6 Trains from (HWH)HOWRAH JN to (ADI)AHMEDABAD JN

W.RLY STAFF ALONGWITH IRCTC PLAYS GOOD SAMARITAN AND DISTRIBUTES FOOD PACKAGES TO THE UNDERPRIVILEGED & NEEDY PERSONS AFFECTED BY THE COVID -19 LOCKDOWN

Photo caption: The first photo depicts the lady porters at Bhavnagar station alongwith bags containing monthly grocery material distributed to them while the second pic is of preparation of Dal Kichidi at Mumbai Central Base Kitchen. The pics in the bottom row are of food distribution at Mumbai Central, Mariamnagar, Worli and at Vasai Road respectively.

With the 21 days lockdown declared by Hon’ble Prime Minister to contain the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, entering the sixth day, various sections of underprivileged people such as marginally poor, daily wagers, labourers, etc are finding it difficult to meet the both ends. In this dire situation, Western Railway's staff from various departments such as the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Commercial staff and the IRCTC have voluntarily come forward with a helping hand and has displayed their humane side by being ‘Good Samaritans’ to such persons affected by the lockdown by providing free food packages, groceries or any other such essential items requiredby them. Shri Alok Kansal - General Manager of Western Rly is in all praise for these employees who have gone beyond their call of duty and has shown such exemplary act of kindness in such testing times. However, he has also given a word of caution to take all preventive & necessary safety and hygiene levels to be practiced to ensure zero error.

According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar - Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, in the wake of the pandemic Corona virus lockdown in our country, W. Rly alongwith IRCTC have extended all required help to reach out to as many needful people and serve them by providing with food packets, ration packages, other essentials, etc. Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has geared up its base kitchens in Mumbai and Ahmedabad stations for preparing distress meals in huge quantities for the poor and needy people in & around Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Around 1500 Meals comprising of Dal Khichdi Pickle were prepared by IRCTC o­n the 29th of March, 2020 from their Base Kitchen at Mumbai Central for distribution whereas o­n 30th March, 2020; 2880 & 1037 meals were prepared at Mumbai & Ahmedabad Base Kitchens respectively for distribution. These simple and hygienic meals were made available for o­nward distribution through the channels of NGOs and Railway’s Commercial staff and RPF personnel to the needy/destitute /poor & stranded amidst this Covid-19 epidemic. Major NGOs to whom Khichdi meals were supplied from Mumbai Base Kitchen are Salaam Mumbai, Robinhood Army, New Future Foundation, Mariyam Trust & Nanhi Kali. Mariam Trust distributed Khichdi in Mariamanagar located at Worli, Mumbai whereas, Nanhi Kali distributed the meals outside KEM hospital, Tata hospital & also in slums around there. The food prepared by Ahmedabad Base Kitchen was distributed by the RPF & commercial staff to around 600 needy persons. This socially responsible gesture o­n part of IRCTC shall continue in the forthcoming days also and the numbers are expected to rise. Several NGOs and Trust Funds have also extended their generosity to help the needy across the Western Railway jurisdiction. At Vasai Road, the Gurdwara Prabandhan Commitee distributed Khichdi to around 50 to 60 needy people including HouseKeeping Staffs.

W.Rly’s RPF feeds thousands of poor people

In the wake of COVID 19 lockdown people are not finding work and facing financial crunch. Poor people are worst hit by the pandemic. In a pan division program, Railway Protection Force, Mumbai Division, Western Railway provided food to 2765 poor people o­n 30.03.2020. RPF has geared up and working tirelessly in this tough time not o­nly to protect Railway assets including thousands of coaches and engines stabled throughout the division but also working wholeheartedly to feed poor people as a humanitarian gesture.RPF is distributing meal prepared at IRCTC base kitchen at Mumbai Central station. Apart from this RPF is coordinating with several NGOs and social workers to feed those who are in dire need of nutrition.IRCTC has started it's base kitchen in Mumbai Central andpreparing distress meals in huge quantities for the poor and needy people in Mumbai. Several NGOs including Salaam Mumbai, Future India Foundation, Gujrati Samaj, Yuva Prerna and Robinhood Army were roped in. This socially responsible gesture o­n part of RPF in coordination with other agencies shall continue in the forthcoming days also and the numbers of meals distributed are expected to rise. Due precautions, usage of PPE and social distancing norms were strictly observed while distributing the food. The people were also briefed regarding the do's and don'ts of COVID 19. It is RPF's constant endeavour to provide selfless service to the people in this hour of need

Shri Bhakar stated that few railwaymen have also voluntarily come forward to serve such needful persons in their vicinity by spending from their own pockets. o­ne such glaring example is Shri J.K. Sumara working as Dy. CTI at Bhavnagar station of W.Rly. He has taken a great inititiave in helping licensed porters who are now without any source of income and distributed provisions & other essential goods worth ₹10,000 to the Licensed Porters at Bhavnagar station. Each care package was worth Rs. 550 and each porter was also helped with a cash amount of Rs. 500 as well. At Botad station, few railway employees alongwith the locals, distributed Roti, sabji and buttermilk to some 100 odd needy people and has assured that this noble deed will be continued. At Nagda station of Ratlam division, RPF personnel distributed food packets in the nearby slum areas which comprised of daily wage labourers. The Railways as well as the railway employees are extending their help to the needy in the event of a national crisis, even though there is a complete lockdown of passenger ferrying trains. o­n the other hand, Railways is also running goods train, milk van trains and now even parcel van trains to help transport essential commodities to different parts of the country. This will ensure to keep the supply of basic essential commodities to the citizens of the country.

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Press Release No. 2020/03Mumbai, 30th March, 2020

WESTERN RAILWAY KEEPS THE WHEELS MOVING FOR SUPPLY OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES THROUGH ITS PARCEL EXPRESS TRAINS

16 TRIPS OF 3 PARCEL EXP. TRAINS TO RUN BY WR

During the lockdown period in the wake of COVID19, it is very important to transport essential items like medical supplies, medical equipment, food, etc in small parcel sizes. To mitigate the difficulties to a certain extent, Western Railway has come forward and decided to open transportation of essential items such as medical supplies, equipment and food etc. Accordingly, time table of 3 such Parcel Express trains has been declared by Western Rly, making total 16 trips during the period from 31^stMarch to 15^th April, 2020.

As stated by Shri Alok Kansal- General Manager of Western Rly, for more such Parcel Express trains interested parties may contact parcel offices and Divisions to register their indents for these Parcel Express trains. Movement will be by parcel trains point to point as per extent rules. WR has finalized the time table for 3 Parcel Express trains for commodities such as Milk Product, Edible Oil, Spices , Groceries,and Biscuits etc, as under :-

●Bandra Terminus - Ludhiana Parcel Special Rake

The Parcel Special Rake has been planned to run from Bandra Terminus in Mumbai, Maharashtra to Ludhiana in Punjab. This train will run thrice a week o­n the timetabled path. The trip of the train will depart from Bandra Terminus o­n 1^st, 3^rd, 6^th, 8^th, 11^th& 13^thApril, 2020 at 20.00 hrs and will reach Ludhiana o­n the 3rd dayI.e 3rd April, 2020 at 11.30 hrs and so o­n for subsequent trips, completing a journey of 1705 kms. o­n its return journey, the train will leave from Ludhiana o­n 3^rd, 5^th, 8^th, 10^th, 13^th& 15th April, 2020 at 23.30 hrs and will reach Bandra Terminus o­n 3rd day I.e o­n 5th April, 2020 at 17.30 hrs and so o­n for subsequent trips. The train will halt at Vapi, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Jaipur, Delhi and Ambala stations in both directions. For booking and any other queries in this regard interested traders may please contact Shri Suresh Mishra – Bandra – 9892972171, Shri Rambali -Vapi-7984600765, Shri Ganesh Jadhav- Udhna/Surat-9724099958.

●Kankariya - Sankrail Goods Terminal Parcel Special Rake

TheParcel Special Rake has been planned to run from Kankariya in Gujarat to Sankrail in West Bengal. The train will depart from Kankariya o­n 31st March, 2020 at 23.45 hrs and will reach Sankrail Goods Terminal o­n 2nd April, 2020 at 20.00 hrs completing a journey of 2073 kms. o­n its return journey, the train will leave from Sankrail Goods Terminal o­n 4th April, 2020 at 22.30 hrs and will reach Kankariya o­n 6th April, 2020 at 18.15 hrs. The train will halt at Anand, Vadodara, Surat, Paldhi, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Nagpur, Raipur, Bilaspur, Jharsuguda, Raurkela, Tata Nagar and Kharagpur stations in both directions. For booking and any other query intersted parties may please contact Shri Ganesh Jadhav-Udhna/ Surat -9724099958.

●Karambeli - Changsari Parcel Special Rake

The next Parcel Special Rake has been planned to run from Karambeli in Gujarat to Changsari in Assam. The train will depart from Karambeli o­n 2nd April, 2020 at 18.00 hrs and will reach Changsari o­n 5th April, 2020 at 5.00 hrs. completing a journey of 2893 kms. o­n its return journey, the train will leave from Changsari o­n 6th April, 2020 at 12.00 hrs and will reach Karambeli o­n 8th April, 2020 at 21.30 hrs. The train will halt at Valsad, Udhana, Jalgaon, Akola, Nagpur, Durg, Raipur, Bilaspur, Jharsuguda, Tata Nagar, Sankrail Goods Terminal, Dankuni, Malda Town and New Bongaigoan stations in both directions. For booking and any other queries interested traders may please contact Shri Sanjay Kota- Karambeli - 8160209142, Shri Sarkawala -Valsad - 9898848919 and Shri Ganesh Jadhav- Udhna/ Surat -9724099958.

Few more suggested paths can be Ahmedabad to Darbhanga/ Muzaffarpur etc. These probable paths are under consideration & can be finalised subjected to local administration permits movement of trucks and labour handling at originating and terminating points. Talks with concerned traders are also going o­n in this regard. Discussion have been done with M/s CTA Logistics, Western carriers, both Ahmedabad, AMUL products, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF) and Mint logistics Karambele, Vapi for loading of parcels for Time Tabled parcel trains.

During lock down period in the country Mechanical Carriage & Works Dept of Ratlam division has done exemplary work in making the 108 wagons Fit for loading and also carry out the Overhauling work of 14 wagons. In addition to it, for the unintertupted movement of Goods trains 16 trains have been examined during the complete lock down period with available, dedicated and committed manpower at Wagon Depot, Shambhupura in Ratlam division.

Despite cancellation of passenger services, the goods services hasn't come to a total halt and the Railway is ensuring through all possibilities to maintain the supply of essential commodities across all parts of country by making sure that the movement of freight trains takes place so that coal reaches the power houses, food grains are available in the granaries and all essential commodities are available. Here are some other efforts made by Western Railway during the lockdown period from 22nd to 29th March, 2020:

●A total of 422 rakes have been used to supply essential commodities such as POL (Petroleum, Oil & Lubricants), salt, cement, coal and containers were loaded amounting to 0.86 million tonnes.

●During the period 1115 freight trains were interchanged with other railways including 555 trains handed over and 560 trains had taken over at different interchange points.

●Despite shortage of labour, all efforts are being made to unload important stock.

●During this period, 6 Millennium Parcel rakes of Parcel Vans/Railway Milk Tankers (RMTs) have been sent to different parts of the country to cope the demands of essential items such as ,milk powder, liquid milk and other general consumer goods and 1 rake of dry grass:

●-Ex Dahanu Road to Bhimsen

●-Ex Kakariya to Bhimsen near Kanpur

●-Ex Palanpur to Hind Terminal (Palwal)

●-Ex Karambeli to New Guwahati

According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar- Chief Public Relations Officer of WRly, despite facing total losses over Western Railway up to 29^th March, 2020 has been pegged at Rs178.53 Cr (inclusive of suburban+ non-suburban), Western Railway has also successfully refunded Rs. 131.43 crores against cancellation of tickets and in Mumbai Division itself refund of Rs. 62.11 crores has been made.
In another great initiative, Western Railway has decided to contribute to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund under the directives received from Railway Board. Every railway servant will make their contribution to the fund by donating their o­ne day's basic pay from the salary. It is also noteworthy to mention that suitable monitoring of all activities & arrangements are being carried out by the Principal Heads of Deptts. along with their teams to cope with the situation and to ensure smooth implementation of all plans, under the aegis of Shri Alok Kansal - General Manager of Western Railway.

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