GADAG JN

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति/ Press Release No. 197  Dt: 18.08.2020

SHRI ARVIND MALKHEDE, DIVISIONAL RAILWAY MANAGER CONDUCTS PRESS CONFERENCE THROUGH VIDEO LINK

Shri Arvind Malkhede, Divisional Railway Manager of Hubballi Division conducted a press conference today o­n 18.08.2020 to brief about the various achievements and good works done by the Division during COVID period through video link. Smt. E. Vijaya, Deputy General Manager and Chief Public Relations Officer was also present in the press meet.

Shri Arvind Malkhede said that during the lockdown, though passenger train services were cancelled, goods trains and parcel trains continued to run.  Railway staff like guards, loco pilots, maintenance staff, control staff and others contributed immensely in ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential commodities across the country during lockdown.  Hubballi Division has distributed groceries to coolie porters, daily wage labourers and needy people during lockdown.   It has also distributed more than 76 thousand meals to the needy during lock down.  Hubballi Division has handled  188 rakes of fertilizers equal to 47 lakh quintals and  230 rakes of food grains equal to  57 lakh quintals during this period.

Hubballi Division has run 21 Shramik Specials carrying 30 thousand migrant workers and overall SWR has run 267 Shramik Specials enabling 3.9 lakh migrant people to reach their home.  He said that the Division has manufactured 15,397 face masks and 6090 litres of hand sanitizers for the use of railway staff.   Hubballi Division has converted 35 ICF coaches in to Isolation coaches for COVID patients.  Overall in SWR 320 coaches were converted as Isolation coaches, he said.    o­n a question from the media about utilization of these coaches for COVID patients, he said that the COVID care coaches will be provided upon request from the state government/district administration. o­n a question about resumption of passenger train services, he said that decision in such matter will be taken by the Ministry of Railways in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health. 

Many major works have been completed during COVID period. Remodeling work of Hosapete, a major yard for train operations, has been completed during the COVID period. Yard remodeling has enabled simultaneous reception/dispatch of trains from both directions. This gives flexibility in train operations. Another major work completed by Hubballi Division during COVID period is Kudgi Canal Crossing work of Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigam Ltd. (KBJNL).  This has enabled in irrigating 1.66 Lakh hectares of land and benefitted large number of farmers. Lachyan-Hotgi (33 Km) doubling with 670 m long Bhima Bridge has been completed during the period.  28 Km new line between Gangavati and Karatagi has also been completed.  Hubballi Division has taken up speed enhancement work over the division.  Sectional speed between Majorda and Vasco Da Gama is increased from 75 KMPH to 100 KMPH. Permanent Speed Restrictions have been removed at six locations over Hubballi-Londa section by carrying out upgradation works.  Speed between Ghataprabha and Chikkodi road station has been enhanced to 110 KMPH.

 Doubling works are going o­n in full swing. 16.39 KM doubling between Unkal and Dharwad is expected to be completed by September 2020.   Doubling work is going o­n in various sections.  The doubling work of Gadag to Hole Alur is expected to be completed by January 2021. Doubling between Chikkodi Road-Kudachi is likely to  be completed by December, 2020.  He said that station redevelopment works are being taken up in the Hubballi Division.  Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Belagavi, Hosapete station buildings are being reconstructed.  A new goods shed at Khajjidoni is being developed.  New Goods Shed at Navanagar in Bagalkot, Aliyabad in Vijayapura are also being constructed.  Electrification work between Kariganur-Harlapur is completed. 

He said that Business Development Unit has been set up in the Division to capture additional freight. The BDU has conducted 10 meetings through Video Conference and direct meetings so far. As a result the Division has been able to get new stream of traffic viz., Bauxite, Metallurgical coke, fly ash, pig iron and rice.  o­n the occasion, Shri Arvind Malkhede highlighted about various incentive schemes offered by the Railways for freight customers.   He said that for round trip freight loading, i.e. if a consignor commits to transport ‘A’ class goods in a particular direction, and ‘B’ class goods in the return direction, the consignor will be offered a discount. Similarly, concessions are also being given to short lead traffic, long lead traffic and traffic in traditional empty flow direction. 

                                                                                           Chief Public Relations Officer

                                                                              South Western Railway, Hubballi

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति/ Press Release No. 194  Dt: 15.08.2020

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY HEADQUARTERS CELEBRATES 74TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

South Western Railway Headquarters celebrated 74th Independence Day at Rail Soudha, Gadag Road, Hubballi today.  Shri P. K. Mishra, Additional General Manager of South Western Railway hoisted the National flag and received General Salute from the Railway Protection Force contingent.  Shri P. K. Mishra read out the General Manager’s message o­n this auspicious occasion.

In his address to the officers and Staff, Shri P.K. Mishra said that this year was unprecedented in recent World history due to the novel corona virus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.  For the first time in history of Indian Railways from March 22nd, all regular passenger train services were suspended in national interest.

Indian Railway has redefined itself to be an active partner in battle of our Nation against Covid-19 and SWR has demonstrated remarkable resilience, indomitable will power and impressive perseverance to keep the wheels of Goods train kept moving and to maintain supply chain of essential commodities intact.

The Highlights of the initiatives taken to supplement existing health care were as below:

·320 sleeper coaches were converted to Covid care centers ready for use by Health Department as directed by Ministry of Home Affairs.

·Railway Hospitals rose to the n challenge and developed Covid quarantine and isolation wards in short span of time

·Materials Management Branch has ensured procuring critical medical equipment

·Railway Hospitals over SWR have treated 585 patients infected with Covid-19 and could successfully discharge 427 of them. 

·120 patients are presently undergoing treatment still. The devotion to duty displayed by the Doctors and supporting staff in this critical period is commendable.

To ensure smooth return of migrant workers following initiatives were taken o­n SWR:

·From May SWR has run 266 Shramik Special trains to various parts of country and facilitating safe return of 3.9 Lakh migrant workers to their native places.

·Initiative of “Operation Khushi” and “Put the smile back” spread joy and cheered up children of migrant workers

·Thankful to the State Govt. & NGOs for being partners in serving needy people.

To ensure availability of food and medicines parcel train services were started.

·SWR has transported 2,122 Tonnes of food grains in last four months making them available in every nook and corner of this part of the country.

·First time-tabled parcel express in India was started from Bengaluru to Howah in April and so far 174 number of parcel trains have been run by SWR carrying 12,474 Tonnes of commodities.

·SWR was the first Zone in Indian Railways to start intra state passenger trains after lockdown, based o­n the advice of Govt. of Karnataka. 

On the welfare side, officers and staff have taken proactive steps 

·Workshops at Hubballi & Mysuru in the fore front of battle against Covid by equipping our front-line warriors with protection equipment. 

·77,118 masks and 12,417 Ltrs of hand sanitizer were manufactured in-house.

·9,853 Coveralls have been manufactured for the doctors and paramedical staff.

·50 touch less hand wash arrangements have been provided.

·3.36 lakh meals with coordination of SWR were provided to needy people

On the business front Multidisciplinary business development units were constituted to enhance freight basket by enabling ease of doing business. It is targeted to double the freight being carried.  New streams of traffic have been captured with extensive marketing efforts.

SWR has emphasized o­n creation and augmentation of infrastructure and said 135 km of doubling was commissioned in 2019-20 and this year till now 33 km of track between Lachayan and Hotgi, has been doubled. 28 Km of New line between Gangavathi – Karatagi was commissioned so far this year. Yard remodeling work has been completed at KSR Bengaluru and Hospet.  Major new bridges have been constructed over Tungabhadra and Bhima rivers in the last quarter.  197 Km of Railway track have been electrified in 2019-20 and this year till now 73 Kms track between Kariganuru – Harlapur is made fit for energization.

SWR safety record is o­ne of the best in Indian Railways and the lockdown period was significant in the sense that number of track maintenance works such as tamping, ballasting, trucking out rails and sleepers, USFD etc from April 2020.  The maintenance teams were o­n toes to ensure safe and smooth passage of trains including the challenging ghat section. Towards Mission Raftar, 6 number of permanent speed restrictions were removed since April and in 322 kms of track sectional speed has been increased.

On the heritage front too a Railway Museum has been set up at Hubballi with meticulous work of all the Departments same has been recently dedicated to the nation by Hon’ble Minister of Railway, Hon’ble Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Coal in the presence of Hon’ble Minister of State of Railways.  Mysuru Rail museum has been developed aesthetically. Arasalu station has received national acclaim o­n being developed as Malgudi museum.

15 officers/Staffs of RPF have been awarded President Police medal for Meritorious Service and 1 was awarded President Police Medal for Distinguished Service o­n the eve of Independence Day. o­ne of SWR staff, Shri M Mohammad Rafi Head Constable Bengaluru has been awarded President Police Medal.

During Independence Day celebration, Covid-19 warriors from Doctors and Para Medical staff, Inspectors from Commercial Branch and Security branch were felicitated for their dedicated duty during the pandemic.

Shri B.G Mallaya, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer; Shri Harishankar Verma, Principal Chief Operations Manager, Kum. Roopa Srinivasan, Principal Financial Adviser; Shri R. S. Chauhan, Principal Chief Security Commissioner; Sri Anil Pavithran, Principal Chief Commercial Manager, Shri Ajay Kumar, Principal Chief Signal and Telecom Engineer; Dr.Vilas Gunda, Principal Chief Medical Director; Shri M. A. V. Ramanujan, Principal Chief Safety Officer and Senior officers and staff were present.  From Hubbali Divison, Shri Arvind Malkhede, Divisional Railway Manager, Hubballi Division and Additional Divisional Railway Managers were present. The Independence Day celebrations at SWR headquarter level were organized with limited number of Officers & staff.

Health protocol, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, like use of sanitizers, face masks and social distancing were followed during the celebrations.

                                                                                           Chief Public Relations Officer

                                                                              South Western Railway, Hubballi