Republic Day: Interesting Snippets from Speeches of General Managers from Various Zones
As per tradition, General Managers of various zones addressed their staff on the occasion of Republic Day. In their speeches, they reviewed the work done in what was perhaps one of the most challenging years in the history of Indian Railways.
Here are some interesting snippets from their speeches
Southern Railway
General Manager John Thomas outlined several key aspects in his Republic Day message. In safety-related works, he announced that 224 kilometres of track renewal was completed, electronic interlocking was installed at 11 stations and 30 level crossings were shut down while 50 were interlocked.
He also noted that the zone had restored 73 percent of its passenger train services while Doubling of Kadambur-Vanchi Maniyachchi-Tattaparai (30 km) & Vanchi Maniyachchi-Gangaikondan (15 km) Guduvancheri- Singaperumal Koil (11 km) Attipattu- Attipattu Pudunagar 4th line ( 2 km) Mangaluru to Padil (1.93 km), and Ambalapuzha-Haripad (18.13 km), Gauge conversion of Usilampatti-Andipatti (21 km) section was completed.
In addition, Singaperumal Koil-Chengalpet, Tambaram-Gudavancheri, Omalur-Metturdam, Netravati-Mangaluru & Padil-Kulasekara sections are nearing completion and are expected to be commissioned in the first part of this year, he announced.
Electrification of Tiruvarur – Karaikkal&Karaikkal Port has been completed. With this, all trains in Tiruchchirappalli-Thanjavur-Tiruvarur-Karaikkal section have been taken over by electric traction. Similarly, Mayiladuthurai-Thanjavur section was electrified and all main line trains in Villupuram-Mayiladuturai-Thanjavur section are now run on electric traction. He also said that 13 more sections will be electrified in the early part of 2021.
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Increase in the sectional speeds on 4 sections, loop line speed in 5 sections and relaxation of 22 Permanent Speed Restrictions has enabled further reduction in the running time of trains.
For ease of passenger movement, this year, 4 lifts and 3 escalators have been additionally provided which would take the total number to 94 lifts and 110 escalators all over Southern Railway. SR has also spent 137.11 Cr. upto Dec. 2020 for construction of foot over bridges, high level platforms, extension of platforms seating arrangement at stations
North Central Railway
General Manager Vinay Kumar Tripathi in his message, laid out the work done by the zone during the past year. He described work being done for speedy implementation of speed raising, infrastructural and capacity enhancement. Chief among these is upgrading of the entire Ghaziabad-Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay and Palwal- Laitpur sections on trunk routes to 130 kmph, Lalitpur-Bina to 120kmph and Manikpur-Link Jn section to 110 kmph.
Automatic signalling works on Mitawali-Wair, Sarsaul-Bindki Road have been commissioned this year. Bhaupur Non-Interlocking work has been completed to facilitate opening of New Bhaupur-New Khurja Section of EDFC.
Major yard remodelling works have been commissioned at 04 stations along with replacement of old signalling with Electronic Interlocking at 12 stations. The further upgradation of New Delhi- Howrah route between Ghaziabad-Pt. DeenDayal Upadhyay Jn. and New Delhi-Mumbai route between Palwal-Mathura sections to 160kmph is underway. 03 permanent speed restrictions have been relaxed and speeds on turnouts and loop lines have been enhanced over various sections of NCR to streamline operations.
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More than 325 Kms of through rail renewal has also been done over the zone. CMLR workshop of Jhansi has started POH of LHB coaches of NCR thus to ensure improved availability of coaches for train operations.
Central Railway
In his Republic Day message, General Manager Sanjeev Mittal informed those present of the work Central Railway was able to deliver despite the pandemic. CSMT- Hazrat Nizamuddin Rajdhani Express which was running 4 days a week is now running as a daily special train. Shuttle services on Matheran-Aman Lodge section were also resumed from November 2020. ‘Kisan Rail’ for transportation of farm produce/perishables was started in August 2020 have become very popular, he said.
He also said that there has been significant improvement in loading, with new traffic captured. During April to December 2020, traffic of automobile has reached 185 rakes, thus registering more 100% growth over last year. 183 rakes of onion were loaded as compared to 25 rakes last year. Onions have been exported to Bangladesh from various terminals of Bhusaval and Solapur divisions. Freight loading in December 2020 has increased to 5.87 million tonnes as compared to 5.72 million tonnes in December 2019 showing an increase of 2.62%. CR has also run 736 parcel special trains transporting 1.14 lakh tonnes of essential commodities, medicines and more, he announced.
The GM said that Central Railway Parel Workshop has developed a prototype coach of High-Speed Automobile carrier (NMGH) with speed potential of 110 kmph for carrying automobiles. It has also restored heritage DC electric locomotive at Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai. Matunga Workshop has rolled out 100th LHB coach after maintenance.
Central Railway successfully carried out various works at more than 80 bridge locations which otherwise would have required multiple blocks with major repercussions on train operation. The zone has also completed 68 km of doubling, 285 Track km of electrification and Electronic Interlocking at 6 locations during April-December 2020.
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CR also installed 588 kWp Roof Top solar power in 2020. Besides, suburban services have been gradually started for essential service staff. Recently, we have also introduced 10 AC suburban services on Main Line between CSMT and Kalyan stations. “Uttam EMU Rake” with state-of-the-art facilities has been introduced recently, he said.
South Western Railway
General Ajay Kumar Singh, in his Republic Day message also noted the zone’s key achievements during a challenging year.
He said that SWR had operated 268 Shramik specials in the most adverse circumstances and ferried 3.91 Lakh people to their home states, to reunite with their families. 279 Parcel trains operated carrying 56,000 Tonnes of essentials. Recently four rakes of maize and two rakes of automobiles were dispatched for export to Bangladesh and Nepal. 60% of incremental automobile loading of Indian Railways is contributed by SWR.
Noting the infrastructure augmentation work, he said that operation of services to Kempegowda Airport halt station, Bengaluru have commenced in this month. 96 Km of doubling has been completed this year, including Lachyan-Hotgi of Chikodi Rd–Raybag, Harihar-Devaragudda and Unkal to Dharwad. In addition, doubling of 45 Km between Gubbi – Nittur and Yelhanka – Makalidurga is in pipeline having been authorized by CRS while 110 RKm of track has been electrified so far in this year.
Sectional speed has been increased in 799 Km and 470 Km of track is certified fit to run trains at 110 Kmph. Sectional speed in 799 Km has been raised. SWR’s speed trials from 120 to 130 Kmph have been appreciated by Hon’ble MR, according to the General Manager. Upgradation of signalling in Sakleshpur – Subrahmanya Road ghat section resulted in 70% enhancement of sectional capacity.
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He also announced that work on Baiyyapanahalli coaching terminal and Hubballi Yard re-modelling including the world’s longest platform are in final stages and slated to be commissioned by end of next month. Apart from this, five Road Over bridges and 31 RUB/Subways have been constructed during this financial year. 36 manned LC gates have been closed so far this year while Limited Height subway at Londa was completed in just 90 days with immaculate planning and is likely to enter Limca book of records for fastest grade separator ever constructed.
South Central Railway
General Manager, SCR, Gajanan Mallya in his message said that the zone took the initiative of running of the first Shramik Special on 1st May 2020, which was subsequently emulated across the Indian Railways.
He further informed that even with the prevailing pandemic situation, execution of the infrastructure projects by the zone is on fast pace resulting in commissioning of 44 Kms of New Railway Line, 44 Kms of Gauge conversion works. In addition, 127 Kms of Doubling and 22 Kms of Tripling works have been completed and commissioned during this financial year.
GM Mallya also announced that 6 pairs of trains have been converted into HOG technology which s expected to save Rs. 33 crores for Indian Railways annually.
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