Page 24 - Railways

Railways union demands productivity bonus on basis of 7th pay commission

Indian Railway Employees Federation (IREF) has written to the railways demanding an enhancement in the productivity-linked bonus (PLB) that the workers get every year ahead of the festive season. The railways pay PLB, which is equivalent to 78 days' wages, to all non-gazetted employees (Group C and Group D) as an incentive to increase productivity and ensure safety. The PLB is calculated on the basis of the minimum salary paid to the lowest grade (Group D) employees. The IREF has argued that though the railways implemented the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission on January 1, 2016, yet the PLB has still been calculated and paid based on the minimum salary fixed by the 6th Pay Commission. The minimum salary paid to Group D employees in the 6th Pay Commission was only Rs 7000 while it was enhanced to Rs 18,000 in the 7th Pay Commission. According to the Federation, all employees of Group C and Group D get only Rs 17,951 which is calculated on the basis of Rs 7000 as the minimum

North Western Railway aims to be Kavach ready in next two years: Official

North Western Railway plans to implement the Kavach anti-collision system in the zone, spread across Rajasthan and Haryana, within the next two years, a senior railway official said on Monday. The North Western Railway operates three Vande Bharat Express trains which are equipped with Kavach, the indigenously developed train protection system, the official said. However, the anti-collision device cannot be used in the railway zone as the system has not been implemented in this part of the country yet. "We have awarded tenders worth Rs 426 crore for Kavach to be rolled out on 1,600 km across the zone," the official said, adding that the LTE survey to ascertain the availability of 4G and 5G networks along the route is underway. Vande Bharat Express are indigenously developed semi-high speed trains that can attain a maximum speed of 160 kmph. Last month, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Parliament that Kavach has been deployed on 1,465 route km on the South Central Railway. H

9 new Vande Bharat trains launched by PM Modi: Details of routes, timings

While inaugurating the nine Vande Bharat trains, PM Modi said that the new trains will significantly improve connectivity as well as boost tourism across India

Vande Bharat Express ticket prices should be reduced: JMM MP Maji

"If this Vande Bharat train is for the people and we want them to travel by Vande Bharat, it is necessary that the fare prices should be reduced," Mahua Maji said

Railways witnessed unprecedented transformation under PM Modi: JP Nadda

JP Nadda further stated that developments in railways will lead to a new era of connectivity and help make progress in the realisation of a developed India

IRFC posts Rs 6,337 crore profit in FY23, total revenue at Rs 23,891 cr

The Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) posted a net profit of Rs 6,337.01 crore for the fiscal year 2023, an increase of over four per cent over last year, a company statement said on Friday. Addressing the Annual General Meeting, Shelly Verma, Chairman and Managing Director of IRFC, said the company reported a total revenue from operations amounting to Rs 23,891.28 crore, a 17.70 per cent year-on-year increase over the last fiscal year. The company has declared a total dividend of Rs 1,960.28 crore which works out to 30.93 per cent of profit after tax for FY 2022-23, she added. Verma said IRFC disbursed an amount of Rs 32,392.63 crore in FY23 to the Indian Railways. The asset under management for FY23 stands at Rs 4,66,938 crore, registering a year-on-year growth of 8.63 per cent. The capital adequacy ratio of IRFC continues to remain strong at 512.02 per cent in FY23, she added.

Railways earned over Rs 2,800 cr from revised child travel norms in 7 yrs

Indian Railways has earned an additional revenue of more than Rs 2,800 crore from child travellers in the last seven years by revising child travel fare norms, an RTI response has found. The response from the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act further indicates that the financial year of 2022-23 alone earned Rs 560 crore due to the amended norms making it the most profitable year. CRIS, an organisation under the Ministry of Railways, provides IT solutions in core areas such as ticketing and passengers, freight services, train traffic control and operations, among others. On March 31, 2016, the ministry announced that the railways would charge full adult fare for children of age 5 years and under 12 years if they opted for separate berths or seats in a reserved coach. The revised norm was made applicable from April 21, 2016. Earlier, the railways used to offer separate berths to children between 5 and 12 years while charging only h

Child travel norms: Railways earned over Rs 2,800 cr more in 7 years

Indian Railways has earned an additional revenue of more than Rs 2,800 crore from child travellers in the last seven years by revising child travel fare norms, an RTI response has found. The response from the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act further indicates that the financial year of 2022-23 alone earned Rs 560 crore due to the amended norms making it the most profitable year. CRIS, an organization under the Ministry of Railways, provides IT solutions in core areas such as ticketing and passengers, freight services, train traffic control and operations, among others. On March 31, 2016, the ministry announced that the railways would charge full adult fare for children of age 5 years and under 12 years if they opted for separate berths or seats in a reserved coach. The revised norm was made applicable from April 21, 2016. Earlier, the railways used to offer separate berths to children between 5 and 12 years while charging only h

Improve trains' punctuality during Parl session: Railway Board to all zones

The Railway Board has sent an email to all its zones asking them to monitor and improve the punctuality of all mail/express trains" in view of the five-day Parliament session starting from Monday. An email from the principal executive director (coaching), Railway Board to general managers and other senior officers engaged in the safe rail operations has stressed the need to address all issues that impact the punctuality of trains. According to sources in the Railways, the Board has issued this advisory as several members of Parliament (MPs) travel by train and they have to attend the special session from September 18 to September 22. Asset failures to be monitored and speedy rectification of asset failures to be ensured to minimize the impact on punctuality. Trains to be run at the maximum permissible speed to make up the lost time due to failures and other causes, the email said. It added, Excess engineering speed restriction affecting punctuality to be attended immediately and ..

Mumbai-Ahmedabad train traffic resumes as Narmada water level drops: Rlys

Train traffic on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route resumed slowly around Monday noon nearly 12 hours after it was halted when the Narmada river was flowing above the danger mark between Bharuch and Ankleshwar stations in Gujarat, Western Railway said. Sharing an update on the situation, Western Railway's Chief PRO Sumit Thakur told PTI that the operation of trains on the route from bridge no 502 resumed slowly at around 11:30 am on Monday as the water level of Narmada river receded below the danger mark. The operation of trains on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route between Bharuch and Ankleshwar stations under the Vadodara division stopped after Narmada river waters surged above the danger mark at brigade no. 502 at around 11:50 pm on Sunday. "The railway traffic over the Narmada River bridge has resumed and trains are being operated slowly with caution," Thakur said. He said WR has already set up helpline numbers and passengers are being updated about the status of trains through a public ...

Vande Bharat sleeper coach to be rolled out by March '24, Metro by Jan '24

Sleeper coach of Vande Bharat will be rolled out in current financial year where the first train is under production and will be rolled out in March 2024, said BG Mallya, the General Manager of ICF

Rail min sanctions FLS for new line between Japur Keonjhar Road-Dhamra port

The Ministry of Railways has sanctioned the final location survey (FLS) for a new line between Jajpur Keonjhar Road and Dhamra Port in Bhadrak district, a stretch of 96 km, official sources said. The ministry has sanctioned Rs 2.4 crore for conducting the survey. Important religious and tourist destinations like Akhandalamani temple at Aradi Pitha and Navigaya at Birajakhetra, Jajpur district headquarters town will be covered, an official release issued by the East Coast Railways said. Stating that this is a long standing demand of the people of Jajpur and Bhadrak districts, the official said the line will connect tourism spots of Jajpur, Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts. Apart from this, the proposed line will also economically viable for easy transportation of minerals from Keonjhar district, finished products from the industrial belt in Jajpur and Angul districts to Dhamra port and vice-versa. The proposed new railway line is a part of the vision 'Purvoday' of Prime Minister of

Stocks to Watch, Sep 12: L&T, RIL, Lupin, Hindalco, TVS Supply, Power Grid

Stocks to watch on Tuesday, September 12, 2023: From L&T raising its share buyback price, Bajaj Finance planning to enter new car loans segment, Power Grid to trade ex-bonus and more.

New corridor may drive big gains for rail, infrastructure companies

The plan may add to India's energy security and climate goals, according to experts

Over 100,000 travelled on Vande Bharat trains from Aug 15 to Sept 8

While Bilaspur-Nagpur Express has the highest occupancy rate of 122.56%, GOA Madgaon- CSMT Express has the lowest occupancy rate of 75.50%

India-Bhutan first international train service turning into reality

The railway project can act as a breakthrough in terms of facilitating the export of goods, enabling cultural exchange, and strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations

At G20 India, US, Saudi, UAE may join hands to connect West Asia with rail

The deal will also connect the rail network to India through shipping lanes from ports in the Gulf region

What's behind the rally in PSU stocks, and will the uptrend last?

The S&P BSE PSU index has surged over 26 per cent so far in FY24 as compared to 11 per cent up move in the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex.

Do medicines taken by officials impact safe train ops: Rlys asks zones

The Railway Board has directed all its zones to provide details of lifestyle diseases of its drivers and guards, medicines taken by them while on duty and their impact on safe train operations. A communication dated August 31, addressed to general managers of all railway zones, including Metro Railway, Kolkata and Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), says that the Board is examining issues related to the use of medicines and its effect on the running staff. Train drivers (also known as loco pilots) and guards who perform running duty come under the running staff of the national transporter. Their respective associations have often voiced concerns on increasing cases of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, and severe mental stress due to the harsh working conditions. The Board has directed the zonal railways to provide the data along with their remarks regarding various types of lifestyle and job-related diseases amongst the running staff and

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.