The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) Northeast Circle Pranjeev Saxena on Monday, inspected the doubling and route electrification of the 2.224-km section between Prayagraj Rambag (Northeastern Railway Varanasi Division) and Prayagraj Jn (North Central Railway Prayagraj Division).
He also inspected the yard re-modelling and Electronic Interlocking (EI) installation works at Prayagraj Jn. These works were done in order to accommodate train reception and dispatch on the newly doubled and electrified section.
First, the CRS discussed the project with Divisional Railway Manager (Prayagraj) along with officers of executing agencies ; Construction Organization of the zone and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited. Following this, he inspected the newly commissioned Electronic Interlocking and yard re-modelling of Prayagraj Jn.
He inspected parameters related to yard re-modelling, station extension, complete station block working in accordance with doubling and route electrification standards, Colour light signalling standards, dual VDU system with route setting operations, besides discussing the work plan related to station panel, EI panel along with yard re-modelling works.
Post this, he did site inspection at Niranjan Bridge which included load and formation testing of the bridge.
This was followed by motor trolley inspection of the block section between Prayagraj Jn. and Prayagraj Rambagh.
On the way he inspected formation of the UP line, bridge foundation,track and ballast related parameters, over head equipment ( OHE) pole fittings besides load testing of bridge.
He inspected minor bridge number 1, sleeper spacing along the block section, height of OHE, curvature standards on curve number 4 and reached platform number 9 at Prayagraj Rambag.
At Prayagraj Rambag , he inspected standards related to points and crossings, switch expansion joints, signal overlap, block overlap, formation of UP line, platform clearance, extension of foot-over-bridge besides several aspects related to passenger safety.
Finally, he conducted speed trial of the 2.224-km section between Prayagraj Rambagh and Prayagraj Jn aborad the CRS special train .
He was accompanied by CAO ( Construction) North Eastern Railway, Abhay Kumar Gupta, DRM Varanasi Vineet Kumar Srivastav besides Executive Director (Projects) RVNL Ltd Vikas Chandra and other officers.
Varanasi – Prayagraj Rambag doubling details
Post the doubling of Prayagraj Rambag- Prayagraj Jn, The only remaining section is the 5.404-km Jhusi- Prayagraj Rambag which includes a bridge over the river Ganga.
The 111.41 km Banaras- Jhusi section has already been doubled and electrified at a cost of Rs 1600 crore. This section was completed in seven phases.
This is the shortest rail route between Varanasi and Prayagraj on which three pairs of Vande Bharat trains run.
Prayagraj Jn. Yard re-modelling details
Prayagraj is the second biggest yard in North Central Railway. Electronic Interlocking (Kyosan make) has been commissioned at Prayagraj Jn station thus providing 825 routes for safe, seamless and flexibile train operations.
The current route relay Interlocking was working since 1993. The new interlocking will ensure smooth and availability of additional operational capacity for the upcoming Kumbh Mela besides future traffic requirements.
Scope of Works
These works are a part of first phase of Prayagraj Jn yard remodelling which covers,
Provision of new El,
Doubling between Prayagraj Rambagh and Prayagraj,
Insertion of a new cross over between Prayagraj – Prayag UP and Down line for movement from line No.1 to 8 of Prayagraj to Prayag ,
Extension of Niranjan bridge in Civil line side,
Remaining proper connection of Malaka shunting neck from Down yard over Niranjan bridge for smooth shunting and avoiding detention of Prayag bound trains,
Conversion from single slip to double slip diamond crossover for simultaneous movement from and to Prayag and Prayagraj Rambag,
Conversion of engine line No.9 and 12 into coaching fit running lines, Extension of Branch washing and stabling line to accommodate full coaching rakes,
Provision of Sand hump in Howrah end of line No.27 (PF No.6) to facilitate simultaneous movement on line No.27 (PF No.6) and line No.18 and 19 (PFs 9 and10) ,
Provision of both side signalling movements of ARME & ART lines
Provision of Crane line and Crane shed near ART line by converting engine line into ARME line and ARME line into Crane line with crane shed facility, connecting one Diesel shed line to Electric Loco shed line to accommodate more Electric locos,
Track circuiting of short sidings for safe movements and enable Extension of Line Shah Baba FOB towards Civil Lines side.
How it was done
About 500 officers and staff of Signal and Telecom, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Operations worked round the clock to implement this complex project.
Works included 20 lines, 206 signal (58 –main, 95 Shunt signals including dependent and independent, 53-calling on signals) and 172 point machines.
A total of nine Visual Display Units (VDUs) have been provided including three each for operating, stand by and maintenance purposes.Data loggers , five in number, have also been provided to enhance safety in train operations.
Benefits
The newly doubled line will enhance safety in train operations. It will also enhance efficiency and reduce detention time for trains from / to Varanasi, Lucknow, Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Jn, Ayodhya Cantt and Manikpur bound trains.
It will also provide increased flexibility in train movement as follows: There will be simultaneous movement of trains possible i.e. reception from Prayagraj Rambagh to Line No. 11 at Prayagraj Jn and departure to Naini from Line No. 10.
It will resolve dispatch issues from Line No. 1-8 to Prayag and enable departure of trains from Line No. 18 & 19 of Prayagraj Jn to Prayag Jn station of Northern Railway. It will also allow reception of trains from Prayag station to Line No. 13-17 of Prayagraj Jn. In addition, it will also increase running lines availability in Prayagraj Jn. yard.
End of Part 1
