THAN JN

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

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति/ Press Release No. 142  Dt: 17.06.2020

MAJOR CANAL CROSSING BRIDGE OF UPPER BHADRA DAM BETWEEN  SHIVANI AND AJJAMPURA STATIONS COMPLETED IN RECORD TIME BY SWR

Safety in train operations is of utmost importance and all track maintenance work o­n SWR is being carried out diligently braving all odds.   Safety and maintenance work of all assets are also being taken-up o­n its network.

Taking advantage of the unprecedented lockdown due to Covid-19 and consequent suspension of passenger trains, a major canal crossing bridge of upper Bhadra Dam between Shivani and Ajjampura in Bengaluru – Hubballi line has been completed o­n 17.06.2020. The work of canal crossing was planned and carried out by Mysuru division under the able leadership of Smt. Aparna Garg, DRM/Mysuru.

The major work canal crossing for construction of precast RCC twin box and insertion by Box Pushing Method was sanctioned at a cost of Rs.14.72 Cr. as a deposit work by the State  Government  of Karnataka. This was necessary to supply water to the districts of Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Tumakuru and Davanagere. The work was started last year but due to falling of black cotton soil in unprecedented trains endangering the embankment, work was forced to be stopped.

Shri Suresh Angadi, Hon’ble MOSR has taken keen initiative o­n request of Shri Narayana Swamy, Hon’ble MP, Chitradurga, and elected representatives of the region and advised SWR to complete the work in the shortest possible time before the monsoons to help in irrigation of land which was livelihood of farmers of this region.

The work was first proposed to be taken up by suspending train services o­n this line. As advised by Hon’ble MoSR, GM/SWR has inspected the site in the 2^nd week of May and instructed that the work should be carried out by laying temporary diversion of running track to keep the movement of rail traffic considering the movement of freight / parcel / goods services.

The diverted track was laid in just 16 days time and the Box pushing for 24 meters length was completed in 7 days. A temporary arrangement for diversion of traffic through diverted track was done through temporary single line working in this double line section. Both lines were re-commissioned in 3 days.  Engineering Branch officers of Mysuru division, Shri Ravichandran, Sr.DEN/Co-rd and Shri Venkat Rao, Sr.DEN/N have been instrumental in completing the work in time.

Shri A. K. Singh GM/SWR informed that in the challenging circumstances too, Railway staff have worked o­n war footing basis and could complete the canal crossing below railway track for flow of water from upper Bhadra dam.

The canal crossing below railway track will facilitate water from Bhadra dam to the four districts of Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Tumakuru and Davanagere.  This canal irrigates 2,25,000 hectares of land o­n downstream side and it serves in filling of 367 tanks in the downstream side covering four districts. The entire work of has been completed in a record 26 days duly utilizing the COVID 19 lockdown period.   The work would have otherwise taken not less than 90 days and could have got further delayed by monsoon.  In addition passenger trains also would have to be cancelled/detained o­n this account.

                                                                                          Chief Public Relations Officer

                                                                              South Western Railway, Hubballi