Page 13 - Indian Railway

Railways to introduce ramps for wheelchair users, elderly passengers

Indian Railways is going to introduce ramps in trains for the convenience of wheelchair users and senior citizens, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday. Releasing the pictures of the newly designed ramps, Vaishnaw told reporters that these have been used at the Chennai railway station and found to be helpful for passengers who require a ramp. "We will start its use in Vande Bharat trains very soon and later, in all other trains," the minister said, adding that a system is being worked out to let passengers raise a need for a wheelchair at the time of booking tickets. "An alert can be generated and passed on to the respective railway stations for keeping a ramp ready for such passengers," he added. The ramp can be easily placed at train doors and because of its width and low gradient, wheelchair users will find it easy to use it, the minister said. Vaishnaw also said that during its trial, feedback received from passengers was extremely positive and encouraging.

Railways utilised 59% of its capex in first 6 months of 2023-24: Vaishnaw

The Indian Railways utilised 59 per cent of its total capital expenditure in the first six months of the financial year 2023-24, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday. This was made possible as the railways carried out 38 structural and procedural reforms in these six months, which helped improve its overall performance, he told reporters. "Our total budget for 2023-24 is Rs 2.4 lakh crore, out of which we have already spent Rs 1.4 lakh crore in the first half of the current financial year. This is 59 per cent of the total budget," Vaishnaw said. On the structural reforms carried out by the railways, he said the whole system of project execution, its finance and monitoring process have been revamped to bring in transparency and quality control. The Item Rate Contract system has been changed to Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contracts, which is better and more accountable, he added. "Earlier, detailed project reports (DPRs) were made, which was more

Back on track: Vande Bharat's Russian woes may see light at end of tunnel

RVNL said that a share purchase agreement was finally signed between the two partners

IRCTC North East packages: Visit Guwahati, Shillong for 10 nights/11 days

IRCTC is offering 10 nights and 11 days northeast travelling packages via trail. All the travel lovers who want to explore northeast can leverage this package

IRCTC south temple tour packages in October 2023, check details below

IRCTC started their tour packages covering South Indian temples in October 2023. The trip will cover several South states and Union territories

Hindalco brings in Metra to manufacture products for Indian rail coaches

The collaboration between Hindalco Industries Ltd and Metra SpA marks a pivotal move to bring world class technology

IRFC zooms 28% in 2 days on heavy volumes; market-cap hits Rs 80,000 crore

Shares of state run financier Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) hit a record high of Rs 64.50, nearly doubled since July, from the level of Rs 32.35 on the BSE.

PSUs likely to get captive berths by nomination at major ports

Govt close to finalising changes to captive berth policy

Gati Shakti directorate accelerates modernisation of 508 railway stations

Shine Jacob & Dhruvaksh Saha track the progress as 24 stations are remodelled and another 508 get green signal for airport-style modernisation

Madurai train fire: Railway safety commissioner to hold statutory inquiry

The Southern Railway on Saturday announced that a statutory inquiry will be held on August 27 regarding the fire in a railway coach in Madurai, which left nine people dead. A M Chowdhary, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, will hold the inquiry on Sunday at the DRM's conference Hall, Divisional Railway Manager's office Complex, Madurai. Any member of the public having knowledge about the incident and matter connected therewith and desiring to give evidence may do so at the Madurai inquiry or write to the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, 2nd Floor, Rail Sanraksha Bhavan, Bengaluru 560 023, an official release here said. At least nine pilgrims bound for Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu met with a tragic end when a fire broke out inside a stationary train compartment at the Madurai railway station in the small hours of Saturday, the Southern Railway said. It also said a gas cylinder "illegally" taken inside the coach led to the blaze.

Indian railways to run 312 Ganpati special trains to ease festive rush

Indian railways will run 18 more special trains compared to 294 special trains last year, central railways will run 257 trains, while the western railways will run 55 special trains

Two passengers die, five fall sick on board Patna-Kota Express train

Two passengers died and five fell sick on board the Patna-Kota Express train here on Sunday, a senior official said.The cause of the death was not known immediately, he said, adding five sick passengers were undergoing treatment at a railway hospital in Agra.https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/1693387167786307905?s=20Virendra Singh, Assistant Commercial Manager, Railway Agra Division said, "Information was received from Patna Kota Express about some passengers falling sick. A team was sent to the spot. Two people died and five passengers were hospitalised. According to the doctor, the cause of death is dehydration."Further details are awaited.

Fire breaks out in 2 coaches of Udyan Express in Bengaluru, no casualties

A fire broke out in the two air-conditioned coaches of the stationary Udyan Express at the Bengaluru City Railway Station on Saturday morning. However, there were no casualties as no passengers were inside the bogies. According to Railway officials, the train had arrived from Mumbai at 5.45 am and was stationed at platform three of the Bengaluru City Railway Station. "At 07.10 am smoke in B1 and B2 coaches was noticed. Immediately a message was given to the fire brigade. Fire brigade arrived by 7.35 am and extinguished the fire," the Chief Public Relation Officer of South Western Railway Anish Hegde said in a statement. He said the cause of the fire is under investigation. Other sources said fire-fighters broke the window of the coach to extinguish the fire.

HBL Power hits new high on healthy outlook; zooms 155% in three months

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved seven multi-tracking projects at an estimated cost of Rs 32,500 crore, under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

PM Modi launches Rs 24k crore project to revamp 508 railway stations

The redevelopment is being undertaken under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which was conceptualised earlier this year with a target to modernise over 1,300 stations

Maharashtra's 3rd Vande Bharat Express to now halt at four stations

Maharashtra's 3rd Vande Bharat Express will now stop at four places instead of three, which include Dadar, Thane, Kalyan and Nasik Roads. The modification has been done on an experimental basis

Lalu Yadav's family: Assets worth Rs 6 cr seized in land-for-jobs case

Enforcement Directorate seized assets in alleged corruption case against former Chief Ministers Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi, along with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav

Western Railways changes coach composition, extends trip of popular trains

Western Railways has modified the coach composition of the Mumbai Central-Surat Flying Ranee Express and extended the trips of Bandra (T)-Gorakhpur Weekly Special train to enhance passenger experience

Railways to start new non-AC permanent trains for lower income groups

These trains will have both general and sleeper classes and will be included in the regular time table, said an official

Track cleared for 120 Vande trains as JV members sort out differences

State-owned RVNL to own 25 per cent in new entity manufacturing Vande Bharat trainsets