UNA HIMACHAL

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

WR Press Release No. 2020/06Mumbai, 18^thJune, 2020

WITH TWO MORE SHRAMIK SPL TRAINS FROM SURAT, WR RUNS TOTAL 1226 TO CARRY 18.44 LAKH MIGRANTS TO THEIR NATIVE STATES

Lakhs of migrant workers and their families have been benefitted by the Indian Railway's decision to runShramik Special trains.In continuation to this, with 2 more shramik special trains departed from Surat o­n 17th June, 2020, Western Railwayhas operated total 1226SHRAMIK SPLtrains from 2^ndMay, 2020 to 17^thJune, 2020, which have carried approx. 18.44 lakh migrant labourers & their families to their desired destinations.

According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar - Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, out of the 1226Shramik special trains, maximumtrains were bound for Uttar Pradesh followed by Bihar. The special Shramik trains were also operatedto states ofOrissa, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan,Uttarakhand, West Bengal,Gujarat, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Maharashtra. Approx. 18.44lakh passengers have been ferried by Western Rly totheir home towns in different states of the country, from 2^ndMay, 2020 to 17^thJune, 2020.Shri Bhakar stated that these Shramik Special trains have helped in facilitating faster movement of stranded labourers and their families to their native places. o­n 17^thJune, 2020, twoShramik special trains left from Gujarat.Both these trains left from Surat to Brahmapur in Orissa and to Danapur in Bihar respectively. From 3^rd May to 17^thJune, 2020, a total of 187Shramik Special Trains have originated from various stations under Mumbai Suburban Section, including 68Shramik special trains from Bandra Terminus, 73 from Borivali, 31 from Vasai Road, 2 from Dahanu Road and 13 from Palghar station. These trains were departed for Gorakhpur, Jaunpur , Gonda , Varanasi, Pratapgarh, Bhagalpur, Prayagraj, Darbhanga, Danapur, Howrah etc. Out of these 1226 trains, Mumbai division has operated highest 714 trains, Ahmedabad division 259, Vadodara division 100, Bhavnagar division 30, Rajkot division 117 and Ratlam division 6 Shramik special trains.These special trains are being operated by maintaining all social distancing norms, as well as proper thermal screening of passengers, is also being ensured before boarding the train. During the journey, passengers are also being given free meals and packaged drinking water.

TRANSPORTATION OFESSENTIALS

Shri Bhakar stated that since 22^nd March till 17^th June, 2020, total 6632 rakes of goods trains have been used by WR to supply essential commodities amounting to 13.50 million tonnes. 13,140 freight trains have been interchanged with other zonal railways, in which 6588trains were handed over and 6552 trains taken over at different interchange points.  344 Millennium Parcel rakes of Parcel Vans/ Railway Milk Tankers (RMTs) have been sent to different parts of the country to supply as per the demands of essential items such as milk powder, liquid milk and other general consumer goods. Shri Bhakar further added that o­n 18^th June, 2020, three parcel special trains, including a milk rake, left from WR includingBandra Terminus – Ludhiana and Kankaria – Khurda Rd. parcel special train. o­ne milk rake also left from Palanpur to Hind Terminal. It is worth mentioning, that during the lockdown period, since 23^rd March to 17^th June, 2020, commodities weighing almost 59 thousand tonnes have been transported by Western Rly through its 343 parcel special trains, which included agricultural produce, medicines, fish, milk etc.The earnings generated through this transportation, has been approx Rs 18.80 crore. During this period, forty four milk special trains were run by Western Rly, with a load of more than 32 thousand tonnes and 100% utilization of the wagons, generating revenue of approx Rs 5.65 crore. Similarly, 294Covid-19 special parcel trains with a load of more than 23 thousand tonnes were also run to transport essential commodities, for which the revenue earned was Rs 12.09 crore. In addition to this, 5 indented rakes carrying 2378 tonnes were also run with 100% utilization generating revenue of more than Rs 1.07 crore.

LOSS & REFUND UPDATE OF WR

Shri Bhakar said that the total loss of earnings over Western Railway o­n account of Corona Virus lockdown, has been over Rs 1359 crore, which includes Rs 195.03 crore for suburban section and Rs 1164.12 crore for non-suburban.Inspite of this, resulting to cancellation of tickets till now, Western Railway has ensured to return refund amount ofRs. 347.32 crore. It's worth mentioning that in this refund amount, Mumbai division alone, has ensured refund of Rs 163.29 crore. Till now, 53.37lakh passengers have cancelled their tickets over entire Western Railway & have received their refund amount accordingly.

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