URGA

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

RAILWAYS ARRANGED 236 SHRAMIK SPECIALS FOR WEST BENGAL TO FACILITATE HOME RETURN OF MIGRANT WORKERS

Kolkata, June 15, 2020:

Railways started running Shramik Special trains in different routes since 1 May, 2020, tofacilitate home return of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other passengers stranded at different places across the country due to Nationwide lock down in the wake of Covid-19. Railways in co-ordination with State Governments have taken all initiatives for smooth operation of these huge number of Shramik Special trains so that the migrants can return their home comfortably.

Shramik Specials originated from different corners of the country have arrived at Railway Stations in West Bengal in good numbers with the migrant workers.

Till 16:00 hrs of 15.06.2020, as many as 236 Shramik Special trains have been terminated at different stations in West Bengal . Among these, 4 Shramik Special trains terminated at Dankuni station, 8 at Berhampore Court station, 24 at Howrah station, 1 at Bankura, 1 at Purulia,4 at Kharagpur, 62 at New Jalpaiguri,1 at Bandel station, 3 at Krishnanagar Jn., 52 at Malda Town station, 49 at New Coochbehar,1 at Coochbehar, 1 at Aluabari Road station,2 at Durgapur station, 1 at Barddhaman station, 1 at Kolkata station and 21 at New Alipurduar station.

Moreover, 10 Shramik Special trains have originated from West Bengalfor different destinations viz Howrah to Agartala, Kolkata to Patna, Bandel to Muzaffarpur, Howrah to Jaunpur , Kolkata to Siwan, Kolkata to Lucknow , Kolkata to Agra, Shalimar to Bikaner, Shalimar to Udhampur and New Jalpaiguri to Lucknow.

Everywhere standard health protocols such as maintenance of social distancing, sanitization, thermal screening etc are being followed scrupulously.