NO CHANGES IN RAILWAY RULES From 1st July,2016

Indian Railway announced that there will be no special changes in the existing rule of railway regarding ticket booking, refund, booking time for tatkal tickets, schemes, help line services etc. Railway published this special release because official noticed that some in correct news are circulating among public. Following are the points highlighted by railway against the incorrect news. 

Indian Railway News

• There are no new changes being introduced from 1st July, 2016
• Railways has been selling waitlisted tickets both through online (e-ticket) and PRS counters. There is no change in this scheme and railway will continue to sell waitlisted tickets through both online and PRS counter;
• Railways has been running Suvidha Class of Trains since July, 2015, such trains will continue to run. The waitlisted ticket in such trains is also available, if required. Provision of partial refund in case of Suvidha Train Tickets is available right from the beginning of the scheme.
• Railways have notified new refund rules in November, 2015.There rules are still continuing and there is no change in them.
• There is no proposal to discontinue paper tickets for Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains and for that matter in any class of train. However, for passengers booking tickets online (i.e. E-Tickets) the tickets received by sms is a valid authority for travel along with permissible proof of identity.
• The booking time for Tatkal Tickets was changed last year with booking for AC classes opening at 10:00 AM and for Non-AC classes at 11:00 AM. one day in advance of actual date of journey excluding date of journey.  There is no change in these timings and the same arrangement is continuing.
• There has been no new scheme or charges of booking coaches and trains. The existing scheme is in vogue for many years and is continuing to be valid.
• Again there is no change in the refund rules of tatkal tickets. Under the existing rule, no refund is granted on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets/ duplicate tatkal ticket. This rule continuous to be in operation.
• Railways is already running its destination alert facility on its help line number 139. In addition, a free destination alert service in some Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains was also introduced on a pilot basis for train arrival at destination between 11:00 AM to 6:00 AM already available. So there is no change in this facility also.
• Railways will introduce its new railway time table in the month of October, 2016.

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New PASSENGER AMENITIES :: WESTERN RAILWAY

Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu launched and dedicated the many services to nation in last week. Railway plays a pivotal role in the overall development of country. It has contributed immensely in bringing together the people and dynamic cultures that co-exist in India. Railway Minster announced other facilities to the nation at that particular day, including Making catering optional in identified Trains (Shatabdi and  Rajdhani), Announcement for Initiation of “Janani Sewa” – i.e. Hot Milk, Hot Water and Baby Food items at stations and children’s menu items on Trains, Release of Brochure on “Passenger Business Initiatives”. Release of Photo-Write- up on “Rail Hamsafar Saptaah”. and finally the services to Western Railway.

Western Railway is an important constituent of Indian Railways and serves the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan with its Passenger, Mail Express, Super fast and Shatabdi and Rajdhani train services. Shri Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Railways through video conferencing from Rail Bhavan, New Delhi inaugurated the following Passenger amenities of Western Railway:- 

• Home Platform at Bandra Terminus Station.
• One Escalator and a booking office at Kandibali Station.
• Three Escalators at Goregaon Station.

Bandra Terminus : A major terminal of Mumbai

Bandra Terminus has been developed as an important coaching terminal of Western Railway in Mumbai, which is known as the financial capital of India. This terminal was commissioned on 1st July, 1992. The state of the art station building has been commissioned with all passenger amenities like booking windows, PRS, waiting hall, cloak rooms, modern cafeteria, waiting rooms, retiring rooms, etc. to cater to the ever increasing passenger needs of Mumbai megapolis.

Bandra Terminus is the second major terminal after Mumbai Central on Mumbai Division of Western Railway that deals with long distance trains from Mumbai. It deals with 40 pairs of trains. Bandra Terminus, on an average, deals with 14,000 reserved and 6,000 unreserved originating passengers daily thereby generating earnings of Rs. 94.83 lakh and Rs. 10.99 lakh per day respectively. Earning from parcel traffic is Rs. 4.3 lakh per day.

The work of Remodelling of yard to provide New Home Platform at Bandra Terminus has been executed as part of the 6th line work under MUTP-II.  Cost of work of construction of the Home Platform has been approx Rs 33.24 crore. Along with this, construction of Elevated Booking office at Bandra Terminus under trespass control measures in MUTP-II project has also been done at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore.

Elevated Booking office and Escalator at Kandivali station

In order to curb accidents due to trespassing major measures have been undertaken at suburban stations under MUTP II A.  An elevated deck with booking office with 5 windows and an escalator connecting to the deck has been constructed at Kandivali station. This elevated deck is between south BMC FOB and Railway FOB over local lines. The work has been executed at a cost of approx. Rs 5.1 crore.

Kandivali station, has more than 1.72 lakh originating passengers per day. The daily average passenger earnings of Kandivali station is approx. Rs.10.06 lakh. Keeping in view the needs of the passengers, a new elevated Booking office has been constructed and an escalator has  installed at Kandivali station.

Escalators at Goregaon station

Goregaon station, has more than 1.54 lakh originating passengers per day. The daily average passenger earnings of Goregaon station is approx. Rs. 8.78 lakh. Three new escalators are being provided at Goregaon station for the benefit of passengers. With addition of these escalators, Goregaon station will now have six escalators connected to the elevated deck. The cost of provision of these additional escalators is Rs 1.6 crore approx. These escalators have been provided as part of the overall work of construction of Elevated Deck with booking offices, lifts, escalators etc. at Goregaon.

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'SUHANA SAFAR' : NEW BROCHURE RELEASED BY INDIAN RAILWAY

PASSENGER SERVICES INITIATIVES BROCHURE RELEASED

Indian Railway released a Brochure on passenger service initiatives. The meaning of word "Suhana Safar" is wonderful journey. It is hand book of railways achievements  in the last two years. The brochure is divided into 5 segments covering 101 major initiatives taken over the last two Railway Budgets,  towards a delightful travel experience.

Suhana Safar : New Brochure by Indian Railway

• Tickets at a click : IT for Ease and Convenience - 28 initiatives
• Meeting the Demand : More Capacity More Choice - 21 initiatives
• Towards a quality travel Experience :Infrastructure, Information , Security and More - 34 initiatives
• Catering and Tourism Services : More options, Better Quality - 16 initiatives
• Engaging with Passengers :  Connecting and Responding Online. - initiatives in 2 major areas.

Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu in a program me held on 8th June,2016 at Rail Bhawan, launched and dedicated following services to the nation.

Making catering optional in identified Trains (Shatabdi and Rajdhani)
Announcement for Initiation of “Janani Sewa” – i.e. Hot Milk, Hot Water and Baby Food items at stations and children’s menu items on Trains.
Release of Brochure on “Passenger Business Initiatives”.
Release of Photo-Write- up on “Rail Hamsafar Saptaah”.
Inauguration of Passenger amenities of Western Railway through remote-

• Homing Platform at Bandra Terrminus Station.
• One Escalator and a booking office at Kandibali Station.
• Two Escalators at Goregaon Station.

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NEW BOTTLE RECYCLING MACHINE INSTALLED AT RAILWAY STATIONS

Swachh Bhart Recycle Machine at Railway Stations

GO GREEN    SAVE THE WORLD 

Indian Railway installed "Swachh Bhart Recycle Machine" at Churchgate Railway Station in Mumbai for recycling used plastic bottles and cans at the Railway station premises and used bottles by passengers also. Railway started this scheme to boost up PM Modi's Swachh Bharat Scheme. 

The first machine, which is as big as a refrigerator, was set up at the Churchgate station on World Environment Day on June 5. Railway also plan to put such machines at 10 stations namely Mumbai Central, Dadar, Bandra (local), Bandra terminus, Santacruz, Andheri, Goregaon, Borivali and Bhayandar. 

Bottle Recycling Machine at Churchgate Stations

Also Read : Railway News  - Daily Updates

500 bottles in a day can be crushed with one machine and it will only accept bottles/cans with authentic bar codes. Users will get an instant ‘reward’ when recycling used containers, motivating repeated use, authorities said.

Working of Machine:-

When the bottle is accepted by the machine, three options on the screen will appear — donation, mobile recharge and discount from an outlet with which the machine-provider has tied up for discounts. The user can select either option and a printout will be issued.

No money was spent by the Western Railway to install the machine. In fact, this machine can help add revenue to the Indian Railways by letting them advertise on the side panels and the LED screen. “With advertising on just one machine, the Railways can add Rs 2,20,000,” . “With these machines, cleanliness can be maintained at the stations, helping PM’s Swacch Bharat project and revenue for railways can be churned out,” authorities said.

The machines are being provided by Wockhardt Foundation. The cost of one machine is Rs 7 lakh. The foundation is still in talks with various corporate to tie up for rewards. The recycled bottles will be supplied to fiber-manufacturing companies to be used for clothes, carpets and grocery bags.

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