Venad Express, which underwent the  much-needed ‘make over’, started service on Wednesday. The train which runs between Shoranur Jn and Thiruvananthapuram Central, is  perhaps the most popular train among the office-goers and students in central Kerala.  The train was accorded a reception by the Kerala Railway Users’ Association  when it reached  Ernakulam.

The passenger amenities in the train with spanking new coaches, include vinyl flooring, cushion seats,  LED display, modular toilets and food trays. The LED display  shows the train number and the station names. Displays are also fitted to indicate if the toilet is empty or occupied. The coaches are fitted with bio-toilets as well as GPS facility which will provide information about current  and upcoming locations.

The air conditioned chair car has comforts comparable to those of passenger aircraft cabins. The A/C coach offers wider leg room for a comfortable journey and it has foldable  curtains on the window.  The train  has a rake which utilises centre buffer coupling (CBC) technology as  a  better safety  measure s in case of  an accident.

बलरामपुर की रहने वाली साक्षी अग्रवाल ने इज़्ज़तनगर रेल मंडल के प्रशासनिक अधिकारी को टीटीई कमल शर्मा के नाम का सराहना पत्र लिखा है। ट्रेन के गेट पर बेहोश होने के बाद महिला की जान टीटीई ने बचाई। इसके बाद महिला ने टीटीई के लिए सराहना पत्र लिखा था।

चीनी मिल कैम्पस की रहने वाली साक्षी अग्रवाल 1 फरवरी को बरेली से बलरामपुर जाने को सुशासन एक्सप्रेस में सवार हुईं। उनके साथ पति प्रदीप अग्रवाल और बेटा शिवम अग्रवाल भी था। एसी-2 की बर्थ 19,20 और 21 पर सवार थे। उनके पति प्रदीप बलरामपुर चीनी मिल में सर्विस करते हैं। गाड़ी लखनऊ पहुंचने से पहले उनके पति शौच को चले गए। गाड़ी चारबाग स्टेशन पहुंचने वाली थी ,तभी पति को बलाने चली गईं। अचानक उनको चक्कर आ गया, वह कोच गेट पर गिरकर बेहोश हो गई।

कोच गेट पर पड़े थे, तभी टीटीई कमल शर्मा पहुंच गए। कमल शर्मा ने उन्हें सीट पर लिटाने की कोशिश की। कलम शर्मा किसी तरह यात्रियों की मदद से सीट पर लेकर आये। रेलवे कंट्रोल रूम को फोन करके स्टेशन पर एम्बुलेंस की व्यवस्था कराई। कार्डियो हॉस्पिटल ले जाकर चेकअप करवाया। इसके बाद चारबाग रेलवे स्टेशन पर एसी रिटायरिंग रूम नम्बर-6 में रहने की व्यवस्था कराई।

शाम को लखनऊ से बलरामपुर के लिए बादशाहनगर स्टेशन पर इंटरसिटी एक्सप्रेस पर सीट का इंतज़ाम कराया। साक्षी का कहना है, मैं टीटीई कमल शर्मा  का हृदय से आभार व्यक्त करती हूं। रेल प्रशासन से यह अनुरोध करती हूं, कमल शर्मा के अनुकरणीय कार्यों के लिए ऐसे कर्मठ एवं सह्रदय कर्मचारी को प्रोन्नति दी जाए। रेलवे को वास्तव में ऐसे लोगों ही कर्मचारियों की आवश्यकता है।

Source: https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/bareily/story-the-letter-of-appreciation-written-by-woman-because-impressed-with-the-work-of-tte-in-bareilly-1783918.html

Promising a major technological and modernisation upgrade at railways, Union Minister Piyush Goyal has said there are plans to equip the entire rail network with Wi-Fi and CCTV system and foreign investors are welcome to participate in this growth story. Goyal, who is here to attend the World Economic Forum annual meeting, said there is a huge scope for innovations in railways including in signalling systems for which latest technologies of the world are being brought in. “Currently age old systems are there which even cause safety issues. We are working on a major upgrade for them,” Goyal told PTI in an interview here on the sidelines of the WEF. “We will also consider putting in place WiFi and CCTV networks for entire rail network to make Indian railways at par with the best in the world in terms of safety as well as public convenience,” the railways minister said. Goyal said the government wants to make the track safety systems very robust with the use of technology and it has already started the bullet train project. “The first has been launched and we want to put in place a web of bullet trains across the country. There are programmes on tables for dedicated freight corridors and you can expect huge changes in railways space in coming future. A lot of programmes are on table,” he said.

Goyal said railways is also inviting foreign investors. “The kind of huge orders we talking about for various modernisation and technology upgrade projects, I’m sure everyone would like to participate. Two factories are being already set up in Bihar,” he said.

Source: http://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/wef-2018-global-investors-welcome-to-participate-in-railways-upgrade-says-piyush-goyal/1028034/

“Papa, why do people litter on streets? Have they not heard our prime minister talk about making India a ‘swachh’ nation? Is it that hard to change a habit?” These were the questions posed to me by my 11-year-old daughter, Siddhi, the other day. Such questions by an innocent mind left me thinking. They also made me realise how socially aware today’s children are about the nation’s current narrative. But what impacted me the most was the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi is able to connect with ease, even with a child.

Siddhi’s keen observations are just one aspect of sweeping social reforms that are taking place in India. Amidst the political din that keeps engulfing our nation, it is heartening to see how the PM is using his positive energies and charismatic persona to bring about social change that Indians, particularly the youth, have been longing for.

India has seen many popular prime ministers but Modi is a class apart. Some call him a mass leader, some an astute politician and for some he is a leader who believes in the politics of development. For me he is the social reformer of the 21st century — a leader who is destined to transform Indian society.

Since Modi took office, over 5.92 crore toilets have been constructed, while 3 lakh villages and 300 districts have been made open defecation free. India’s sanitation coverage under the Swachh Bharat Mission in the last three years has gone up from 38 per cent to an impressive 76 per cent. It took 70 years for a prime minister to effectively address the basic issue of sanitation and cleanliness.

I remember how Modi, armed with a broom, had taken to the streets to launch the Swachh Bharat Mission. A PM sweeping streets was unimaginable in the Indian political discourse. It captured the imagination of the nation. And the results are here to see.

There are several examples which show how our society is undergoing a major transformation. Initiatives like taking yoga to the masses, banning the use of red beacons to end VIP culture, special schemes for divyangs and sensitising people to their needs, ending the formality of getting forms/certificates attested by gazetted officers, exhorting people to prepare their own manure through composting — these may look like small initiatives but their impact is massive.

As head of the government, a prime minister needs to take strong economic, political and strategic decisions. But it is rare to see a PM connecting with masses through Mann Ki Baat, where the talk is about changing the nation. Or for that matter, the ramparts of Red Fort have always been used to deliver messages to the nation and the world, but never for making a connect with the masses and motivate them for societal transformation.

The PM’s call to revive the khadi industry has led to a revolution of sorts. The party which always claims the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, who made khadi the mainstay of Independence movement, did nothing to help poor farmers and artisans. It was Modi who thought differently.

Programmes like “beti bachao, beti padhao” have achieved the unimaginable in states like Haryana, besides changing the mindset of the masses towards the girl child and women. Giving over 3.2 crore LPG connections in over 700 districts to poor women and providing LED bulbs to people are other commendable steps. Providing cheap medicines through “Jan Aushadhi” stores and Amrit pharmacy stores, and putting a price ceiling on coronary stents and knee implants are some revolutionary steps in healthcare.

An issue close to my heart is that of triple talaq. For ages, Muslim women have always been at the receiving end due to inhuman divorce custom. For political parties they remained a mere vote bank. In a progressive society, such cruel customs have no place. Kudos to the prime minister, who stood resolutely for the rights and dignity of Muslim women.
I am not a politician. I am an artiste, a filmmaker, a creative person who makes socially relevant cinema. But yes, I am a keen observer of the society. I see Indian society changing in a manner we never thought achievable. People are now reacting to a leader’s call not for any political reason but to bring about social changes that are going to transform India’s psyche forever.

I write this because I see India’s future being shaped by a strong, decisive leader who cares about poorest of the poor. I see Modi more as a social reformer than a political person. I can confidently tell Siddhi and others like her that India’s destiny lies in safe hands. Their tomorrow will be better than ours.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/a-prime-minister-a-reformer-5029062/