MAU RANIPUR

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति/ Press Release No. 144  Dt: 19.06.2020

SWR REBUILT 4 BRIDGES o­n LONDA - MIRAJ RAILWAY TRACK IN LOCKDOWN PERIOD

South Western Railway has taken major steps for many safety related maintenance works during Lockdown. These maintenance works form the backbone for safe train running.   As o­nly limited number of special trains in selected routes, goods and parcel trains are running now, turning adversity of lockdown due to an opportunity, SWR has reconstructed has many as 4 minor bridges.  This ensures that disruption of train services needed for reconstructing in normal course, won't be needed.  Monitoring and asset maintenance is a continuous activity and railway took advantage of the lockdown to strengthen its rail network without inconvenience to passengers.

Reconstruction of Railway Bridges was taken up in the month of May with special care considering the then about to begin monsoon.  Rehabilitation/rebuilding of 4 bridges o­n the Londa – Miraj section were identified and taken up and completed before the o­nset of the monsoons.  This section carries heavy freight traffic, catering to movement of coal and Iron Ore to and from Goa Port and the sectional capacity is in excess of 100%.

Work o­n Bridge No.28, 33, 35 & 40 in Londa - Miraj was a major intensive work.  2 Nos.100-150 MT Road cranes, two Proclains, two JCBs, o­ne Road Roller were used for lifting, insertion of RCC Boxes, excavation and compacting of dumped earth were used in rebuilding these bridges.   Three Rail cutting, Drilling machines, Hydraulics Weld trimmers and track tampers were used.  o­ne Duomatic machine for packing of the linked track to allow train traffic at restricted speed was also used.  About sixty (60) contractual labourers and thirty (30) departmental staff attended to the track dismantling, linking, packing and restoration works o­n the bridges.  These works were completed at a cost of Rs.1.5 Cr.

In addition regular patch work like epoxy grouting, floor repair, treatment to exposed reinforcement, cement –mortar plastering were done thoroughly using the lockdown period to maximum effect.   Shri Vijay Agrawal, PCE and Shri Arvind Malkhede, DRM/Hubballi led the planning of these bridge works from the forefront.

Shri A. K. Singh, General Manager/SWR said that the Section Engineers and staff are working round the clock to keep safe, secured and well-maintained railway track for train operations which is a highly challenging task during the monsoon season.

                                                                                           Chief Public Relations Officer

                                                                              South Western Railway, Hubballi

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति/ Press Release No. 143  Dt: 17.06.2020

SWR’S 240 SHRAMIK SPECIAL TRAINS CARRIES 3.50 LAKH PASSENGERS BACK HOME

Starting with the first Shramik Special Train being rolled out from the Zone o­n 3^rdMay 2020, South Western Railway has run 240 Shramik special trains carrying 3.50 lakh migrant workers to their native destinations. While, the Zone transported first o­ne lakh passengers in 13 days, the next o­ne lakh passengers were transported in just 6 days.  Shramik specials were run every day from 3^rd May 2020 till date except for two days o­n 6^th and 7^th May 2020.

Two trains are scheduled to leave from Bengaluru to Guwahati latter tonight. SWR is going all out to arrange for trains as per the demand of the state Govt. to all parts of country so that migrant workers can reach their hometowns. Shramik Special trains have been run from Karnataka to 17 states in the country.  The maximum number of trains were run towards Bihar i.e. 77 trains carrying 1.13 lakh passenger followed by 52 trains to Uttar Pradesh carrying 75,248 passengers.

SWR has run Shramik Specials from Bengaluru (KSR Bengaluru, Bengaluru Cant., Chikbanawar, Malur) Mysuru (Ashokapuram, Kabakaputtur, Hassan) Hubballi, Hubballi (Hosapete, Bellari, Koppal) and from Hosur in Tamil Nadu. Details of trains run so far are as below;

Bengaluru Division has run 207 Shramik Specials so far carrying 3.02 lakh passengers. Hubballi Division has run 21 Shramik Special carrying 30,580 passengers and Mysuru Division has run 12 Shramik Specials ferrying 16,974 passengers.

SWR is transporting passengers to their destination as per the demand of State Government with proper protocol and the receiving State Government is ready to accept them. These special trains are being run from point to point with no stoppages en-route. State Government is arranging to bring passengers of Shramik Special trains to the stations through BMTC Buses as per the protocol.   

Care is being taken to ensure social distancing, wearing of masks and sanitizing of hands and making regular announcement to caution the passengers for prevention and spread of Covid-19 virus before departure from stations. Hand Sanitizer along with liquid soap has been provided in all coaches to protect against spread of Covid-19 Virus.  Railway is also ensuring complete sanitization of all coaches before boarding of special train by the passengers.

Special Trains are departing the Stations o­nly after all the passengers are medically examined by Government of Karnataka and issued medical certificate.  Thermal screening is again done by Railway Medical Teams at the stations.  None of the passengers was detected with high temperature.   The Railway Protection Force (RPF) team is escorting the trains and ensuring social distancing. Details of passengers, coach-wise with address and mobile Nos. have been obtained.  Details have been digitalized and stored for contact tracing in future, if required.

                                                                                           Chief Public Relations Officer

                                                                              South Western Railway, Hubballi