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6M views 25K replies 346 participants last post by  Vayuputradasa 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi,

After formation of SWR zone with HQ in Hubli (not Bangalore, as I has mistakenly wrote earlier) not much (if ever) has been heard about improving railway connectivity of the north of Karnataka with it's capital. Why aren't people in Karnataka not interested in having BG double lines, with electrification to their state capital?

It's just sad that more people are not concerned by this. All I hear of in Karnataka is to have a small new line added to some small town or other, but less about actually doubling important backbone lines like Belgaum - Bengalore, and much less about electrification beyond the Bengalore-Mysore general region.

Most (if not all) states in India have better Railway infrastructure with regards to connectivity of the state capital with the rest of the state. Not Karnataka, which is not a small state and not a poor state by any means.

Any thoughts on this?
 
#18,702 ·
#18,705 ·
well indirectly all the north bound trains to Karnataka will reach faster including frieght.
means faster migrations of labor to Karnataka :lol:
 
#18,707 · (Edited)
3 Duronto Exp trains to halt at Habibganj railway station

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...medium=Twitter&utm_campaign=referral&from=mdr




Three Duronto express trains would halt at Habibganj railway station as per an announcement made by Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu during presentation of 2016-17 railway budget. He had announced that those Duronto express trains which have technical halts, should be given permanent halts.
Trains 12269/12270 (Chennai-Hazrat Nizamuddin-Chennai), 12285/12286 (Secunderabad-Hazrat Nizamuddin-Secunderabad) and 12213/12214 (Yeshvantpur-Delhi Sarai Rohilla) have technical stoppage at Itarsi station and have now been given permanent halt at Habibganj station.
From September 12, Chennai-Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto would leave Habibganj at 2:10am while heading for Hazrat Nizamuddin and would depart at 23:54pm when going to Chennai.
From September 11, Secunderabad-Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto would set off from Habibganj at 2:10am for Hazrat Nizamuddin and chug off at 23:54pm on its onward journey to Secunderabad. Meanwhile, from September 10, Yeshvantpur-Delhi Sarai Rohilla Duronto would start from Habibganj at 9:25pm for Hazrat Nizamuddin and at 8:20am for Yeshvantpur.

LOOKS LIKE RAILWAYS HAS ITS OWN WAY, HABIBGANJ WAS NEVER EVER A TECHNICAL STOP :bash:
 
#18,708 ·
Konkan Railway to start track-doubling, electrification work after the monsoon

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com...ion-work-after-the-monsoon/article9046601.ece




Financial closure for both the projects has been done and we’ll raise the money within a month, says CMD

Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL), is set to enhance line capacity to handle more trains as it starts track-doubling work on its 740-km route after this year’s monsoon. The rail PSUalso plans to electrify its entire network in three years, says its Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Gupta. Excerpts from an interview with BusinessLine:

What is the present status of doubling and electrification on the Konkan Railway?

We did Bhoomi Pujan about a year ago. The tenders for doubling — patch doubling between Roha and Veer (46 km) — has been awarded in June. However, work will commence after the monsoon.

For electrification, paper work is on. We will be publishing the tender very soon. We hope to start work post monsoon. Financial closure for both the projects has been done. We will be raising money within a month. This will be financed by 30 per cent equity contribution from us and the remaining would be debt, over the next 4-5 years.

What is the estimated cost?

The estimated cost is about ₹300 crore for the patch doubling, cost of electrification would be between ₹700 crore and ₹800 crore for complete electrification of the 740-km length.

Plus, there would be some interest cost during construction that would get added to the project cost. We hope to complete both these things in three years time.

How are you trying to maximise revenue both passenger and freight?

A majority of the traffic originates in the Indian Railways system and either terminates on KRCL or passes through us. We cannot have a tariff system which is separate from that of the Indian Railways. We are like any other zonal railway from that point of view and distributed accordingly.

Besides, the three major ports situated near KRCL — JNPT, Goa port and Mangalore port — serve a hinterland which does not require them to use KRCL. Once other ports such as Jaigarh (Maharashtra) and Karwar (Karnataka) are developed fully, they will feed our railways system and we can get cargo.

What about running more passenger services?

At present, we are close to saturation. Passenger services now require a different focus — Chiplun- Khed has a different requirement, and so does Sawantwadi. Goa is heavy on week-end traffic and nowadays there is no off-season there. All our trains towards Goa — Konkan Kanya, Mandovi, JanShatabdi, Rajya Rani — are full, barring the AC double-decker.

In Jan Shatabdi and Rajya Rani, there is scope for increasing the length of the train, but they originate from Dadar a station which cannot handle rakes longer than 18 coaches, hence there is a limitation

Maybe in two years once the Panvel terminus comes in, additional trains for Pune/Konkan side would start from there. There is demand for day trains from Chiplun/Ratnagiri.

But we need a maintenance slot at the Mumbai end which is not working out. Once Nagothane- Roha on Central Railway and our section gets doubled, a few diesel multiple unit (DMU) services that are already running between Diva and Roha on Central Railway might be extended.

What are your hiring plans?

We are hiring essential category staff such as loco pilots, guards, TTEs and station masters regularly. KRCL is a young organisation. All of us were recruited together and we have virtually no retirement as of now. We also have plans to spread out our future recruitment in a manner so that we are not adversely affected by mass retirements.

What is your debt position as on date?

It was about ₹1,500 crore in FY16.We will be picking up more debt for doubling and electrification of our network.

Our operating ratio as per the definition of the Indian Railways is 80 per cent (KRCL spends 80 paise to earn one rupee) — excellent as per IR standards. Now in FY17, we also have the impact of the Seventh Pay Commission.

What about revenue from projects outside Konkan Railway?

The J&K project has been doing really well. We made a topline of ₹550 crore from the construction of the Kashmir Railway project last year. This year, we will touch a much higher figure and this will last for another 2-3 years. We also have two NTPC projects at Kudgi between Bijapur and Gadag (about ₹400 crore) and at Gadarwara between Itarsi and Jabalpur (₹400-500 crore).

IR has enough shelf of projects and anybody and everybody with experience of rail projects will be occupied for the next many years, especially North East, doubling and new lines as the Government is investing heavily.
 
#18,710 ·
Work on B'luru-Hassan rail line comes to halt for want of land

Work on the new Bengaluru-Hassan railway line, which would reduce travel time between the two cities as well as to Mangaluru, has come to an abrupt stop. The 173-km project, which has missed several deadlines, has hit another roadblock for want of land on a two-km stretch.
The project, which was commissioned in 1996 by the then prime minister H D Deve Gowda, is unlikely to be ready by December this year.
Of the total stretch, only 40-km-long Hassan-Shravanabelagola line has been operational. The remaining 130-km broad gauge rail line, which is already completed, has not been put to use due to 13-km incomplete stretch between Hassan and Nelamangala. Here, the South Western Railway (SWR) is facing two issues: Non-availability of land on the two-km stretch and agitation by farmers in the remaining 11-km stretch.
"Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has initiated the process to acquire additional land on the two-km stretch between Solur and Tippasandra in Ramanagaram district. We hope to start the work of laying the track by September as this land would come to our possession in a few days,’’ Sharad Kumar Jain, Chief Engineer (Construction), SWR told DH. The railways need at least three months to complete this stretch, apart from testing and trial runs, he added.
On the remaining incomplete stretch, the SWR was unable to start the work due to agitation by farmers. "Some farmers, who had parted with their properties, are now seeking higher compensation. These lands were acquired as per the old Land Acquisition Act. Now, the farmers are demanding compensation as per the new Act. We cannot agree to their demand as law does not permit it. Approaching court is the only remedy for them”, Jain said. The railways has sought the help of state government to overcome these hurdles, he added.
Bengaluru Rural MP D K Suresh said he would talk to farmers and resolve the issue. "Railways should have started work immediately after acquiring land. There has been a disparity in payment of compensation as land was acquired for the project earlier and after the new land acquisition law came into force. Some of them have parted with their lands for railways, national highway as well as gas pipeline project. Hence, opposition is natural. But, we will try to pacify them”, he said. Hassan MP H D Deve Gowda promised to follow-up the project to make sure that the track is operational by December this year.
Railway commuter T P Lokesh doubted that the project would be ready anytime soon. "The entire 140-km stretch is going waste because of a silly issue. The state government and railways have taken the project for granted despite knowing that it would help thousands of commuters.”

Source - India Rail info
 
#18,711 ·
Train service on three days a week to Shivamogga

Good News for people travelling to Shivamogga::

The biweekly Yeshwantpur–Shivamogga City Express train (no. 16579/16580) will be operated on three days in a week from September 5.

In a release, B.S. Yeddyurappa, Shivamogga MP, has said that from September 5, the train will be operated on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. The existing timings and halts of the train have not been altered. The train will depart from Yeshwantpur at 9 a.m. and reach Shivamogga at 2.45 p.m. In the return direction, the train will depart from Shivamogga at 3.30 p.m. and arrive at Yeshwantpur at 9 p.m.
 
#18,712 ·
Mangalore Junction to Vasai Road to clear extra rush of passengers during Ganpati festival
Festival season knocking the nation and railway department know their importance at this point of time. Railway will run reserved special trains between Vasai Road to Madgaon and Mangalore Junction to Vasai Road to clear extra rush of passengers during Ganpati festival.
Konkan Railway’s chief public relations officer LK Verma said,
Train No. 00115 /00116 Mangalore Junction – Vasai Road – Mangalore Junction special train on special fare will leave from Vasai road at 1.45pm on September 3 and 10. Train will reach Mangalore 11.00 am on next day.
http://tulunadunews.com/863292-2/
 
#18,713 ·
Work on B'luru-Hassan rail line comes to halt for want of land



This shows the casual attitude of railway and state govt. How well they handle railway projects in karnataka, they are in no hurry ever to complete such benefical railway projects. This is how our govt take us for granted.
 
#18,714 ·
Karnataka Cabinet approves 42-Km Bangalore LRTS Project
Bangalore: The cabinet on Thursday approved the 42-km Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) project proposed by the urban development department to ease the traffic woes of Bengaluru.

The LRTS project was mooted in 2007 to supplement Bengaluru’s bus transport system and act as a feeder network for the Metro rail. However, it did not take off due to lack of political will and bureaucratic complacency. As a result, the cost of the project shot up from Rs 5,600 crore, when it was first conceived, to Rs 11,000 crore now.

“Funding has been a major constraint. The cabinet has directed the urban development department to work out the modalities to mobilize financial resources for setting up a reserve fund to execute the project,” law minister TB Jayachandra said.

The government will bear around Rs 5,000 crore of the total cost of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) System announced in the State budget, said C Jayaram, Director (Projects), Bangalore Airport Rail Link Ltd. “The cost to be borne by the government will include land acquisition charges of the over Rs 10,000-crore project,” he said.

The 42-km route, to be implemented soon, will form Phase-I of the originally proposed 77-km LRT project, he said.

Proposed to supplement Namma Metro’s Phase-I and Phase-II network, the LRT consists of two elevated corridors. It will connect Bannerghatta Road to Hebbal along the Outer Ring Road covering 32 km and from Toll Gate along Magadi Road to the proposed Peripheral Ring Road, another 10 km. Both the corridors will intersect at Nirashritara Parihara Kendra (NPK).

Will Act as Feeders in Future

“In the long run, the LRT and Metro will act as feeders to one another. LRT will boost the ridership for Metro and the latter will, in turn, will provide better ridership of the Light Rail,” Jayaram added.

LRT is part of the Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Plan proposed to ease traffic congestion in the city, the final report of which was submitted by engineering consultancy firm RITES in June 2011. A Detailed Project Report was submitted by Capita Symonds, a UK concern in 2013.

When asked about the reasons for the delay in implementing it, Jayaram said, “This is a capital-intensive project. Such projects require a longer gestation period than others so that they do not get into any legal tangles.”

Representatives from the French concern Alstom visited Bengaluru last week to make enquiries in connection with the project.

“The government will call for global tenders after cabinet approval,” Jayaram said. He was, however, non-committal on a deadline for completion of the project.

‘An Expensive Affair’

Sanjeev Dyamannavar, an urban commute expert, felt the LRT will be a costly mode of transport compared to other public transport systems. “It is similar to Metro but the coaches are smaller which reduces its carrying capacity.”
source:railnews
 
#18,717 ·
OFF TOPIC ( OUT OF CONTEXT )

Electric rail from Jammu to Katra to hit tracks next week

The much awaited electric track is ready while the electric rail from Jammu to Katra will run from next week.
”While the work of electrification of railway track on Jammu-Katra route was in progress and finally it has completed,” S K Pathak, Commissioner Railway Safety this afternoon told reporters after inspecting Jammu-Katra Railway Electric Route in Katra town of Reasi district.
He was flanked by DRM Railway Anuj Parkesh and other senior officers. ”Katra-Jammu Railway electric route is ready and within a week, electric train will run on this from Katra railway station to Delhi,” he added.
He said earlier electric train used to reach upto Jammu Tawi Railway station but with the completion of this track, the train will now reach directly to Katra thus giving respite to tourists and pilgrims.
The first train Jammu Mail, which runs from Katra to Delhi will start operating on this track from next week, he asserted. ”More number of trains will run in the days to come which includes Superfast coming from Mumbai and Andaman Express,” he added.

http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/electric-rail-from-jammu-to-katra-to-hit-tracks-next-week/
 
#18,718 ·
Karnataka Cabinet approves 42-Km Bangalore LRTS Project
Bangalore: The cabinet on Thursday approved the 42-km Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) project proposed by the urban development department to ease the traffic woes of Bengaluru.

The LRTS project was mooted in 2007 to supplement Bengaluru’s bus transport system and act as a feeder network for the Metro rail. However, it did not take off due to lack of political will and bureaucratic complacency. As a result, the cost of the project shot up from Rs 5,600 crore, when it was first conceived, to Rs 11,000 crore now.

“Funding has been a major constraint. The cabinet has directed the urban development department to work out the modalities to mobilize financial resources for setting up a reserve fund to execute the project,” law minister TB Jayachandra said.

The government will bear around Rs 5,000 crore of the total cost of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) System announced in the State budget, said C Jayaram, Director (Projects), Bangalore Airport Rail Link Ltd. “The cost to be borne by the government will include land acquisition charges of the over Rs 10,000-crore project,” he said.

The 42-km route, to be implemented soon, will form Phase-I of the originally proposed 77-km LRT project, he said.

Proposed to supplement Namma Metro’s Phase-I and Phase-II network, the LRT consists of two elevated corridors. It will connect Bannerghatta Road to Hebbal along the Outer Ring Road covering 32 km and from Toll Gate along Magadi Road to the proposed Peripheral Ring Road, another 10 km. Both the corridors will intersect at Nirashritara Parihara Kendra (NPK).

Will Act as Feeders in Future

“In the long run, the LRT and Metro will act as feeders to one another. LRT will boost the ridership for Metro and the latter will, in turn, will provide better ridership of the Light Rail,” Jayaram added.

LRT is part of the Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Plan proposed to ease traffic congestion in the city, the final report of which was submitted by engineering consultancy firm RITES in June 2011. A Detailed Project Report was submitted by Capita Symonds, a UK concern in 2013.

When asked about the reasons for the delay in implementing it, Jayaram said, “This is a capital-intensive project. Such projects require a longer gestation period than others so that they do not get into any legal tangles.”

Representatives from the French concern Alstom visited Bengaluru last week to make enquiries in connection with the project.

“The government will call for global tenders after cabinet approval,” Jayaram said. He was, however, non-committal on a deadline for completion of the project.

‘An Expensive Affair’

Sanjeev Dyamannavar, an urban commute expert, felt the LRT will be a costly mode of transport compared to other public transport systems. “It is similar to Metro but the coaches are smaller which reduces its carrying capacity.”
source:railnews
Actually they are building flyovers between BG Road and Hebbal. Wonder how this Light Rail would pass through.

Electronic City Metro Line should have been run in this stretch instead of Marenahalli Road and could have been extended till Hebbal or this Light Rail should have run till Silkboard. Now lot of disconnects.
 
#18,720 ·
US equipment brought in to relocate Tipu armoury

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/568433/us8200equipment-brought-relocate-tipu-armoury.html

Asha Krishnaswamy, Bengaluru, Sep 03, 2016, DHNS:


The stage is set for relocating the 18th-century armoury of Tipu Sultan in Srirangapatna. The equipment for lifting the armoury, weighing around 1,000 tonnes, have arrived from the United States at the monument site.

The translocation of the armoury has been pending for nearly five years due to various reasons. Contract for this sensitive but challenging work has been awarded to PSL-Wolfe Private Limited, a joint venture company.

Massive containers carrying several hydraulic jacks and other equipment, which arrived last week from the US at the Chennai port, landed in Srirangapatna on Wednesday.

The mechanism to be adopted for lifting the armoury as a single unit from the ground level is simple–insert the jacks below the building in a unified manner
and operate them simultaneously. This would lift the structure and later it would be located 100 metres away from the existing spot. This is the first time such an exercise is being taken up in India, according to sources in the Railways.

The shifting of the historic structure would help the Railways to complete the long-pending 13-km single-line track into a double line, which is part of the Bengaluru-Mysuru track-doubling. The armoury at the Srirangapatna railway station poses a hurdle to the alignment of a new track. The Railways is spending about Rs 13.5 crore to relocate the structure.

M K S Mukat Sharma, Director of the project and representative of the JVC, said the relocation of the monument would take place once the monsoon period ends.

“The translocation of the armoury would not require more than a week’s time. But the pre-move activities will go on for about 40 days. We will wait for the monsoon rains to subside. Maybe by November 15, the relocation will be completed,” Sharma said.

He said translocation of structures using the Unified Jacking System are done in the US and the UK, but not in India. This is the first time such an exercise is being carried out here.

A team of 25 to 30 engineers and labourers will be involved in shifting the armoury with US equipment. A technical team will soon arrive from America, he added.

Railway officials said that till the rainy season is over, the existing structure would not be touched.

This is to avoid wet land and skidding. As per the weather forecast, October is the peak season for rains in Srirangapatna. Not less than 160mm rains are expected. Hence, no risk would be taken to touch the structure till November, the officials said.

The length of the pending doubling of the track in Srirangapatna is about 1.7 km. By completing the doubling work, another five minutes of travelling time between Bengaluru and Mysuru could be saved. As the doubling of the track between the two cities has been almost completed, the travel duration has reduced by 15 to 20 minutes, the sources said.
 
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