Southern Railway has decided to introduce peak-hour ladies specials twice a day in the suburban sectors and in the Mass Rapid Transit
System (MRTS).
The date when the services will begin is yet to be announced.
On the Tambaram-Chennai Beach sector, the ladies special will leave Tambaram at 8.37 am and reach Chennai Beach at 9.32 am. In the return direction, it will leave Chennai Beach at 5.57 pm and reach Tambaram at 6.52 pm.
On the Arakonam-Chennai sector, it will leave Arakonam at 7 am and reach Chennai Beach at 8.55 am. It will leave Chennai Beach at 5.50 pm and arrive at Arakonam at 8.05 pm. On the MRTS sector, it will leave Chennai Beach at 9 am and reach Velachery at 9.40 am. It will leave Velachery at 5.05 pm and reach Chennai Beach at 5.45 pm.
Southern Railway will also introduce an additional Thirumalpur-Kancheepuram-Chennai Beach service at 7.50 am since the 7.20 service from Kancheepuram is crowded, said a press release.
A new Tirumalpur-Kancheepuram-Chennai Beach service will be introduced at 5.10 pm. Following complaints that the last EMU from Beach to Kancheepuram leaves too early, at 7.08 pm, the railways will introduce a new one at 8.15 pm.
Thirty-six special EMU services will be run on the Chennai Beach-Tambaram sector on Sundays from July 26 for the Aadi' shopping season.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Following are the Travel websites which offers air ticket services
Following are the Travel websites which offers air ticket services
Yatra.com Domestic
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yaatra
travelosity
jetlite
airdeccan
railway reservation
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Yatra.com Domestic
goair
yaatra
travelosity
jetlite
airdeccan
railway reservation
paramount airways
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Southern Rly to provide biodegradable bed rolls
The Southern Railway has plans to provide bio-degradable and disposable bed rolls for upper class passengers travelling in express trains.
On an experimental basis, passengers travelling in the air-conditioned coaches of Chennai-Madurai Pandian Express train will be supplied with bed rolls, which are bio-degradable and easily disposable, Southern Railway Chief Mechanical Engineer, Mr V. Car melus, told PTI here.
To start with two bedspreads and one pillow case, all in white will be given to the passengers and based on their feedback, it will be extended to other trains.
According to the proposal, a wrapper printed with the phrase ‘kindly take it home’ would enthuse travellers to retain the linen themselves after the journey.
It would also mean that the linen supplied were absolutely fresh, he said. Currently, more than 20 per cent of the bed rolls supplied were not returned by the passengers at the end of the journey or considered lost or stolen.
The new scheme would also address the concerns of passengers who were against using the linen supplied by the Railways although they were neatly washed and pressed.
On an experimental basis, passengers travelling in the air-conditioned coaches of Chennai-Madurai Pandian Express train will be supplied with bed rolls, which are bio-degradable and easily disposable, Southern Railway Chief Mechanical Engineer, Mr V. Car melus, told PTI here.
To start with two bedspreads and one pillow case, all in white will be given to the passengers and based on their feedback, it will be extended to other trains.
According to the proposal, a wrapper printed with the phrase ‘kindly take it home’ would enthuse travellers to retain the linen themselves after the journey.
It would also mean that the linen supplied were absolutely fresh, he said. Currently, more than 20 per cent of the bed rolls supplied were not returned by the passengers at the end of the journey or considered lost or stolen.
The new scheme would also address the concerns of passengers who were against using the linen supplied by the Railways although they were neatly washed and pressed.
Southern Railway gets an RTI dose
Southern Railway gets an RTI dose
Dogged tenacity of a consumer activist in Chennai has finally left the Southern Railway with no choice but to part with information he had sought under the RTI Act.
T. Sadagopan, vice president of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Consumer Centre, had sought details of EMU train timings, the schedule of which had triggered agitations and protests by passengers last year. It had led to intervention by the then minister of state for Railways R Velu, who had directed restoration of the timings.
But the Railway authorities had ignored his direction, the petitioner said. Sadagopan has now obtained a recent order from the Central Information Commission in favour of his original RTI Act petition , which was sought to be dodged by the SR authorities on one ground or another.
The Commission order has also given relief to the petitioner directing the Railway Public Information Officer (PIO) to facilitate an inspection of the relevant records and give photocopies that the appellant wanted up to 200 pages free of cost.
The PIO had asked the applicant to pay Rs 381 as an allowance fee to the railway authorities. The applicant had contested it stating that asking him to pay was against the concept of the RTI Act 2005. It was unconstitutional, he stated.
Allowing his appeal, the Central Information Commission in its order dated May 12, 2009, asked the Southern Railway to furnish the details free of cost The original application dated May 29 last year had sought a series of information relating to the EMU suburban services on the Chennai-Tiruvallur-Arakkonam section.
Dogged tenacity of a consumer activist in Chennai has finally left the Southern Railway with no choice but to part with information he had sought under the RTI Act.
T. Sadagopan, vice president of the Tamil Nadu Progressive Consumer Centre, had sought details of EMU train timings, the schedule of which had triggered agitations and protests by passengers last year. It had led to intervention by the then minister of state for Railways R Velu, who had directed restoration of the timings.
But the Railway authorities had ignored his direction, the petitioner said. Sadagopan has now obtained a recent order from the Central Information Commission in favour of his original RTI Act petition , which was sought to be dodged by the SR authorities on one ground or another.
The Commission order has also given relief to the petitioner directing the Railway Public Information Officer (PIO) to facilitate an inspection of the relevant records and give photocopies that the appellant wanted up to 200 pages free of cost.
The PIO had asked the applicant to pay Rs 381 as an allowance fee to the railway authorities. The applicant had contested it stating that asking him to pay was against the concept of the RTI Act 2005. It was unconstitutional, he stated.
Allowing his appeal, the Central Information Commission in its order dated May 12, 2009, asked the Southern Railway to furnish the details free of cost The original application dated May 29 last year had sought a series of information relating to the EMU suburban services on the Chennai-Tiruvallur-Arakkonam section.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
S Railway sanctions Rs 15-cr scheme
Southern Railway sanctions Rs 15-cr scheme
Southern Railwayhas sanctioned a Rs 15-crore scheme to enhance security measures, especially in suburban railway stations, followingthe train accident at the Vyasarpadi Jiva station.
Southern Railway integrated security scheme, consisting of surveillance cameras at the station, perimeter and access security, as well as a dog squad, has been proposed for passenger security at major railway stations. Moore Market Complex, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Beach, Tambaram, Mambalam, Basin Bridge and Tiruvallur stations are being considered for implementation of the scheme, according to a release issued by Southern Railway on Wednesday.
Currently, surveillance cameras installed at the Moore Market station platforms provide photographs of drivers starting the train as well as movement of unauthorised persons near the loco cab. A security boundary wall 200 metres long is being erected along Platform No. 14 to check unauthorised persons entering the station. Two security booths will also be constructed soon - one at Chennai Central and the other at the Moore Market complex.
While identity cards have been given to drivers to prevent unauthorised manning of cabs, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel are checking the cabs to ensure that they are manned by authorised drivers.
In accordance with Southern Railway safety rules (provision 4.19), the personal custody of EMU cab keys have been given to motormen to ensure accountability. Cab keys are also being numbered to fix responsibility for misuse or loss. The guard's key system has been made operational to prevent unauthorised starting of EMUs. Motormen now cannot start a train without the guard's bell going off.
Southern Railwayhas sanctioned a Rs 15-crore scheme to enhance security measures, especially in suburban railway stations, followingthe train accident at the Vyasarpadi Jiva station.
Southern Railway integrated security scheme, consisting of surveillance cameras at the station, perimeter and access security, as well as a dog squad, has been proposed for passenger security at major railway stations. Moore Market Complex, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Beach, Tambaram, Mambalam, Basin Bridge and Tiruvallur stations are being considered for implementation of the scheme, according to a release issued by Southern Railway on Wednesday.
Currently, surveillance cameras installed at the Moore Market station platforms provide photographs of drivers starting the train as well as movement of unauthorised persons near the loco cab. A security boundary wall 200 metres long is being erected along Platform No. 14 to check unauthorised persons entering the station. Two security booths will also be constructed soon - one at Chennai Central and the other at the Moore Market complex.
While identity cards have been given to drivers to prevent unauthorised manning of cabs, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel are checking the cabs to ensure that they are manned by authorised drivers.
In accordance with Southern Railway safety rules (provision 4.19), the personal custody of EMU cab keys have been given to motormen to ensure accountability. Cab keys are also being numbered to fix responsibility for misuse or loss. The guard's key system has been made operational to prevent unauthorised starting of EMUs. Motormen now cannot start a train without the guard's bell going off.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Cyclone Aila becomes political leveler in West Bengal of India
Cyclone Aila becomes political leveler in West Bengal of India
Cyclone Aila, which rampaged through the West Bengal state of India Monday killing more than 100, has turned out to be a political leveler forcing local top leaders to reach out to their homeless people.
Both the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) government in West Bengal and its rival, opposition Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, are caught in a bitter battle over the cyclone.
Banerjee caused an election disaster recently on CPI-M and gave a major blow to the latter's West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
Mamata, who has become an ally of the ruling Congress party in the forming of the new government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has taken the post cyclone plight of local people upon herself to cause further damage to the image of the Left government.
"Every year because of flood and because the Irrigation Department is so callous, they don't do the repairing work with concrete, so it is a phenomenon. They don't work at all. That's why it's so devastating," Mamata told the media on Wednesday.
"It seems no government exists in this state," she added.
The CPI-M-led government, on the other hand, is in damage control mode with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee meeting the homeless in the disaster-struck region of Neempith in the Joynagar area for days.
"This is a serious cyclonic storm. So I thought I should personally go there. I just assured them. They are asking when they will be able to go back to their houses," Buddhadeb said. "People should not do politics in such times."
Mamata scored a point earlier by taking charge of the Railway Ministry in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, instead of New Delhi thus making a point loud and clear that even as Union Railway Minister, her priorities remained very much local.
Bhattacharjee is trying his best to stop people's discontent from spreading any further and admitted that people in Kolkata were facing a lot of problems as the city has remained without telephone and electricity for three days so far.
"In many areas there is no water. Electricity supply is disrupted in the northern and southern suburbs. We are trying our best," Bhattacharjee said.
The death count in floods triggered by Cyclone 'Aila' has reached move than 100 in West Bengal, while 400,000 were made homeless and large parts of cyclone-hit areas of the state are faced with a severe drinking water crisis.
The residents of Kolkata also began resorting to protests Wednesday against the CPI-M government road by setting up blockades before utility offices.
Meanwhile, the army have been conducting relief operations in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, which has been worst hit in the calamity.
Officials estimated that around 150,000 houses have collapsed, while 500 kilometers of embankment along the coast facing Bengal Bay were damaged by flood and high waves from the sea.
There are also reports of diarrhea outbreaks in some remote areas.
Cyclone Aila, which rampaged through the West Bengal state of India Monday killing more than 100, has turned out to be a political leveler forcing local top leaders to reach out to their homeless people.
Both the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) government in West Bengal and its rival, opposition Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, are caught in a bitter battle over the cyclone.
Banerjee caused an election disaster recently on CPI-M and gave a major blow to the latter's West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
Mamata, who has become an ally of the ruling Congress party in the forming of the new government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, has taken the post cyclone plight of local people upon herself to cause further damage to the image of the Left government.
"Every year because of flood and because the Irrigation Department is so callous, they don't do the repairing work with concrete, so it is a phenomenon. They don't work at all. That's why it's so devastating," Mamata told the media on Wednesday.
"It seems no government exists in this state," she added.
The CPI-M-led government, on the other hand, is in damage control mode with chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee meeting the homeless in the disaster-struck region of Neempith in the Joynagar area for days.
"This is a serious cyclonic storm. So I thought I should personally go there. I just assured them. They are asking when they will be able to go back to their houses," Buddhadeb said. "People should not do politics in such times."
Mamata scored a point earlier by taking charge of the Railway Ministry in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, instead of New Delhi thus making a point loud and clear that even as Union Railway Minister, her priorities remained very much local.
Bhattacharjee is trying his best to stop people's discontent from spreading any further and admitted that people in Kolkata were facing a lot of problems as the city has remained without telephone and electricity for three days so far.
"In many areas there is no water. Electricity supply is disrupted in the northern and southern suburbs. We are trying our best," Bhattacharjee said.
The death count in floods triggered by Cyclone 'Aila' has reached move than 100 in West Bengal, while 400,000 were made homeless and large parts of cyclone-hit areas of the state are faced with a severe drinking water crisis.
The residents of Kolkata also began resorting to protests Wednesday against the CPI-M government road by setting up blockades before utility offices.
Meanwhile, the army have been conducting relief operations in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, which has been worst hit in the calamity.
Officials estimated that around 150,000 houses have collapsed, while 500 kilometers of embankment along the coast facing Bengal Bay were damaged by flood and high waves from the sea.
There are also reports of diarrhea outbreaks in some remote areas.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Suburban train driver loses bag containing keys
Suburban train driver loses bag containing keys
What suburban train drivers
have been dreading ever since the railways entrusted the four keys' needed to operate a suburban train has
come true. Unidentified persons allegedly stole a bag containing the four keys' from a driver while he was travelling for work from Avadi to Chennai on Tuesday.
According to police Jeevananandam was travelling in an Arakonam-Chennai suburban train to join duty at the Central station. When he reached Chennai Central, he realised that the bag containing the keys was missing. He informed railway authorities.
A couple of days after the Vysarpadi accident on April 29, Southern Railway had given its drivers the keys' - levers that are inserted into different systems to operate a suburban train. When the decision was mooted, motormen had raised concern about the safety aspect since the keys could be used to operate any train.
Reacting to Tuesday's incident, Southern Railway chief public relations officer Neenu Ittyerah said: "Misuse of keys is ruled out because motorcabs are not left unguarded after the Vysarpadi accident. There will be people monitoring cabs when drivers change duty. But the keys' are personal equipment and the loss will be reported to the police."
What suburban train drivers
have been dreading ever since the railways entrusted the four keys' needed to operate a suburban train has
come true. Unidentified persons allegedly stole a bag containing the four keys' from a driver while he was travelling for work from Avadi to Chennai on Tuesday.
According to police Jeevananandam was travelling in an Arakonam-Chennai suburban train to join duty at the Central station. When he reached Chennai Central, he realised that the bag containing the keys was missing. He informed railway authorities.
A couple of days after the Vysarpadi accident on April 29, Southern Railway had given its drivers the keys' - levers that are inserted into different systems to operate a suburban train. When the decision was mooted, motormen had raised concern about the safety aspect since the keys could be used to operate any train.
Reacting to Tuesday's incident, Southern Railway chief public relations officer Neenu Ittyerah said: "Misuse of keys is ruled out because motorcabs are not left unguarded after the Vysarpadi accident. There will be people monitoring cabs when drivers change duty. But the keys' are personal equipment and the loss will be reported to the police."
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