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Suresh Prabhu on fast track
The minister has given a major push for doubling, gauge conversion and other initiatives to build track capacity so that the logjam on some of the key sections can be removed. He is also focusing on improving passenger amenities
Prabhu has given a major push for doubling, gauge conversion and other similar initiatives to build track capacity so that the logjam on some of the key sections can be removed, improving punctuality of passenger trains and enabling freight to move faster than the current average speed of 25 kmph.
Thinking ‘out of the box’ has been Prabhu’s forte, in particular focusing on improving passenger amenities. Over the last few months, he has taken a number of initiatives which have been well appreciated by the discerning traveller. In particular, his move to make booking tickets a less painful task has earned him kudos.
For 17 long years, the 740-km-long Konkan Railways project, helmed by E Sreedharan and initiated by the then railway minister George Fernandes, has remained a single-line track, not only due to paucity of funds but also for lack of political will.
In a bold move, Prabhu has ordered doubling of the track, which will not only increase freight throughput but also significantly improve punctuality of passenger trains plying on this unique line linking Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. With its own organisational structure and work culture, Konkan Railways will at last get an opportunity to become a major line, significantly contributing to the economic growth of the west coast.
The Rs 11,000 crore project will also see the entire stretch being electrified, enabling EMU (electric multiple unit) suburban services to be run near major urban areas such as Udupi, Goa, Karwar and Mangalore. However, with nearly 2,000 bridges, 91 tunnels and scores of yards to be modified to accommodate a double track, the task is formidable.
Perhaps taking up work on various sections simultaneously, as had been the norm when the project began 25 years ago, could speed up work. The original route, with non-existent approach roads, had taken eight years. Now, with better techniques and mechanised rack laying, it may still take five years, if not more. Fortunately, the deep pockets of LIC will ensure that the work will not be held up for want of funds.
The Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)—the R82,000 crore project initiated a decade ago—has also been fast-tracked, with tenders for R17,000 crore of work expected to be finalised in the next six months.
Expected to save 457.5 million tonnes of CO2 in 30 years, it would be a game-changer for the movement of freight in both the 1,840-km-long Ludhiana-Dankuni eastern corridor and the 1,500-km-long Delhi-Mumbai western corridor, ushering in an era of fast, reliable, time-tabled freight service.
An important part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) initiative, serving as its transport backbone, the DFC was launched with much fanfare in 2006. Apart from the high standards of work and mechanised track laying which is expected by awarding the work to renowned players in the field of infrastructure such as L&T, the usual cost or time overruns may not happen.
For capacity augmentation in some of the busiest rail corridors to de-congest and move trains at higher average speeds, Prabhu hopes to commission no less than 2,500-km new track in the current fiscal. He has earmarked 77 projects involving doubling and gauge conversions to be undertaken in 24 high-density corridors.
Reportedly, 28 of these projects have already got in-principle approval and tenders have been invited for the same.
The railways hopes to invest over Rs 43,000 crore for network expansion and other amenities in 2015-16, as against Rs 26,600 crore in the previous year, a quantum jump of over 65%.
The capacity augmentation would understandably be in some of the most saturated sections of the golden quadrilateral—Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Howrah, Delhi-Chennai and Howrah-Chennai. With an ambitious target of commissioning nearly 7 km of track per day in the current year, the contractors and railway engineers are in for some hectic days ahead.
New Initiatives of Railway’s Mechanical Directorate
In the above two events the following items for coach interiors were identified for further evaluation, implementation, development of vendors etc.:
i) New furnishing materials like long lasting and fire-retardant cushions
ii)Ergonomically designed seats and berths
iii)Fire detection and suppression systems
iv)New material and design concepts for coach partitions and walls
v)Scratch resistant coatings
vi)Thermal and sound insulating materials and paints
vii)Dirt resistant and long lasting materials for bed linen
viii)Infotainment systems
ix)Security systems
x)Light weight materials like composites
The items to be pursued further, and their implementation plan, will be decided within a month.
2.Condition Based Monitoring System
The Railways is planning to introduce condition based monitoring system for timely detection of abnormality build up in rolling stock as well as for localized monitoring of track. The system will consist of two sub-systems – onboard system and roadside system. The onboard system will detect abnormalities related to roller bearings, coach suspension and localized track and the roadside system will detect wheel defects, hanging parts, broken springs etc.
It is planned to provide water level indicators in coach water tanks so that filling can be done in time to avoid inconvenience to passengers. This will also reduce wastage of water while filling the tanks.
3.Other measures for passenger Comfort
i)Cleanliness measures being taken on trains:
·On Board House Keeping Services
A total of 571 trains have been provided with this facility including 46 in 2015-16. 140 trains have been further identified to cover total 711 trains. Criterion for provision of OBHS has been recently revised to cover all important trains now. This would facilitate around 414 more trains to be provided with this facility taking the total to 1125 trains by 2016-17.
·Clean Train Station Scheme:
There are 37 CTSs functional across Indian Railways out of identified 43 locations and for the remaining tenders are being processed.
·Provision of garbage disposable bags on trains:
a.Budget announced item, pilot trials have already started on Central and Northern Railway. Trials on other railways on few trains are also planned.
b.Linen bags have been redesigned to serve the dual purpose.
c.Positive feedback has been received from the passengers.
·Laundries:
a.38 laundries are already set up. This year around 10 laundries are expected to be further added up. Total 64 laundries have been planned to be commissioned in next two years.
b.Work is in advanced stage at Mysore, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Varanasi, Dibrugarh, Amritsar and Tirupati.
ii)Provision of Bio-toilets in coaches: So far 25,500 bio-toilets have been fitted in 8700 coaches of which 5700 toilets have been fitted this year up to September. Integral Coach Factory and Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala are now turning out all coaches with bio-toilets only.
iii)Manufacture of Anubhuti Coach: Budget announced Anubhuti Class coach (prototype) has been planned to be manufactured in the current year at ICF, Chennai. This rake will have upgraded interiors with all modern amenities such as wifi, infotainment system etc.
iv)Model Rake with improved interiors : First model rake with improved amenities shall also be turned out from BPL workshop after mid-life rehabilitation in the current year.
v)DEMU with air-conditioned coach: In this yearICF has commenced manufacture of DEMU rakes with an air-conditioned coach.
vi)Migration to 1600 HP indigenously developed 3-Phase AC-AC DEMU having 1 (DPC)+ 4 (TC) configuration: as against 1+3 of 1400 HP DC-DC DEMU the last of which was turned out this month.
vii)Prototype of coach fit to run at 200 kmph: is under development at RCF and will be turned out this year.
4.Steps for Environment Conservation
1.Bio-diesel: 5% Bio-diesel blending implemented. Orders placed by 13 Railways for 6200 Kl, of which 1200 Kl supplied.
2.Use of Solar Energy: Indian Railways has taken the initiative of establishing solar plants on rooftops of railway workshops/production units. A solar power plant of 1.8 MW will be set up at Diesel Modernisation Works, Patiala. All new workshops/factories including Wagon POH workshop at Badnera, Vishakapatnam & Traction Alternator Factory at Vidisha are also being planned with Solar PV panels on shed roofs.
3.Accreditation for Energy Management Systems: Three PUs and one workshop were directed to take up work for accreditation on Energy Management System ISO-50001, on pilot basis. ICF has obtained the ENMS accreditation during September, 2015.
4.Water Recycling Plants: Upto 2014-15, Water Recycling Plants were provided at 29 locations resulting in savings of 12 million litre of water per day. Sanction for water recycling plants at 10 major depots and 32 major stations has been provided in 2015-16. Water recycling plants recently established in two coaching depots namely, BBQ/SR and GSN/SR, of capacity 10 lakh and 2.2 lakh litres/per day respectively and two more are under commissioning.
5.Waste to energy conversion plants: Project Management work for setting up two pilot plants at New Delhi and Jaipur entrusted to RITES. The technology and methodology in the Draft report submitted by RITES is being studied and discussed with Municipal Solid Waste management expert at MoUD.
6.Dual Mode locomotive: A locomotive capable of running both on electricity as well as diesel is under development at Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi. This loco will not only make operations more flexible thereby increasing the throughput, but will also result in saving of fuel.
The minister has given a major push for doubling, gauge conversion and other initiatives to build track capacity so that the logjam on some of the key sections can be removed. He is also focusing on improving passenger amenities
Prabhu has given a major push for doubling, gauge conversion and other similar initiatives to build track capacity so that the logjam on some of the key sections can be removed, improving punctuality of passenger trains and enabling freight to move faster than the current average speed of 25 kmph.
Thinking ‘out of the box’ has been Prabhu’s forte, in particular focusing on improving passenger amenities. Over the last few months, he has taken a number of initiatives which have been well appreciated by the discerning traveller. In particular, his move to make booking tickets a less painful task has earned him kudos.
For 17 long years, the 740-km-long Konkan Railways project, helmed by E Sreedharan and initiated by the then railway minister George Fernandes, has remained a single-line track, not only due to paucity of funds but also for lack of political will.
In a bold move, Prabhu has ordered doubling of the track, which will not only increase freight throughput but also significantly improve punctuality of passenger trains plying on this unique line linking Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala. With its own organisational structure and work culture, Konkan Railways will at last get an opportunity to become a major line, significantly contributing to the economic growth of the west coast.
The Rs 11,000 crore project will also see the entire stretch being electrified, enabling EMU (electric multiple unit) suburban services to be run near major urban areas such as Udupi, Goa, Karwar and Mangalore. However, with nearly 2,000 bridges, 91 tunnels and scores of yards to be modified to accommodate a double track, the task is formidable.
Perhaps taking up work on various sections simultaneously, as had been the norm when the project began 25 years ago, could speed up work. The original route, with non-existent approach roads, had taken eight years. Now, with better techniques and mechanised rack laying, it may still take five years, if not more. Fortunately, the deep pockets of LIC will ensure that the work will not be held up for want of funds.
The Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)—the R82,000 crore project initiated a decade ago—has also been fast-tracked, with tenders for R17,000 crore of work expected to be finalised in the next six months.
Expected to save 457.5 million tonnes of CO2 in 30 years, it would be a game-changer for the movement of freight in both the 1,840-km-long Ludhiana-Dankuni eastern corridor and the 1,500-km-long Delhi-Mumbai western corridor, ushering in an era of fast, reliable, time-tabled freight service.
An important part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) initiative, serving as its transport backbone, the DFC was launched with much fanfare in 2006. Apart from the high standards of work and mechanised track laying which is expected by awarding the work to renowned players in the field of infrastructure such as L&T, the usual cost or time overruns may not happen.
For capacity augmentation in some of the busiest rail corridors to de-congest and move trains at higher average speeds, Prabhu hopes to commission no less than 2,500-km new track in the current fiscal. He has earmarked 77 projects involving doubling and gauge conversions to be undertaken in 24 high-density corridors.
Reportedly, 28 of these projects have already got in-principle approval and tenders have been invited for the same.
The railways hopes to invest over Rs 43,000 crore for network expansion and other amenities in 2015-16, as against Rs 26,600 crore in the previous year, a quantum jump of over 65%.
The capacity augmentation would understandably be in some of the most saturated sections of the golden quadrilateral—Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Howrah, Delhi-Chennai and Howrah-Chennai. With an ambitious target of commissioning nearly 7 km of track per day in the current year, the contractors and railway engineers are in for some hectic days ahead.
New Initiatives of Railway’s Mechanical Directorate
In the above two events the following items for coach interiors were identified for further evaluation, implementation, development of vendors etc.:
i) New furnishing materials like long lasting and fire-retardant cushions
ii)Ergonomically designed seats and berths
iii)Fire detection and suppression systems
iv)New material and design concepts for coach partitions and walls
v)Scratch resistant coatings
vi)Thermal and sound insulating materials and paints
vii)Dirt resistant and long lasting materials for bed linen
viii)Infotainment systems
ix)Security systems
x)Light weight materials like composites
The items to be pursued further, and their implementation plan, will be decided within a month.
2.Condition Based Monitoring System
The Railways is planning to introduce condition based monitoring system for timely detection of abnormality build up in rolling stock as well as for localized monitoring of track. The system will consist of two sub-systems – onboard system and roadside system. The onboard system will detect abnormalities related to roller bearings, coach suspension and localized track and the roadside system will detect wheel defects, hanging parts, broken springs etc.
It is planned to provide water level indicators in coach water tanks so that filling can be done in time to avoid inconvenience to passengers. This will also reduce wastage of water while filling the tanks.
3.Other measures for passenger Comfort
i)Cleanliness measures being taken on trains:
·On Board House Keeping Services
A total of 571 trains have been provided with this facility including 46 in 2015-16. 140 trains have been further identified to cover total 711 trains. Criterion for provision of OBHS has been recently revised to cover all important trains now. This would facilitate around 414 more trains to be provided with this facility taking the total to 1125 trains by 2016-17.
·Clean Train Station Scheme:
There are 37 CTSs functional across Indian Railways out of identified 43 locations and for the remaining tenders are being processed.
·Provision of garbage disposable bags on trains:
a.Budget announced item, pilot trials have already started on Central and Northern Railway. Trials on other railways on few trains are also planned.
b.Linen bags have been redesigned to serve the dual purpose.
c.Positive feedback has been received from the passengers.
·Laundries:
a.38 laundries are already set up. This year around 10 laundries are expected to be further added up. Total 64 laundries have been planned to be commissioned in next two years.
b.Work is in advanced stage at Mysore, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Varanasi, Dibrugarh, Amritsar and Tirupati.
ii)Provision of Bio-toilets in coaches: So far 25,500 bio-toilets have been fitted in 8700 coaches of which 5700 toilets have been fitted this year up to September. Integral Coach Factory and Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala are now turning out all coaches with bio-toilets only.
iii)Manufacture of Anubhuti Coach: Budget announced Anubhuti Class coach (prototype) has been planned to be manufactured in the current year at ICF, Chennai. This rake will have upgraded interiors with all modern amenities such as wifi, infotainment system etc.
iv)Model Rake with improved interiors : First model rake with improved amenities shall also be turned out from BPL workshop after mid-life rehabilitation in the current year.
v)DEMU with air-conditioned coach: In this yearICF has commenced manufacture of DEMU rakes with an air-conditioned coach.
vi)Migration to 1600 HP indigenously developed 3-Phase AC-AC DEMU having 1 (DPC)+ 4 (TC) configuration: as against 1+3 of 1400 HP DC-DC DEMU the last of which was turned out this month.
vii)Prototype of coach fit to run at 200 kmph: is under development at RCF and will be turned out this year.
4.Steps for Environment Conservation
1.Bio-diesel: 5% Bio-diesel blending implemented. Orders placed by 13 Railways for 6200 Kl, of which 1200 Kl supplied.
2.Use of Solar Energy: Indian Railways has taken the initiative of establishing solar plants on rooftops of railway workshops/production units. A solar power plant of 1.8 MW will be set up at Diesel Modernisation Works, Patiala. All new workshops/factories including Wagon POH workshop at Badnera, Vishakapatnam & Traction Alternator Factory at Vidisha are also being planned with Solar PV panels on shed roofs.
3.Accreditation for Energy Management Systems: Three PUs and one workshop were directed to take up work for accreditation on Energy Management System ISO-50001, on pilot basis. ICF has obtained the ENMS accreditation during September, 2015.
4.Water Recycling Plants: Upto 2014-15, Water Recycling Plants were provided at 29 locations resulting in savings of 12 million litre of water per day. Sanction for water recycling plants at 10 major depots and 32 major stations has been provided in 2015-16. Water recycling plants recently established in two coaching depots namely, BBQ/SR and GSN/SR, of capacity 10 lakh and 2.2 lakh litres/per day respectively and two more are under commissioning.
5.Waste to energy conversion plants: Project Management work for setting up two pilot plants at New Delhi and Jaipur entrusted to RITES. The technology and methodology in the Draft report submitted by RITES is being studied and discussed with Municipal Solid Waste management expert at MoUD.
6.Dual Mode locomotive: A locomotive capable of running both on electricity as well as diesel is under development at Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi. This loco will not only make operations more flexible thereby increasing the throughput, but will also result in saving of fuel.
