MORI BERA

              दक्षिण पश्चिम रेलवे / SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY                प्रेस विज्ञप्ति / Press Release No. 436 Dt: 28.11.2021

Shri Sanjeev Kishore, General Manager of South Western Railway led the Principal officers and staff in reading the Preamble to the Constitution with the Hon’ble President of India o­n 26.11.2021, at Rail Soudha, Hubballi. The Officers and staff members of SWR joined the Constitution Day celebrations organised by Union Government in the Parliament of India through a virtual link.

The General Manager encouraged the railway persons of SWR to read the Preamble o­n the o­nline link (https://pledge.mygov.in/constitution-day/) and download the certificate of participation. Interested staff were encouraged to take part in o­nline quiz o­n Constitutional Democracy, too (https://quiz.mygov.in/quiz/constitution-day-quiz/)

Constitution Day also known as 'Samvidhan Divas', is celebrated in our country o­n 26th November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India. o­n 26th November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, which came into effect from 26th January 1950.

                                                                                       Aneesh Hegde        

                                                                                        Chief Public Relations Officer          

On 26-11-21, the tragic incident of three elephants knocked down by train had occurred around 21:00 hours between Walayar and Ettimadai of Palakkad division. The train involved in the incident is  Train no: 12602, Mangalore Central – Dr MGR Chennai Central SF express and it was running o­n A line at the time of the incident. At the location where this incident had happened there is permanent speed restriction of 45 kmph in place from 18:00 hours to 06:00 hours in view of the frequent crossing of wild elephants. It is pertinent to point out that the committee, constituted by Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT), which reviewed the steps taken by Railway and Forest department to contain the mortality of elephants o­n railway tracks had recommended that the Permanent Speed Restrictions of 45 kmph during night hours and 65 kmph during day time shall continue.

The railway line between Palakkad and Podanur is a twin single line known as A line and B line. It was reported in some sections of the media that o­n that day of the incident the train involved should not have run o­n A line. It was incorrect to say so as both the A line and B line can be used for operating trains from either direction. However due to rising gradient of A line towards Podanur side it is difficult to run goods train. Hence taking into account the type of trains run and their load particulars the divisional operating control takes decision as to in which line the train shall be run o­n case to case basis.  In adherence to this operational practice a goods train was run o­n B line at the time of the incident and hence Train no.12602 had to be run o­n A line. It is a matter of fact that in the past more cases of elephant hitting had been reported to have occurred o­n the B line than that of A line and this is more so due to the topographical reasons.

It is hereby stated that Palakkad division of Southern Railway has taken several initiatives and preventive measures to reduce and eliminate the train-elephant collision. They are laid down below:

·Regular clearing of vegetation along the railway tracks to facilitate loco pilots for clear sighting of elephants crossing railway tracks

·Solar fencing at ground level with electric voltage of 12V have been installed to deter elephants from crossing the track

·Elephant ramps have been constructed at suitable locations in Walayar – Ettimadai section in Tamil Nadu at high bank location for passage of elephants without getting entrapped near railway track area

·Widening of cutting/space near track has been done at vulnerable locations in order to provide sufficient space for elephants to move away from railway tracks o­n sighting of trains o­n the track.

·Solar lights have been provided at vulnerable locations to improve visibility for loco pilots

In addition to the above both Kerala and Tamil Nadu forest department have engaged elephant trackers who regularly patrol the railway tracks and communicate the information o­n the movement of the elephants near the track.

Due to such preventive measures and vigilant watch by Southern Railway many incidents of elephant hitting have been averted and precious lives of elephants have been saved. During the year 2020-21 (Till 1^st Sep, 2021), 24 incidents of elephants seen near the track have been reported. During the year 2020-21, 2019-20 and 2018-19, 69, 61 and 24 such incidents have been reported respectively.

Southern Railway is also working swiftly and taking measures to implement recommendations made by the Committee, constituted by Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT), which reviewed the steps taken by Railway and Forest department to contain the mortality of elephants o­n railway tracks.

Southern Railway remains committed to take all preventive measures, in coordination with state forest departments, so as to prevent any such unfortunate case of elephants getting hit by trains in future.

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