KATIHAR JN

In pursuance to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Skill India Mission, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology launched the Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana (RKVY) over Indian Railways o­n 17^thSeptember, 2021. RKVY is designed to address training needs of the youth and aptitude vis-à-vis the industry requirements over a period of three years from 2021 to 2024. Indian Railways have set a target of imparting RKVY training to minimum 2500 aspirants per year by each zonal railway and production unit. The non-residential training of 100 hours/18 working days will be imparted free of cost in 75 nominated railway training institutes.

Trainee applicants between 18-35 years of age are shortlisted as per merit based o­n marks obtained in Class-X Board examinations. Applications can be submitted by o­nline/off-line modes and details can be obtained from RKVY portal http://railkvy.indianrailways.gov.in and official websites of railway zones as provided in newspaper advertisements.

          Over N. F. Railway, six Training Institutes have been identified under the scheme to impart training viz. Supervisors’ Training Centre/New Bongaigaon, Multi-Disciplinary Zonal Training Institute/Alipurduar, Multi-Disciplinary Divisional Training Institute/Katihar, Multi-Disciplinary Divisional Training Institute/Rangiya, Specialized Training Centre/Pandu, Guwahati and Specialized Training Centre/Dibrugarh in 10 trades i.e., 4 trades launched by Minister of Railways i.e., Electrician, Fitter, Machinist, Welder, and another 6 trades introduced by N. F. Railway i.e., Mechatronics, Track Laying, Concreting, AC Mechanic, Earthing and Basics of Information Technology, Signalling & Telecommunication  in Indian  Railway.

             Under the leadership and guidance of Shri Anshul Gupta, the General Manager, the zonal railway has set a target of imparting RKVY training in 75 batches during 2021-22 by Railway Training Institutes of N. F. Railway in the spirit of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Supervisors’ Training Centre (STC)/New Bongaigaon has already completed the training course of first batch comprising of total 92 trainees w.e.f. 13.09.2021 to 04-10-2021in four trades i.e. 26 nos. in Electrician, 21 nos. in Fitter, 26 nos. in Welder and 19 nos. in Machinist. Out of total 92 trainees, 74 nos. are male trainees and 18 nos. are female trainees. Trainees have expressed lot of satisfaction of completion training.

Marking an important step towards green transportation, the first passenger train to run entirely o­n electric traction arrived at Kamakhya station o­n 22nd October, 2021. The train No. 05956 Delhi – Kamakhya (Brahmaputra) Mail Special leaving from national capital city reached Kamakhya station of Guwahati o­n 22nd October, 2021 at 13-30 hours covering more than 2000 Kms o­n electric traction. Similarly, in return direction, the train No. 05955 Kamakhya – Delhi (Brahmaputra) Mail Special left for Delhi from Kamakhya station at 14-30 hours through electric traction. The train became the first Mail/Express train to run o­n electric traction up to Kamakhya station of Guwahati after successful operation of a parcel train o­n electric traction just a day before. Thus, the N. F. Railway begins a new era.

Earlier o­n 21^st October, 2021, the Northeast Frontier Railway ran its first parcel train o­n electric traction up to Kamakhya station and achieved a historical moment for N. F. Railway and North-eastern region.

After successful of completion of Railway Electrification works up to Kamakhya station and authorization granted by CRS/N. F. Circle after inspection from 7^th to 9^th October, the section from New Coochbehar to Kamakhya was opened for operation of Electric Traction. With this, total 760 Route KM/1701 Track KM has been electrified o­n N. F. Railway.

Up till now, the trains with electric locomotives were coming from Katihar and Malda up to New Coochbehar, where electric loco was being detached from train and diesel locomotive was being attached for its o­nward journey. Now with the completion of Railway Electrification works and commissioning of the section up to Kamakhya, these trains will come directly up to Kamakhya without change of traction. As such, there will be direct connectivity from New Delhi to Kamakhya o­n Electric Traction without change of locomotive enroute.

At this point, it is worthwhile to note the numerous inherent benefits of electric traction i.e. higher speed potential enabling faster trains, saving of time and energy, increase energy efficiency with higher power to weight ratio, regenerative breaking, higher hauling capacity with high horse power locomotives, improve reliability and line capacity, pollution free mode of transportation, cost effective due to lesser maintenance and operating cost etc.