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प्रेस à¤µà¤¿à¤œà¥à¤žà¤ªà¥à¤¤à¤¿ / Press Release No. 74 Dt: 15.05.2023

ONE STATION o­nE PRODUCT (OSOP) SCHEME OF MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS GAINS MORE POPULARITY

•   728 Railway stations are covered with 785 o­ne Station o­ne Product outlets

     in 21 States and 3 Union Territories across the country

•   OSOP stalls functioning at 21 stations in Karnataka

•   OSOP stalls are promoting women empowerment, and encouraging local

     SHGs, and artisans.

•   Objective is to promote ‘Vocal for Local’ vision, provide a market for 

    local/indigenous products

Ministry of Railways has launched ‘One Station o­ne Product’ (OSOP) scheme over Indian Railways with objectives to promote ‘Vocal for Local’ vision of the Government of India, provide a market for local/indigenous products and create additional income opportunities for the marginalised sections of society. Under the scheme, OSOP outlets at railway stations are allotted for showcasing, selling and giving high visibility to indigenous /local products.

The pilot of the scheme was started o­n 25.03.2022 and as o­n 01.05.2023, 728 stations are covered with 785 OSOP outlets in 21 States and 3 Union Territories across the country. For the sake of uniformity pan-India, the stalls are designed by National Institute of Design offering convenient storage space as well space for display/ showcasing of products.

In Karnataka, 21 OSOP stalls are operational in various railway stations in Karnataka. ‘One Station o­ne Product’ are specific to that place and include artefacts made by indigenous tribes, handlooms by local weavers, handicrafts etc. 

Product categories, under this scheme, include the following:

1. Handicrafts/ Artefacts

2. Textiles and Handlooms

3. Traditional Garments

4. Local agricultural produce (including Millets)/ Processed/semi processed foods.

For instance, at KSR Bengaluru the OSOP stall showcases Channapatna Toys, coconut products at Tumkuru, traditional cold-pressed oils at Arsikere station etc.

At Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji Hubballi Railway Station, Shri Rachappa Tambaralli, of Vedagiri Pharmaceuticals- an MSME based in Hubballi stated that they have benefitted from this initiative of Ministry of Railways as more and more passengers, who belong to Karnataka as well other states are visiting their stall while boarding/de-boarding trains. This has helped them increase their sales and widen the customer base. Many customers are regularly purchasing their products (Ayurvedic oil – related to alleviation of joint pain, symptoms of cold etc), by placing orders o­n phone also, he added.

At Belagavi station, OSOP has been allotted to Meenakshi Self-Help Group SHG, Chachadi village (Saundatti Taluk). Smt Meenakshi of the SHG, said that this stall has helped the women entrepreneurs belonging to the SHG, come to the forefront and it has promoted women empowerment. She also praised the design of the stall which enables them to store and display home-made eatables in an easy manner. Likewise, At Bengaluru Cantonment Station, OSOP has been allotted to Smt. Nagashree Y.R, Chintamani, Chikkaballapur District. Smt. Nagashree Y.R – who sells millets and organic honey, said felt proud to market her produce at Bengaluru, and expressed gratitude to Railways for supporting women entrepreneurs.

At KSR Bengaluru Railway Station, Sri V Prakash of Balaji Handicrafts a cottage industry based in Bengaluru stated that they have benefited immensely from this initiative of Ministry of Railways as their product is being showcased in the busiest railway station of Karnataka. He said he is happy that Channapatna toys have become more and more popular among tourists visiting Bengaluru station now.

At Davangere Railway Station, Smt. Sakamma of Akkanagamma Khadi Gramodyoga Kaigarika Mahila Mandali, Davanagere is selling Khadi textile, and at Subrahmanya Road Station Sri Dharmasthala Siri Gramodhyoga Samsthe is running OSOP stall to sell agricultural products and textile products.  This scheme has especially helped rural women to be financially independent.    

The objective behind OSOP stalls is to promote local entrepreneurship, Self Help Groups, local artisans and local products in the spirit of ‘Vocal for Local’. 

                                                                                                                               Aneesh Hegde
                                                                             Chief Public Relations Officer                                                                                                  South Western Railway, Hubballi 

Hon’ble Prime Minister visits Chennai today, 8^th of April 2023

Hon’ble PM flagged off Chennai – Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express from Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M.G. Ramachandran Central Station

Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India visited Chennai, the state capital of Tamil Nadu o­n 8^th April 2023 (Saturday), unveiled a host of rail and road projects, inaugurated New Integrated Air terminal and participated in the 125^th anniversary celebrations of Ramakrishna Math.

vHon’ble PM flags off Chennai – Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express

Hon’ble PM flag off Chennai – Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express from Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M.G. Ramachandran Central Station. Earlier, Hon’ble Prime Minister, o­n his arrival at the station, interacted with the school children and other passengers o­nboard Vande Bharat and listened to their feedback about the prestigious train service.

 Shri R.N. Ravi, Hon’ble Mayor of Tamil Nadu, Shri M.K.Stalin, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics & Information Technology, Dr. L. Murugan, Hon’ble Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and other dignitaries participated in the function held at Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M.G. Ramachandran Central Station.

This inaugural special train of Chennai – Coimbatore Vande Bharat had stoppages at Perambur, Arakkonam, Gudiyatham, Vaniyambadi, Tirupattur, Morappur, Salem, Erode and Tiruppur.  The train clocked 130 Kmph in Chennai – Jolarpettai section (where the authorized maximum permitted speed is 130 kmph).

At Puratchi Thalaivar Dr M.G.Ramachandran Chennai Central, rail enthusiasts, school children and members of various passenger associations gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the indigenously manufactured Vande Bharat rake. The passengers travelling in the inaugural run of the Vande Bharat Express were presented with a Souvenir Ticket to make their maiden trip memorable.

Shri R.N.Singh, General Manager, Southern Railway,  Principal Heads of Departments, Shri Ganesh, DRM, Chennai and other Officers and staff of Southern Railway also greeted the passengers. 

There were 30 students from IIT, Madras of which some are doing their studies in 5G – 6G Test Bed technology and some pursuing their studies in Hyper Loop technology. Further, Drawing/Poetry recital competitions were held in the first week of April 2023 commemorating the inaugural run of Chennai - Coimbatore Vande Bharat express. A total of 932 students from thirteen schools participated. Fourteen students who were prize winners of these competitions along with IIT students got the opportunity to interact with Hon’ble Prime Ministeronboard Vande Bharat.

Detailed arrival/departure timings and stoppages of Regular service of Chennai-Coimbatore-Chennai Vande Bharat Express (Train No.20643/20644)

The regular services of Vande Bharat will commence o­n 9^th April 2023 – Bookings are already open

Composition :Vande Bharat rake of 8 coaches

vInauguration of Agasthiyampalli – Tiruturaipundi Broad Gauge section

Later in the evening, Hon’ble Prime Minister visited Alstom Cricket Ground at  Pallavaram in Chennai and unveiled various road/rail projects.  Hon’ble PM inaugurated the 37 Km gauge converted section between Agashityampalli and Tiruturaipundi.  Commissioned at a cost of Rs.294 crores, the BG section would serve as a catalyst to socio-economic development of Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts.  Especially, the salt industries in and around Agasthiyampalli will get improved freight connectivity.  Hon’ble PM also flagged off a DEMU service between Tiruturaipundi and Agastiyampalli today.  The newly introduced DEMU services will benefit students, traders, skilled and unskilled workforce in and around the coastal Nagapattinam regions while also serving Tiruvarur district people.

Regular services of DEMU trains in Tiruturaipundi – Agasthiyampalli – Tiruturaipundi section

vHon’ble PM flags off Tambaram-Sengottai Express

Hon’ble PM flagged off an Express train service between Tambaram and Sengottai today.  The train service will provide direct connectivity to Chennai for remote stations in the delta districts of Thiruvarur, Thanjavur and for Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district. This will also be the first regular train service from Chennai to Tiruvarur-Karaikudi section. This service will benefit students, employees, business persons and  regular travellers and will also help boost tourism in the South portion of Western Ghats which is abound in scenic locations.

The details of timings and stoppages of the regular services of Train No.20683/20684 Tambaram – Sengottai - Tambaram Superfast Express trains are as follows: