet yard for pending yard remodelling to replace old wooden scissors crossover laid in1970 with standard PSC layout. It will improve the safety and speed of train movement through the yard.

1. 2 Renewal of Scissors Crossover at Vijayawada Yard with PSC Layout (South Central Railway).

Two blocks of 24 hours were taken on 09.04.20 and 10.04.20 during the lockdown period for renewal of old wooden layout Scissors crossover with standard PSC layout crossover providing a vital link and flexibility in the operations of the yard. This will improve movement of train service towards Secundrabad and Vishakhapatnam.

1. 3 Repair of Cement Concrete (CC) apron on Line no 1 and 2 at Baroda station (Western Railway).

The repair of CC aprons of Line no. 1 was undertaken in a traffic block of  4 days (8/4/2020- 11/4/2020) and of Line no 2 in a traffic block of 12 days (13/4/2020- 24/4/2020) using Ultra high strength, free flowing non shrink cement grout. The grout has arrested the pumping action of track on line no. 1 & 2 at the affected locations.

1. 4 Remodeling work in Bangalore City yard (South Western Railway):

Work of Bangalore City Yard remodeling for simultaneous receipt and dispatch of trains at Mysore end was completed successfully. This work was pending for more than last 10 years and would have involved cancellation/short termination of 60 Mail/Express Trains under normal circumstances.

IMPORTANT BRIDGE WORKS:-

1. Re-girdering of Bridge No. 86 on Tunga River near Shivamogga Town (South Western Railway).

This is an important bridge having15 spans of 18.30m steel plate girders at Km. 61/100-500 on Birur Jn – Telguppa section of Mysore division. This work in normal times would have required traffic block of about 45 hours at 3:00 hours each day.

The existing steel girders are non-standard and being replaced with 25T loading standard steel girders. The height of the bridge is about 20m from river bed. The launching of all girders will be completed by 02.05.2020.

1. 2 Dismantling of Road Over Bridge (ROB) near Chennai Station (Southern Railway) :

Dismantling of unsafe ROB crossing 8 tracks on the approach of Chennai Central Station has been started on 26.03.20 and will be completed by 03.05.20. If done in normal time, it would have required 48 hours traffic block on line 1 to 6 and 72 hours traffic block on line 7 & 8 (suburban lines) with at least double the resources and cost apart from massive cancellation/rescheduling of trains with resultant loss of passenger revenue.

1. 3 Insertion of twin box segments of size 4.65×5.15m for subway in lieu of manned level crossing no. 493 (East Coast Railway):

A subway work was done between Visakhapatnam-Gopalapatnam section on 21.04.2020 in a traffic block of 9 hrs. This will facilitate closure of level crossing thereby improving safety of public. This work was pending from long time for want of traffic block.

1. 4 Construction of bridge in Rajahmundry-Vishakhapatnam section to cater opening of 4 x 5.5 m (South Central Railway).

The work involves provision of new bridge in HUDUD affected area where the track was washed out 2 times in 2013 & 2014. Total 21 hours traffic block was availed at 7:00 hrs each on 25.04.2020, 27.04.2020 and 28.04.2020. This bridge was required for passage of flood water to avoid breaches.

1.5 Insertion of Box at Bridge No. 525 (South Central Railway):

16 Boxes of size (4.6×4 m) were inserted at Bridge no. 525 on UP line at km 266/7-5 between Tanguturu–Singarayakonda on 29.04.2020 in critical situation successfully within traffic block of 8 hrs.

1. 6 Launching of 6 Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) under Bhusawal division (Central Railway)

Work of launching of 5 FOBs during the lockdown has been completed one each at Bhusawal, Bodwad, Akola, New Amravati and Chandur Bazar Railway stations. 6th and the last one at Nandura station has also been targeted on 2.5.2020.

1. 7 Dismantling of old abandoned twin FOBs at Ludhiana railway station (Northern Railway).

100-year-old twin FOBs were closed to passenger use since 2014. However, dismantling of old FOB in OHE territory blocking all lines for more than 10-12 hours for several days was not feasible on New Delhi- Amritsar route. During lockdown, dismantling of these FOBs has been planned to complete in traffic blocks of 8-10 hrs. for 8 days. 2 traffic blocks have already been availed for successful dismantling of FOBs.

1. 8 Launching of Service girder for Canal work (East Central Railway):

Long pending work of launching of service girder in connection with Canal work of State Govt., requiring 10+ hours block was completed in Kakarghatti-Tarsarai busy single line section of Samastipur division.

1. 9 Dismantling of Talla ROB (Eastern Railway):

The ROB was unsafe for passenger, therefore, same was closed for re-construction. 8 spans of the ROB over Kolkata terminal station crossing 11 tracks and stabling lines were dismantled. In normal situation it would have a huge impact on passenger (especially suburban services) and freight services due to traffic blocks.

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1620334

Private foodgrains (PFG) freight makes a big increase in lockdown period as compared to last year

More than 7.75 lacs tonnes (303 rakes) of PFG freight loaded by Indian Railways during the lockdown period from 25th March to 28th April 2020 as compared to about 6.62 lacs tonnes (243 rakes) last year in same period

Indian Railways making all efforts to ensure that farm products like foodgrains are picked up on time and also to ensure uninterrupted supply chain

Posted On: 29 APR 2020 5:51PM by PIB Delhi

Indian Railways continues in its endeavour to ensure availability of essential commodities like foodgrain across the country through its freight & parcel services during the nationwide lock down due to COVID-19. 

In order to ensure that kitchens of all Indian homes continue to function normally, during the lockdown period from 25th March to 28th April 2020, more than 7.75 lacs tonnes (303 rakes) of private foodgrains (PFG) freight were loaded across the country compared to about 6.62 lacs tonnes (243 rakes) last year in same period. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and  Tamilnadu are the leading states in private foodgrains (PFG) freight loading. 

Indian Railways is making all efforts to ensure that farm products like foodgrains are picked up on time and also to ensure timely supply during the nationwide lock down due to COVID-19. The loading, transportation and unloading of these essential commodities has been in progress in full swing during the lockdown period.

Indian Railways has also identified routes for Parcel Special Trains since the start of the lockdown for perishable commodities including fruits, vegetables, milk & dairy products and seeds for agriculture purpose. Trains are being run even on those routes where demand is less, so that no part of the country remains unconnected. Trains have been given en-route stoppages at all feasible locations, so that maximum possible clearance of parcels may be done.

Source Link : https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1619310

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The Railways has saved the life of a child by bringing crucial medicines from Pune to Belagavi, thanks to the intervention of Minister of State for Railways.

In a release, the SWR said that on April 11, a request was received at the office of the Minister of State for Railways, Suresh Angadi, at Belagavi.

“A 5-year old child from Belagavi was undergoing treatment from a doctor based at Pune. The medicine, said to be critical, was to be transported to Belagavi from Pune. The appeals (by child’s parents) to the Maharashtra state authorities to permit their relatives based at Pune to drive their vehicle to Belagavi to bring the medicine had gone in vain,” the SWR said.

Following this, the parents requested the minister’s help. The minister immediately directed the concerned Railway officials in Pune to assist in the matter.

“The medicine was brought to Pune railway station, and thereby it was transported through a goods train, which was due to pass through Belagavi. The staff of the train ensured that the medicine reached Belagavi safely the very next day,” the SWR said.

As Belagavi was also under lockdown, the Railway staff of Belagavi took the initiative to take the medicine closer to the home of the patient because the approach roads of the station were blocked. The medicine reached the child eventually and turned out to be a saviour of the child.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-districts/railways-brings-crucial-medicine-from-pune-to-belagavi-saves-child-828243.html

लॉकडाउन में सबसे ज्यादा लोगों को खाने की परेशानियों का सामना करना पड़ रहा है. इस परेशानी से लोगों को निजात दिलाने के लिए कई संस्थाएं और स्वयंसेवक आगे आए हैं और जरूरतमंदों में खाना बांट रहे हैं. कुछ ऐसी ही पहल भारतीय रेलवे (Indian Railway) द्वारा भी की जा रही है जिसके तहत देश में 300 जगहों पर रेलवेकर्मियों द्वारा गरीब और जरूरतमंदों में दो वक्त का खाना बांटा जा रहा है. 

रेल मंत्रालय के मुताबिक भारतीय रेलवे देश के 300 जगहों पर सुबह शाम गरीबों के लिए खाना उपलब्ध करा रहा है. वहीं मंत्रालय ने ये दावा किया है कि अबतक 20 लाख से ज्यादा लोगों में खाना बांटा जा चुका है. अधिकारियों ने बताया कि लॉकडाउन की शुरुआत से ही रेल मंत्रालय ने अपने तमाम कर्मचारियों को रेलवे स्टेशन के आस-पास इस काम में लगा दिया था.

लॉकडाउन के बाद देशभर में मजदूरों, कामगारों, माइग्रेंट लेबर और कुलियों की बड़ी तादाद ऐसी हो गई जिन्हें दो वक्त के खाने की जरूरत के लिए मुश्किल पैदा हो गई थी. लिहाजा रेलवे ने अपने तमाम रेलवे स्टेशनों के पास खाने का बंदोबस्त करना शुरू कर दिया था. बताते चलें कि रेलवे बड़े पैमाने पर खाना तैयार करने के लिए आईआरसीटीसी के किचन का इस्तेमाल कर रहा है. इसके साथ ही रेलवे प्रोटेक्शन फोर्स यानी आरपीएफ की तरफ से भी बड़ी तादाद में खाने के पैकेट तैयार बांटे जा रहे हैं.

रेलवे का कहना है कि जीआरपी, आरपीएफ और रेलवे स्टाफ की मदद से रेलवे स्टेशन के आसपास जरूरतमंदों कामगारों और तमाम गरीब लोगों को हर दिन इकट्ठा किया जाता है और उनमें भोजन वितरित किया जा रहा है. उन्होंने बताया कि इसमें स्थानीय प्रशासन और स्वयंसेवी संगठनों की भी मदद रेलवे ले रहा है.

आईआरसीटीसी के बेस किचन नई दिल्ली के अलावा बेंगलुरु, हुबली में मुंबई सेंट्रल, अहमदाबाद, भुसावल, हावड़ा, पटना, गया, रांची, दीनदयाल उपाध्याय नगर, बालासौर, विजयवाड़ा खुरदा, कटपड़ी, तिरुचिरापल्ली, धनबाद, गुवाहाटी, समस्तीपुर, प्रयागराज, इटारसी, विशाखापट्टनम, चैंगलपट्टू, पुणे, हाजीपुर, रायपुर, टाटानगर इसके साथ ही देश के दूसरे कई जॉन में रेलवे हर दिन सुबह-शाम खाना उपलब्ध करा रहा है.

Source: https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/india/lockdown-railway-workers-are-feeding-two-time-meals-to-300-needy-people-every-day/670413

In big boost to provide protection to Health Care professionals in fight against COVID 19, Indian Railways plans to produce over 30,000 coveralls (PPEs) in April 2020

In a mission mode, Railways Plan to manufacture 1,00,000 of the same in May 2020

Will set an example for other stake holders to prepare such protective coveralls for health workers

Production Units, Zonal Railway Workshops and field units of Indian Railways have geared up to manufacture PPE coveralls in large numbers

Posted On: 15 APR 2020 2:23PM by PIB Delhi

Indian Railways Production Units, Workshops and field units have started manufacturing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Coveralls for medical and health-care personnel who get directly exposed to the COVID-19 disease when working amongst infected patients.

Indian Railways will produce over 30,000 such coveralls in April 2020 and plan to manufacture 1,00,000 of the same in May 2020. The prototype coveralls have already cleared the prescribed tests with the highest grades at the authorised DRDO laboratory at Gwalior.

Indian Railways’ Doctors, Medical Professionals, other health workers and care-givers are working tirelessly fighting the COVID-19 disease. All these personnel are directly exposed to the COVID-19 disease when working amongst infected patients. As a first line of defence against contracting the novel Coronavirus, they need to be provided with a special kind of impervious coverall that acts as a barrier to the virus as well as other disease carrying fluids. Since each such coverall can only be used once they are required in very large numbers. As the incidence of COVID-19 disease increases, even though in a relatively controlled manner, the requirement of PPE coveralls is also multiplying.

In order to fill the gap in availability and requirements of PPEs, Jagadhari Workshop of Northern Railway had taken the initiative to design and manufacture a prototype PPE coverall. The prototype coverall was tested by Defence Research Development Establishment Laboratory of DRDO at Gwalior, authorised for conducting such tests. The coverall samples passed all the tests conducted by DRDE with the highest grades.

Taking this initiative forward, Indian Railways has been able to procure and distribute to its workshops and other units sufficient raw material for manufacturing more than 30,000 PPE coveralls in the current month (April 2020).

Production has been started and Indian Railway’s own doctors, the end users of these coveralls, have also been involved in trying out these coveralls as their production is ramped up. To meet the growing requirement, Indian Railways have set the target of manufacturing another 1,00,000 PPE coveralls in the month of May, 2020, and sourcing of appropriate raw material has been started.

All this has been done despite there being a major global shortage of appropriate raw material as well as machinery for manufacturing PPE coveralls. Behind this endeavour is the time-tested capability of Indian Railway’s workshops and Production Units of manufacturing and maintaining some of the safest railway rolling stock in the world. The same capabilities, expertise, protocols and procedures usually followed for design, manufacturing and use of rolling stock, have been utilised for enabling field units and workshops to start manufacturing high quality PPE coveralls so rapidly.

It is worthwhile to note that the same dedication has already seen Indian Railways converting more than 5000 of its passenger coaches into mobile quarantine/isolation facilities, in a very short period.

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Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1614665

पूर्व मध्य रेल द्वारा दिनांक 09 अप्रैल से 15 अप्रैल तक 07 दिनों के लिये सहरसा और पंडित दीन दयाल उपाध्याय नगर जंक्शन तक के लिए प्रतिदिन एक जोड़ी पार्सल स्पेशल ट्रेन का परिचालन किया जाएगा । वाया मुजफ्फरपुर,-हाजीपुर-दानापुर होते हुए यह पार्सल स्पेशल ट्रेन नं0 00302/00301 सहरसा और पं0 दीन दयाल उपाध्याय नगर जंक्शन के बीच उक्त अवधि में प्रतिदिन चलेंगी ।

पार्सल स्पेशल ट्रेन नं0 00302 पंडित दीन दयाल उपाध्याय नगर जंक्शन-सहरसा पार्सल स्पेशल ट्रेन दिनांक 09.04.2020 से 15.04.2020 तक पंडित दीन दयाल उपाध्याय नगर जंक्शन से 09.30 बजे चलकर 10.40 बजे बक्सर, 11.40 बजे आरा, 12.20 बजे दानापुर, 13.10 बजे हाजीपुर, 14.05 बजे मुजफ्फरपुर, 15.00 बजे समस्तीपुर, 16.40 बजे खगड़िया रूकते हुए 18.00 बजे सहरसा पहुंचेगी ।

यहां से वापसी में पार्सल स्पेशल ट्रेन नं0 00301 सहरसा- पंडित दीन दयाल उपाध्याय नगर जंक्शन पार्सल स्पेशल ट्रेन दिनांक 09.04.2020 से 15.04.2020 तक सहरसा स्टेशन से 09.30 बजे खुलेगी तथा यहां से यह ट्रेन 10.30 बजे खगड़िया, 12.10 बजे समस्तीपुर, 13.05 बजे मुजफ्फरपुर, 14.00 बजे हाजीपुर, 14.50 बजे दानापुर, 15.30 बजे आरा तथा 16.30 बजे बक्सर रूकते हुए 18.00 बजे पंडित दीन दयाल उपाध्याय नगर जंक्शन पहुंचेगी ।

विदित हो कि कोरोना वायरस जैसी वैश्विक महामारी के कारण सम्पूर्ण लॉकडाउन अवधि में आवश्यक वस्तुओं के परिवहन हेतु मालगाड़ियों का तो परिचालन किया ही जा रहा है परंतु कम मात्रा वाली सामग्री के परिवहन के लिए पार्सल स्पेशल ट्रेनें भी चलाई जा रही है । इसी क्रम में छोटे-छोटे व्यापारियों, स्वयंसेवी संगठनों को सुविधाजनक तथा वैकल्पिक माल परिवहन की सुविधा प्रदान कराते हुए अब तक पूर्व मध्य रेल क्षेत्राधिकार से 03 पार्सल स्पेशल ट्रेनों का परिचालन किया जा चुका है । किसी भी यात्री को इससे यात्रा की अनुमति नहीं होगी ।
Source: https://newsstation.media/news/indian-railways-introduces-109-time-tabled-parcel-trains-over-58-routes%e2%80%ac/