Western Railway’s Ratlam is one of the most important divisions over Indian Railways on the busy New Delhi-Mumbai route. Connecting the nation’s capital – New Delhi and its financial capital – Mumbai, Ratlam has certainly holds valued importance. The Division of Ratlam was formed under Western Railway on 15th August, 1956. This Division is spread across states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Indore, Ratlam, Chittorgarh, Mandsaur, Nimach, Dahod and Ujjain are the important stations that come under this Division. In the recent past, Ratlam Division has seen nothing but progress & fast paced development for the betterment of the local residents and towards achieving higher goals for Western Railway as well as Indian Railways.
Western Railway is continuously making efforts to achieve goals of better amenities as well as to provide better travelling experience to passengers; Ratlam Division is on the same track of development. Continuing with their progress, Ratlam Division has modified Shujalpur, Nimach and Dewas stations successfully last year. Speed on many sections has been increased which has improved punctuality and seamless travelling for passengers. For example, on the Ratlam-Indore section, the speed of DEMU trains has been increased from 90 km/hr to 100 km/hr which is highly commendable as it is one of the busiest and important route for passengers. Ratlam Division has also eliminated 250 Level Crossings between Indore and Rajendra Nagar stations by building Road Over Bridges. For the first time over Indian Railways, Ratlam Division changed 18.3 meters long and 130 MT heavy PSC girders. A total of 46 girders were changed and other than this 13 small bridges were also built. Ratlam Division surpassed its goal of upgrading 3 Utkrisht rakes by upgrading 5 in the year 2018-19. Some of the major infrastructural developments that have been done and on-going are as follows:
- Electrification of Indore- Dr. Ambedkar Nagar (formerly known as Mhow) section of 41 kms was completed within record time of nine months.
- Commissioning of ‘Q’ track near Ratlam station for goods and Passenger traffic
- Electrification of Ratlam – Chittaurgarh section.- Electrification of Ratlam Jaora has been completed and Jaora Mandsor Electrification work is in progress .
- Electrification of Ratlam-Laxmibai Nagar- Electrification work of Ratlam Fatehabad Chandrabati Ganj and Chandrabati Ganj Laxmibai Nagar has been completed. CRS Inspection of Ratlam Fatehabad has already been done and CRS inspection of Fatehabad Chandrabati Ganj is waiting for CRS inspection.
- Doubling of Ratlam Neemuch Section.
- Redevelopment of Ratlam station is in progress
- New Goods Shed at Dhoswas is in progress.
- Opening of newly converted Fathehabad – Indore Broad Guage section for passenger traffic
- New platforms with various passenger amenities like booking office, covering shed, drinking water, FOB, toilets, circulating area etc. has been provided at Laxmibainagar, Dr.Ambedkar Nagar (MHOW), Rajendra Nagar, Rau, Harnayakhedi after gauge conversion.
- Doubling of Indore – Dewas – Ujjain section.
- New line work between Indore – Dhar – Dahod.
- A new station building for Ujjain station is also under progress.
- Doubling of Neemuch – Chittaurgarh section
- Electrification of Ratlam – Chittaurgarh section.
- Development of Mandsaur station as per Adarsh station norms
- Lying of Foundation Stone of Neemuch Badi Sadari New Line.
Ratlam Division successfully maintained punctuality of Mail/Express trains by 94.7%. This Division is the first one to achieve this feat among divisions which operates more than 100 trains. Last year, Ratlam Division added 358 extra coaches in trains which has increased passenger carrying capacity. Apart from this, 28 new trains were introduced, additional halt to 14 trains, conversion of 2 trains from conventional to LHB rakes was done. The income generated was also the highest. The Division ran a “Water Special Train” for Kerala when it was facing serious deluge. It is worth mentioning that Ratlam Division has installed capacity worth 3.2 MW Solar Panels which has led to saving Rs. 1.1 cr annually. In 2018-19, 21,277 MT scrap was disposed by Ratlam Division which is highest ever for the division. The Division excelled exceptionally in the field of Ticket Checking in the year 2018-19. Compared to the income of Rs. 11.47 cr in 2017-18, the Division earned Rs. 14.06 cr which is 22.62% more in 2018-19 for which Ratlam Division was awarded with the best Division in Ticket Checking shield.
Ratlam Division has taken keen initiative in passenger amenities such as better toilet facilities, escalators/elevators, AC waiting halls, FOBs/ROBs, development of circulating area, station façade, platforms, Divyangjan facilities, etc. Ratlam Division has provided all railway stations, service buildings and railway accommodations with LED lights to save energy and better lighting. In the recent past, Ratlam Division has successfully installed 10 escalators and 14 elevators at various stations. Indore & Ujjain stations have been well equipped with escalators, elevators and AC Waiting Halls. Indore, Ujjain an Ratlam stations now have AC Waiting Halls. Work of constructing ROBs and expansion of ROBs is being done at Indore, Ratlam, Limkheda, Chanderiya, Shambhupura an Nagda stations. Free WiFi at stations have been commissioned at Ratlam, Indore, Ujjain and Chittaurgarh stations and will be shortly introduced to many more. Construction of new FOBs and its expansion have been carried out at Indore, Ratlam, Dahod, Limkheda, Nagda and Shambhupura stations. Work of platform expansion has also been carried out at Limkheda, Pipaliya, Chanderiya, Meghnagar, Mandsaur, Sehore, Bercha and Morwani stations. Keeping up with its innovations, Ratlam Division has established 3D Digital Museum at Indore, Ujjain and Ratlam. Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVM) have been commissioned at Ratlam, Indore, Ujjain, Neemuch, Chittorgarh stations. A monumental 100 feet tall tricolour flag has also been commissioned at Indore station. Women and Child Help Desks have also been installed at Ratlam. Ratlam Division is also sensitive and aware towards its women passengers and have installed Sanitary Pad Vending Machines at Indore station. Collaborating with local artists, Ratlam Division has changed the face by adding folk art on the walls of Ratlam, Ujjain, Indore, Chittorgarh, Dr. Ambedkar Nagar and Mandsaur stations.
In efforts for beautification of stations alongwith restoration & boosting of local art, Western Railway introduced a special heritage train between Patalpani & Kalakund stations from Patalpani on Tuesday, 25th December, 2018 on the recently declared Heritage Section by Indian Railways. The Patalpani-Kalakund Heritage section has beautifully adorned/decorated station, coaches/ diesel loco matching with beautiful natural surroundings. Western Railway has refurbished 3 coaches for the Heritage train. This meter gauge line was constructed about 150 years ago. The stations, rest houses & other service buildings on this section are decorated/adorned alongwith the development of about 2 dozen tourist spots on WR’s first heritage section in Ratlam Division between Patalpani and Kalakund stations is attracting many tourists around the globe. In many such achievements of Ratlam Division, recently the first goods train on the newly converted Mathela – Nimarkhedi section was run which is part of the gauge conversion project of Ratlam – Dr Ambedkar Nagar (MHOW) – Khandwa – Akola section located in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Various works of electrification of sections, gauge conversion, track renewal, formation treatment, bridge regirdering, works during mega blocks, work of getting rid of operating constraints on sections, etc. are being carried by Ratlam Division with full efficiency. The Division has also made various efforts in support for a greener and a cleaner environment. On World Environment Day, an Effluent Treatment Plant was inaugurated at Railway Hospital, Ratlam along with planting of trees and sapling. The Division also ran a Green Train on blended Bio-diesel (B-5) between Ratlam and Chittorgarh. Chittaurgarh & Sehore stations have taken up simple measures to save water by efforts like, plugging leakages, raising awareness, controlling the water supply as per the weather, etc. Quick Watering works have been completed and put to operation on Platform Nos. 4, 5 & 6 at Ratlam station. Bottle Crushing Machines have also been installed at Ratlam, Indore and Ujjain stations.
Ratlam Division has been awarded the Best Division for the second consecutive time for their undying efforts and ability to achieve beyond their goals. On 7th March, 2019, Hon’ble Minister of Railway Shri Piyush Goyal awarded Ratlam Division for Best Division over Indian Railways in a ceremony held in New Delhi.
