KARNA

                                                                 SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

                                      Press Release No. 323  Dt. 18.12.2019

THE RAILWAY DOUBLE LINE BETWEEN GHATAPRABHA AND CHIKKODI ROAD DEDICATED

Shri Suresh Chanabasappa Angadi, Hon’ble Union Minister of State of Railways dedicated the doubling of Railway Line between Ghataprabha and Chikkodi today (18.12.2019) from Ghatprabha Railway station. Shri Mahantesh M Kavatagimath, Hon’ble Chief Whip of Govt, Karnataka Legislative Council; Shri Prabhakar Kore, Hon’ble MP, Rajya Sabha; Shri Annasaheb Jolle, Hon’ble MP, Chikkodi; Shri Duryodhan Mahalingappa Aihole were present.

Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, GM/SWR welcomed the dignitaries and said that the Indian Railways is the growth engine of India’s economy.  Railway is   committed to development and provision of better facilities to the Rail users.   Infrastructure development especially doubling of existing track is o­ne of the priority items of Hon’ble Minister of State of Railways   so that more trains can be run for the convenience of the passengers

He said that the 16 km double line between Ghatprabha and Chikkodi is part of the 186 km of doubling of Londa - Miraj section. This project was sanctioned in 2015-16 at a cost of Rs.1191 Cr.  This is the first section of this project which is being commissioned.  Further 31 Kms between Chikkodi to Kudachi is also planned to be commissioned in this financial year, by March 2020. The entire project from Londa to Miraj is scheduled to be completed by 2021.

He said along with increasing section capacity and strengthening Railway Network in this region, many passenger amenities are also being provided as part of doubling. New Station Building with the upgraded amenities are being provided at Ghataprabha and Bagewadi Halt.  Waiting rooms, High level platforms, foot over bridges, extension of platform, and improvement to platform surface will be provided which will augment passenger amenities at stations.

Shri Mahantesh Kavatagimath, Chief Whip of Govt. said that Londa-Miraj section is important as it joins two States Karnataka and Maharastra. This doubling will give impetus to transportation of vegetables etc. grown around Belagavi/Chikkodi to Pune/Mumbai . He told that a cold storage (air-conditioned warehouse) shall be provided for  facilitating preserving agricultural produce.

Shri Anna Saheb Jolle, Hon'ble MP/Chikkodi said that number of works are being taken up in present regime. Raybag, Kudachi stations to be developed. Stoppage to all Express trains shall be given at  Ghataprabha, Raybag  and Chikkodi stations.  Though sanctioned long back, the doubling project is in accelerated mode now. He appreciated the now regular Belagvai-Bengaluru train that has made travel to Bengaluru direct, faster and convenient for Belagavi people.

Shri Duryodhan Aihole Hon'ble MLA, Raybag said that Railway is the transport for  citizens. He told that Belagavi-Bengaluru-Belagavi train is very popular. He requested that same to same train to be extended to Miraj for benefiting 5 Taluks within Belagavi District. He said that under bridge to be constructed between Ghataprabha and Chikkodi.  He also supported the need for cold storage at Ghataprabha.

Shri Prabhakar Kore, Hon'ble MP,  Rajya Sabha said that Shri Suresh Angadi is doing unprecedented work and getting many works completed. He said that electrification work is also in progress in this section. He told that Hon'ble MoSR has promised that work in Dharwad-Kittur-Belagavi will begin in this year and appreciated the initiative of establishing a satellite office of RRB at Hubballi.

Shri Suresh Chanabasappa Angadi Hon'ble MoSR started his speech by thanking the sacrifices and struggle of freedom fighters with special mention to a freedom fighter present o­n the dais. He said that development of Railways in this area has been a long cherished dream, work is presently going o­n for realizing the same. He acknowledged the work of Railway team led by GM/SWR in execution of sanctioned works.

Hon'ble MoSR said that the railway assets are responsibility of all citizens and all shall try to protect the same. He explained the background of Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB). He told that in stations, Railway Dept. shall employ (contractual / other than staff) natives to give job opportunities and result in development of this area. He sought the co-operation of public to the services and works of Railway. Hon'ble MoSR declared that Bengaluru - Belagavi train will be extended up to Raybag shortly.

Shri Vijay Agarwal, Principal Chief Engineer; Shri B.G. Mallya, Principal Chief Electrical Engineer;  Shri T.V. Bhushan, Chief Engineer, Construction; Shri Arvind Malkhede, Divisional Railway Manager of Hubballi Division  and others were present.         

DEDICATION OF CRADLE AT BELAGAVI RAILWAY STATION

A cradle for abandoned babies donated by Swami Vivekanand Prathisthan  was dedicated at General Waiting Hall, Pf. No. 1  at Belagavi Railway Station today (18.12.2019). Shri Girish Inamdar from Swami Vivekananda Prathisthan welcomed the gathering. Dr. Manisha Bhandankar, President of Swami Vivekananda Prathisthan  elaborated the purpose this cradle.  She said that to ensure the safety of abandoned babies  a cradle has been placed here.

 Abandoned babies found at this cradle will be given for adoption through Swami Vivekanand Seva Pratishthan.  Shri Suresh Angadi, Hon’ble Minister of State of Railways addressed the gathering. Smt Shashikala Annasaheb Jolle, Hon’ble Minister of Women and Child Development, Empowerment of Differently abled & Sr. Citizens, Food and Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Govt of Karnataka; Shri Annasaheb Jolle, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Chikkodi; Shri Prabhakar Kore, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Shri Mahantesh Kavatagimath, Hon'ble Govt. Chief Whip, Karnataka Legislative Council; Shri Anil Benake, Hon'ble Member of Legislative Assembly, Belagavi North; Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, General Manager of South Western Railway and others  were present.

                                                       (E. Vijaya)

                                                          Chief Public Relations Office

                                                                 SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

                                      Press Release No. 322  Dt. 17.12.2019

SATELLITE OFFICE OF RAILWAY RECRUITMENT BOARD,

 BENGALURU INAUGURATED AT HUBBALLI

Shri Pralhad Joshi, Hon’ble Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal & Mines inaugurated the Satellite office of Railway Recruitment Board, Bengaluru at Old GM Office Building in Hubballi today (17.12.2019).  Shri Suresh Chanabasappa Angadi, Hon’ble Union Minister of State of Railways presided over the function.  Shri Jagadish Shettar, Hon’ble Minister of Large & Medium Scale Industries, Public Enterprises and District In-charge Minister of Dharwad;  Shri Arvind Bellad, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Assembly, Hubballi – Dharwad West;  Shri Pradeep Shettar, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Council were present.

 Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, GM/SWR welcomed the dignitaries and said that Indian Railways is the lifeline of the nation and holds the distinction of World’s largest employer. He further told that Railway is contributing and committed to socio economic development of the country by providing job opportunities to eligible youth. 21 Railway Recruitment Boards are nodal agencies for direct recruitment from level-II to level-VII posts of all technical and nontechnical cadre.  These RRBs function under Railway Recruitment Control Board, New Delhi. He informed that Hon'ble MoSR is instrumental in setting up of the satellite office at Hubli.

Shri Jagadish Shettar told that because of efforts of Shri Angadi, new RRB office is being opened here. He requested to give priority to new line works of Tumakuru – Davangere line, Dharwad – Kittur – Belagavi line and Hubballi - Ankola line.

Shri Pralhad Joshi, Hon'ble Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Coal & Mines in his address said that RRB Bengaluru was set up in 1982 and since to then, there was a demand to shift the same to Hubballi. He thanked Hon'ble MoSR for getting/setting up satellite RRB office at Hubballi, which will work under RRB, Bengaluru. Hon'ble Minister informed that every year almost more than 20,000 posts are being filled up in Indian Railways.  He told that Rs. 50 Lakh Crore will be pumped into Railway in next 5 years.

Shri Suresh Angadi, Hon'ble MoSR delivered presidential address and said that when he conducted a meeting with Chairman Railway Board and GM/SWR in Bengaluru, he enquired the prospect of shifting of RRB/Bengaluru Cantonment to Hubballi. Though Railway was agreeable for the proposal, State Government opined that  RRB at Bengaluru to be continued and branch office can be opened at Hubballi. He informed that all facilities available in RRB/Bengaluru Cantonment will be available at Hubballi too. He said that computers will be provided at this office to give opportunity if practising for aspirants from rural and not computer conversant , to prepare for computer based test

Hon'ble MoSR informed that Survey for Dharwad-Kittur-Belagavi has been completed and report is with Railway Board now. This line will be taken up o­n priority. He suggested that media shall give wide publicity to this RRB office at Hubballi so that youth of North Karnataka Districts are informed of and can make use of the same.

 He also told that o­n trial basis a train will be tried to cover the distance between Hubballi to Bengaluru in 5 hours. New trains between Bidar-Bengaluru and Bengaluru- Mangaluru will be introduced.

Shri Arvind Bellad, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Assembly, Hubballi-Dharwad West; Shri Pradeep Shettar, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Council also spoke o­n the occasion. 

Shri Angaraj Mohan, PED/RRB; Shri Kasi Viswanathan, Chairman Railway Board, Shri Arvind Malkhede, Divisional Railway Manager, Hubballi and other Officers were present. 

With the setting up of this office, matters related to indenting, conducting of examination, document verification, representations and grievances and indents for selection to various vacant posts o­n SWR will be co-ordinated and further speeded up.   Candidates will also be counselled regarding notifications for vacant posts and awareness o­n process of Railway recruitment. Candidates of the North Karnataka region will now have a direct access to the satellite office at Railway Recruitment Board, Hubballi for any clarification or assistance in applying and participating in he exams instead of travelling to Bengaluru.

The role and responsibilities of the satellite office are as below,

1.    Coordinating with South Western Railway/Headquarters o­n all the matters related to Indenting, nomination of Officials for conducting of examination, Document Verification as well as supply of panel.

2.    Conducting Document Verification of the candidates selected from the region in Karnataka as well as from adjoining States.

3.    Counseling of candidates with respect to various notifications and to create awareness about various aspects of the recruitment process.

4.    Handling of all the representations and grievances from the candidates with respect to RRB/Bangalore.

Benefits of Satellite office of RRB at Hubballi

a) Creation of awareness among the job seeking candidates of the region about various Centralized Employment Notifications being issued by RRBs and the details of the entire recruitment process.

b)   Candidates of the region can have a direct access to the RRB office for any clarification or assistance in applying and participating in the exams.

c) Satellite office will facilitate motivation to the candidates applying for various RRB notifications and in spreading awareness about the transparent recruitment process of RRB and instill confidence to them that by constant efforts, practice and perseverance they can get into Railways.

d)   It is expected to increase in percentage of local candidates appearing and getting selected

RRB Bangalore, a pioneer in many of the initiatives in the recruitment process would also strive to make a positive impact through its Satellite office at Hubballi.

                                                       (E. Vijaya)

                                                          Chief Public Relations Office