TANDA URMAR

PERFORMANCE OF RPF IN SOUTHERN RAILWAY

Established in 1953 as the Railway Security Force, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) is an “Armed Force of the Union” under the control of the Ministry of Railways. Its primary duty, as the name suggests, is the protection of railway property, passenger area, and passengers.

Railway Protection Force Personnel saving the lives of passengers is not uncommon since they are present 24x7 and monitoring the safety of every passenger. In Southern Railway, during the year 2019 alone, a total of 10 passengers were rescued by brave RPF Personnel at various stations in the nick of time from the jaws of death….earning accolades from the saved passengers families and public alike.

RPF personnel have been protecting the Railways also. In Southern Railway, during the year 2019, 95,674 defaulters were arrested under various sections of Railways Act and Rs.3,11,20,325/- was collected as fine.  This includes 336 touts /unauthorized travel agents arrested U/s 143 Railways Act for unauthorized carrying o­n of business of procuring and selling of Railway tickets. They were prosecuted with realization of fine amount of Rs.4,77,000/-.

Also, to control unauthorized people entering into Railway premises, in Southern Railway jurisdiction, 11,247 persons were apprehended U/s 147 Railways Act for trespassing into Railway premises/Railway track and prosecuted with realization of fine amount of Rs.36,67,350/-.

In Southern Railway, for the safety of reserved passengers, 4,995 persons were apprehended Under Section 155 of the Railways Act by the RPF, for entering into reserved compartment. This includes able bodied persons who travelled in the compartments earmarked for differently abled persons. They were all prosecuted and fined, the realized fine amount being Rs.12,69,475/- Also, 1,786 Gents were apprehended U/s 162 Railways Act for travelling in ladies compartment and prosecuted with realization of fine amount of Rs.4,60,950/-.

In order to ensure safety of travelers, 9,512 persons travelling o­n Footboard were apprehended U/s 156 Railways Act for footboard travelling in trains and prosecuted with realization of fine amount of Rs.32,27,900/-.

In order to prevent fire hazards in trains, 1,742 persons were apprehended U/s 167 Railways Act for smoking in trains and prosecuted with realization of fine amount of Rs.1,79,450/-.

Alarm Chain is provided in trains to stop the trains in an emergency. However, passengers sometimes pull the chain for reasons other than emergency. 1810 such persons were apprehended U/s 141 Railways Act for indulging in Alarm Chain Pulling without reasonable and sufficient causes and prosecuted with realization of fine amount of Rs.9,40,450/-.

To control ticketless travelers, RPF provides assistance to ticket checking squad of Commercial wing  to conduct effective ticket checking.  During the year 2019, 4,02,760 free trippers were apprehended and fine amount of Rs.16,33,80,509/- collected.

Sometimes persons misuse the Railway premises. 16977 such persons were apprehended U/s 145 Railways Act for creating nuisance and prosecuted with realization of fine amount of Rs.22,86,760 /-.

RPF personnel constantly watch the movements of suspicious persons and successfully detected and prosecuted 28 person U/s 164 Railways Act for unlawfully bringing dangerous goods/crackers in trains with realization of fine amount of Rs.20,400/-.

RPF plays an important role in the protection of the passengers from harmful contraband goods. During the year 2019 , o­n 292 occasions, RPF has seized contraband goods like Ganja, Nitrosen tablets, Hashish oil, tobacco products and illicit liquor etc. worth Rs.6,53,22,598/-and 136 offenders were handed over to the Policing agencies concerned.

Also, During the year 2019, o­n 06 occasions, RPF has seized gold ornaments weighing 14.30386 kgs, valued Rs.4,73,21,671/-with the arrest of 07 accused,  o­n 08  occasions silver materials weighing 140.173 Kgs, valued Rs.52,83,805/- with the arrest of 08 accused and o­n 09 occasions unaccounted cash Rs.40099500/- with the arrest of 13 accused were handed over to the agencies concerned.

RPF has received accolades for retrieval of lost luggage of passengers. During the financial year 2019, o­n 2391occasions, RPF has retrieved abandoned / leftover passenger belongings viz., cash, baggages, cell phones, wrist watch, jewels etc. from stations and trains and handed over to its owners/concerned authorities for further action.

In their drive against criminals, during the year 2019, 562 criminals have been arrested in 420 cases under RP(UP) Act and railway property worth Rs.22,43,603/- recoverd. Also, 347 criminals involved in passenger related offences were arrested and handed over to GRP/Local Police during 2019.

Not o­nly does the RPF protect the Indian Railways, but also engage in other important activities like Cleanliness Drives and render medical assistance to passengers. In Southern Railway, during the year 2019, 57878 persons were fined for littering in railway premises and Rs.1,30,71,450/- collected as fine. During the year 2019, 1057 injured/ ill passengers while o­n train journey, were rendered assistance by providing first aid / taken for treatment to hospital by RPF personnel in co-ordination with Medical Department.

At Rameswaram, Madurai and Trivandrum, RPF personnel man Tourism Help Desks assist tourists.

RPF Personnel have done yeoman service in the area of Child and Women protection. Child Help Desk is functional at 08 Stations (Chennai Egmore, Chennai Central, Madurai, Coimbatore, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Trissur& Kozhikode) in tie up with NGO as per SOP (Standard Operating Procedure). This apart, the setting up of Child Help Desks (CHD) under SOP has been further extended to 174 more Railway stations over Indian Railway vide RB’s Lr.No.2017/Sec (Spl)/SOP/CHD dt.21.06.2018 including 30 Railway stations in Southern Railway

Also, During the year 2019, 2151 runaway/ destitute children have been rescued and handed over to their parents/child help line. This is apart from 69 missing women rescued and handed over to their relatives/law enforcing agencies concerned. o­n humanitarian service, ‘Operation Dignity’ has been launched by RPF Southern railway in which 295 destitute and homeless persons were secured in trains/premises and handed over to various NGOs for their rehabilitation.

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                                                                 SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY

                                      Press Release No. 395  Dt. 14.02.2020

HON’BLE MOSR ATTENDS “INVESTORS MEET” AT HUBBALLI o­n 14.02.2020

As directed by Hon’ble Minister of State of Railway, South Western Railway today took part in the ‘’Invest Karnataka Hubballi conference”

Around 30 firms manufacturing and supplying materials used in Indian Railways participated in this meet.  Firms that participated deal in Signaling Cables, Coaching items, Forgings, Casting, Fabrication, Relays, etc.

60+ different items were displayed in the Pavilion set up by Railway which are having limited sources and also items having very large requirement. Information like drawing, specification, part number along with annual requirement and value required by Railways was also displayed o­n the items for the understanding of the interested investors.

Hon’ble MoSR, Shri Suresh Angadi visited the stalls and interacted with the firms and encouraged them to participate in supply of materials used in Railways.

Hon'ble MoSR assured that the firms that come forward to manufacture materials for Railways will be encouraged and guided along the process involved.

He also informed that at Kittur Room ancillary Hub is proposed to be set up in collaboration with State Govt where in firms can set up manufacturing units.

Shri P C Sharma, Member Materials Management & Member Rolling Stock, Shri A K Singh, GM/SWR, Shri P Ravi Kumar, PCME, Shri G V Narayana Murthy, PCMM /Rail Wheel Factory Shri AK Chandra, ED/Transformation Cell, and senior officers of SWR were present during this Investors meet.

SWR is put up a pavilion with display of materials used in Railway. Some of the items that were displayed are:

1.Emergency Brake Accelerator

2.Speed Sensor G.16

3.Brake Cylinder

4.Panel Display/Control for 500 KVA Cummins Diesel engine

5.Wheel set earthing equipment

6.Load sensing Device for BLC wagon

7.Elastic Rail Clip (ERC) Mark V

8.Combination metal Liners

9.25 W VHF Digital Radio Set

10.VHF Transmitter

11.Surge protection Device

Railway pavilion has attracted many investors. Railway officials present there have informed the utility and requirement of the items.

Indian Railways is o­ne of the biggest customers in India for manufactured materials. In 2018-19 procurement of materials of Rs.72,362 Cr was done of which 98 % is through Indigenous procurement. Entire procurement process is digitalized right from generation of demand up to payment of bills.  This results in transparent and efficient public procurement.  All types of tenders for goods, services, works, earnings/leasing and sale of scrap are also issued in a single Portal www.ireps.gov.in.

On SWR there are 6 stocking Depots with over 3000 stocked items.  The annual procurement value of stock items is approx Rs.2000 Cr. The items are procured through approved vendors i.e. Research Designs & Standards Organisation, Lucknow, Public Sector Undertaking (ICF, MCF, CLW, RCF, DLW) and Central Organisation for Railway Electrification, Allahabad.  GeM (Government e Marketplace) (Common Use Goods and Services) is being encouraged more and more in the past year.

Applications can be submitted to the respective approving agency o­n-line by the vendors for obtaining approval.

                                                     (E. Vijaya)

                                                          Chief Public Relations Office