The ones that are missing in the above are:
The following is reproduced verbatim from Tathya.in with its permission.
Bhubaneswar:20/August/2007
Known as an open minded Railways top notch, Surendra Singh Khurana quietly dropped a bomb shell on the Independence Day.The East Coast Railways (ECOR) General Manager (GM) pointing out the strength of Zone said that “With only 4 per cent of the track of Indian Railways (IR), we cater for about 12 per cent of total loading and we earn 7 per cent of the total earnings of IR”.
Being part of the Railway establishment there is not much more that he can say to indirectly point out the unfairness of Indian Railways towards ECOR and the State of Orissa and parts of Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh that is covered by ECOR.
However the incompetent Orissa leadership did not able to take ECOR GM’s hint – Orissa and its tribal areas continue to suffer, thanks to the apathy of the IR authorities.
The people of Orissa are doubly unfortunate that on top of this level of unfairness of Indian Railways, it also has an incompetent leadership and a callous bureaucracy which can not take such an obvious hint.
Mr.Khurana set an agenda to make a coherent argument and take it to the Prime minister, Railway minister and the Planning Commission and convince them that IR must spend the same percentage, if not more, of its revenue that it gets from ECOR, in the areas covered by ECOR.
This is inexplicable in the current environment where the PM seems to be open to such logic, as shown by his pronouncements regarding central universities in each state that does not have one and other recent HRD initiatives.
The argument for spending more than the revenue percentage is multi-fold: long term past neglect by the IR of the ECOR areas, especially KBK and adjacent districts in Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh; backwardness of these areas; the high tribal population of these areas; and need for rapid development in these areas so as to prevent then from further slipping into the Maoist folds.
All the Orissa government, its MPs and its bureaucrats have done in the past is to make some empty noises around the time of the Railway budget, which predictably gets cowed down by all other states making similar noises, and then they forget about it to slip into slumber.
Considering that ECOR among the top profitable railway zones it might as well be the case that close to 10 per cent of the total profit of IR comes from ECOR.
In 2003-2004 and 2004-05 the working expense as part of gross earnings of the ECOR zone is the second best at 66.64 per cent and 61.75 per cent respectively.
In the 2004 Railway budget the then Railway minister Nitish Kumar had proposed the Remote Area Rail Sampark Yojana which aimed to complete lines like Khurda-Balangir to be completed within the next 5 years.
Now this plan has been completely derailed by the present UPA government.
The Railways while making its big plans for freight corridors to be taken up in Eleventh Plan, high-speed rail and metros, it seems that the ECOR areas are completely forgotten.
The Prime Minister in his speeches and the UPA in its manifesto talk about even development across India and especially development of tribal etcetera, the ground action is exactly opposite.
The Planning Commission members as well as teams that visit KBK talk about the importance of Rail connectivity to raise these areas out of backwardness, why is it that the Indian Railways (especially under UPA), has completely forgotten about the backward and tribal areas of ECOR.
The Central government putting onerous conditions (such as 50 per cent match by the state) on development of lines such as the KBK related lines (and similar lines in ECOR areas of Chhatisgarh) when it knows very well that those states do not have the ability for the matching fund?
Does the central government want that districts like KBK should remain inaccessible and thus poor and backward for ages?
Does the central government want that these areas should slip further and further into the hands of the extremists?
Now it is the high time for Railways, being the largest employers of the world should establish a production unit in the tribal area (such as KBK) where it can more easily employ more tribals and thus help them in a bigger way.
But alas! Who will take up the issues?
Almost everybody those who matters are busy in their own game pushing plan and the ECOR finds it self in funds crunch for taking up long pending projects of the areas.
Are you listening the Chief Minister ?
Excerpts from http://eastcoastrailway.gov.in/custom/press_release/index.php.
INDIAN RAILWAYS PLAY VITAL ROLE IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY : KHURANA
Bhubaneswar, August 16, 2007
“Indian Railways since its beginning in 1853, has always played a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the country and has been truly the life line of the nation” stated Shri Surendra Singh Khurana, General Manager, East Coast Railway, …
… East Coast Railway is no exception and since its inception in 2003, has been a major factor in the socio-economic development of the three states which it serves. We have 2521.30 route kms. of track that criss-cross the three states of the country on which more than 245 trains ply daily, carrying more than 1.5 lakh passengers and hauling nearly 0.23 million tones of freight. With only 4% of the track of Indian Railways, we cater for about 12% of total loading of Indian railway and about 7% of total earning of IR.
Appreciating the encouraging performance of East Coast Railway, Shri Khurana said “As far as revenue loading is concerned, we have loaded 29.49 MT upto July ’07 as compared to 26.87 MT done last year with a growth of 9.75%. In originating passengers, we have carried 19.46 million passengers as compared to 17.01 millions carried last year with an improvement of 14.42 %. Our originating passenger earnings to the end of July’07 have been Rs. 17.91 crores which is 20.17% higher than last year’s achievement. Similarly our originating goods earnings to the end of July ’07 has been Rs. 1524.92 crores which is 17.96% more as compared the last year’s achievement. The year 2007-08 has been declared as the Cleanliness Year by the Hon’ble MR. For proper maintenance of stations, a detailed procedure with pinpointed responsibility of the various officials has already been formulated. Adequate powers have been delegated to the DRMs, PHoDs and other officials connected with various cleanliness activities. Special campaigns are being launched to ensure cleanliness and hygiene at station premises, in passenger trains, railway lines, waiting rooms etc”.
Highlighting the various Passenger Amenity works in ECoR General Manager Shri Khurana told “Total 58 PRS locations are already functioning on East Coast Railway. One more PRS will be commissioned shortly at Jajpur town. UTSs have already been commissioned at 23 stations. Further, UTSs at 187 stations have been sanctioned during 2007-08. MoU with various banks have been signed for setting up of 47 ATMs at various stations over East Coast Railway. IVRS facilities are already available at 13 locations and are at various stages of progress at 09 locations.
Shri Khurana also stated that “During 2007-08, new project of doubling between Titlagarh-Raipur has been sanctioned. Similarly survey for Sambalpur-Talcher doubling and Khurda Road doubling has been sanctioned in 2007-08 budget. Railway Electrification works on branch lines of Cuttack-Paradeep and Talcher Colliery sidings will be commissioned during this year”.
INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE
Bhubaneswar, August 15, 2007
On the occasion of our 61st Independence Day, I extend my hearty wishes to all Railway men & women and their families.Independence Day is an occasion to rejoice in our freedom and to pay collective homage to all those great heroes who sacrificed their lives to help us achieve independence. Let me first of all salute those great champions of Indian War of Independence, who for the sake of freeing our motherland from slavery, sacrificed their lives. Since then India has marched ahead in all fields and is one of the fastest growing economies in the world in the last decade.
Indian Railways since its humble beginning in 1853, has always played a significant role in the social and economic development of the country and has been truly the life line of the nation. East Coast Railway is no exception and since its inception in 2003, has been a major factor in the socio economic development of the 3 states which it serves. We have 2521.63 route kms of track that criss-cross the three states of the union on which more than 245 trains ply daily, carrying more than 15 lakh passengers and hauling nearly 0.23 Million tonnes of freight. With only 4% of track of Indian Railway, we cater for about 12% of total loading of Indian Railway and about 7% of total earning of Indian Railway.
The performance for the first 4 months of this year has been quite encouraging with respect to last year’s actuals and we have achieved more than the previous year’s actual both in passenger as well as freight. I congratulate all Officers & staff of East Coast Railway for achieving an upward trend in all important parameters of Railway’s working.
As far as revenue loading is concerned, we have loaded 29.49 MT up to July’07 as compared to 26.87 MT done last year with a growth of 9.75%. In originating passengers, we have carried 19.46 million passengers as compared to 17.01 millions carried last year with an improvement of 14.42%. Our originating passenger earning to end of July’07 has been Rs.170.91 crores which is 20.17% higher than last year’s achievement. Similarly, our originating goods earnings to end of July’07 has been Rs.1524.92 crores which is 17.96% more as compared the last year’s achievement. This achievement is quite significant considering that in May loading was affected in KK line for 10 days due to disruption in power supply by CSEB. There are number of instances, during April to June, where extremists have removed rail from track, blasting of track, blasting of power supply towers, blasting of engine, removal of fish plate, etc. However, most of these performances fall short when we compare with the budget proportion till July’07. All these indicate that we have to really work very hard and find out alternative sources and innovative ideas to optimize the loading potential and transportation to achieve the high targets fixed. At the same time we need to focus on capacity creation by completing the ongoing traffic facility and throughput enhancement works on a war footing.
The year 2007-08 has been declared as the Cleanliness Year by the Hon’ble MR. For proper maintenance of stations, a detailed procedure with pinpointed responsibility of the various officials has already been formulated. Adequate powers have been delegated to the DRMs, PHoDs and other officials connected with various cleanliness activities. Special campaigns are being launched to ensure cleanliness and hygiene at station premises, in passenger trains, railway lines, waiting rooms, etc. In order to supplement our efforts, display advertisements are being given in leading newspapers to create awareness in cleanliness and social hygiene amongst traveling public. At the same time, local FM radio channels and local TV channels have been used to transmit cleanliness advertisements to sensitize the Rail users. Contracts for clean train station, mechanized cleaning and rag picking relating to cleanliness activities are already in operation at some stations and at some other stations, these are under progress. I would urge all of you to put in sustained efforts so that needed improvement in the cleanliness of our stations as desired by the Hon’ble MR is achieved and we set up such standards in cleanliness worth emulating by other railways
Last year face lift for 15 stations were sanctioned under “touch & feel” items and most of the works have been completed barring a few which are targeted to be completed by Dec’07. Similarly, for 2007-08, we have identified 15 more stations for a complete face lift including passenger amenity items under touch & feel scheme. These stations are Khurda Road, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road, Palasa, Balugaon, Talcher (Khurda Road division). Koraput, Parvathipuram, Bobbili, Simhachalam, Chipurpalli(Waltair Division), Mahasamund, Bargarh Road, Khariar Road, Muniguda & Bagbahara (Sambalpur Division).
A number of modern passenger amenity items have been completed and some more have been initiated to meet the needs of the passengers and public. A total of 58 PRS locations are already functioning on East Coast Railway. One more PRS will be commissioned shortly at Jajpur-Keonjhar Road. At 23 stations UTSs have already been commissioned. Further, UTSs at 187 stations have been sanctioned during 2007-08. MoU with various banks have been signed for setting up of 47 ATMs at various stations over East Coast Railway. IVRS facility is already available at 13 locations and are at various stages of progress at 09 locations. Auto-announcement-cum-Answering system are existing at 19 locations and are in progress at 9 other locations. Internet booking is existing at Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar & Cuttack. Computerization of complaints is existing at six locations and one at Sambalpur is in progress. National train enquiry system is functioning at 10 locations and four more at Parvatipuram, Duvvadda, Simhachalam & Koraput are in progress. Similarly, touch screen terminals have been provided at two locations and at 11 locations the work is in progress.
This year East Coast Railway has been assigned to run two new trains viz. Bhubaneswar-Rameswaram Exp. (Weekly) & Bhubaneswar-Ranchi (Garib Rath Exp)- (3 days in a week). At the same time there is increase in frequency of Puri-Ahmedabad Exp. from three days to four days in a week and Hatia-Yaswantpur from weekly to two days in a week. We have already included these changes in the new time table and would be able to run as soon as the rakes arrive.
Safety & security of passengers should be one of our prime focus. In recent past, the threat from anti-social elements, have alarmed us to be more careful in handling the transportation of passengers and goods, so that public will feel safe to travel by train. Action is on hand to provide suitable measures at important stations to avoid such menace.
East Coast region of India is witnessing an industrial upsurge with many industries being set up or proposed to be set up in the near future. It is understood about 46 MoUs have been signed by Govt. of Orissa with various companies/industries/Agencies for setting up of a number of industries. A number of new ports are likely to be made functional within East Coast territory. To meet the burgeoning demand for transportation of people & freight in the region, ECoR has geared up its machinery for the early completion of many of the new lines, doubling, gauge conversion and traffic facility works. RRI at Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar Yard remodelling, Talcher-Modification of station yard, Cuttack-Improvement to goods terminal facilities, Mandira Hasaud-Development of goods terminal facilities, Lakholi-2nd loop along with simultaneous reception and despatch facility, Deogaon-3rd running line with universal mode of simultaneous reception and despatch facilities, Visakhapatnam-Gopalapatnam Route relay interlocking & automatic signalling and Hindol Road-Development of ballast siding as standard common siding have been commissioned and a number of works are in various stages of progress.
During 2007-08, new project of doubling between Titlagarh-Raipur has been sanctioned. Similarly survey for Sambalpur-Talcher doubling and Khurda Road-Puri doubling has been sanctioned in 2007-08 budget. Railway Electrification works on branch lines of Cuttack-Paradeep and Talcher Colliery sidings will be commissioned during this year. The work of electrification between Daitari-Banspani and Haridaspur-Paradeep has been mentioned in the 2007-08 budget speech. All this will not only increase the much needed line capacity for East Coast Railway but also will help in the economic development of the region.
The Carriage Repair workshop, the only workshop in East Coast Railway, has been performing excellently over the years. Up to June’07, the workshop has turned out 106 coaches as compared to 96 coaches achieved during the corresponding period of last year.
Since productivity is directly linked to a satisfied and motivated workforce, we are committed to win the hearts of our employees by carrying out several staff amenity works. Community halls are being be built at Brahmapur, Bhubaneswar, Bhadrak, Vizianagaram, Araku, Sambalpur & Titlagarh. Zonal Central Hospital at Mancheswar has been made functional and specialized Doctors of various disciplines have been in position. Proposal has been sent to Railway Board to make three important hospitals at Bhubneswar as referral hospitals for East Coast Railway. 15 costly medical equipments have been provided in various health units/hospitals. Major surgery ward has been made functional at Central Hospital.
Our organized labour unions are also part & parcel of Railway’s functioning. Their responsibility is directly reflected in the performance of the Railway. I am sure this harmonious relation between management and labour unions will continue to make East Coast Railway progress fast in its aim to be the best zonal railway in terms of productivity.
We should not be content with our present laurels. Action should be initiated to achieve future goals. Lots of investments in various projects are going on for increasing our loading and consequential earnings thereof. All out efforts should be made to divert road traffic to rail by offering them attractive discount schemes.
Whatever we have achieved is not sufficient; let us not rest. We should move further to achieve excellence in our field of activities. Let us dedicate ourselves for the overall growth of East Coast Railway.
I once again convey my best wishes to all Railway men & women and their families and join you all in saluting those men & women who sacrificed their present for the comfort of future young generation.
JAI HIND.
( S. S. KHURANA)
GENERAL MANAGER
Pioneer reports on this. Following are some excerpts.
… general manager Surendra Singh Khurana said that with only four per cent of the track of Indian Railways, ECoR caters about 12 per cent of total loading of the Indian Railways and about seven per cent of its total earnings.
He said, “As far as loading is concerned, we have loaded 29.49 MT up to July in comparison to 26.87 MT done the last year with a growth of 9.75 per cent. In originating passengers, we have carried 19.46 million passengers compared to 17.01 million carried last year with an improvement of 14.42 per cent.”
“Our originating passenger earnings to the end of July 2007 have been Rs 17.91 crore, which is 20.17 per cent higher than last year’s. Similarly, our originating goods earnings to the end of July amount to Rs 1, 524.92 crore, which is 17.96 per cent more compared the last year’s.”
Khurana also stated that in 2007-08, the new project of doubling of Titlagarh-Raipur track has been sanctioned. Similarly, the survey for Sambalpur-Talcher and Khurda Road doublings has been sanctioned in the 2007-08 budget.
Following is a from a PIB based on a Rajya Sabha answer.
Thirty railway stations have been identified for modernization under modernication scheme on the ECOR during 2006-07 and 2007-08. These are:
2006-07 – Bhubneshwar, Cuttack, Puri, Brahampur, Bhadrak, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Kantabanji, Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagram, Rayagada, Duvvada & Srikakulam Road railway stations.
2007-08 – Khurda Road, Jaipur Keonjhar Road, Palasa, Balugaon, Dhenkanal, Bargarh Road, Mhasamund, Bagabara road, Khariar road, Muniguda, Koraput, Parvathipuram, Simhachalam, Bobbili & Chipurupalli railway stations.
Railways have invited bids for station modernization works. These works are to include the following:
a) Improved circulating area
b) Improved concourse
c) Better Platform surfaces
d) Improved waiting halls with good toilets
e) Adequate lighting on Platforms and other conspicuous locations at station
f) Modern design water booths
g) Improved seating arrangements, etc.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri R.Velu in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
The Statesman reported that
Priority will now be given on modernisation of stations and other passenger amenities, said Mr. Surendra Singh Khurana, general manager, East Coast Railway.
During his recent visit to stations like Bhubaneswar, Khurda Road, Berhampur, Mr. Khurana informed that the air-conditioning of booking office and PRS complex in Berhampur station will be completed soon and added that necessary development to the second class waiting hall will be taken up. A second two wheeler stand shall be constructed to free congestion in the existing stand and a proposal was underway for the construction of a washable apron at Berhampur station, along with development of platform no. 4 with foot over bridge (FOB) and second entry.
Proposals shall be processed for the frontage of Khurda Road including circulating area, more numbers of retiring rooms, VIP room on the second floor of the existing station building, stated Mr. Khurana. Lingaraj temple road station will be updated as a modern sub-urban station. Balugaon station will also be taken up for modernization this year.
An amount of Rs 50 crore has been sanctioned for Khurda Road division for undertaking various developmental works, which includes Rs 12.1 crore for traffic facility works, Rs. 10.4 crore for level crossing and Rs 7.5 crore for passenger amenities, informed Mr. Khurana.
Following is an excerpt from Dharitri’s report on it.
Hindu reports on this. Following are some excerpts.
A sum of Rs. 2 crores has been sanctioned for the development and modernisation of the Berhampur railway station, Divisional Manager of the East Coast Railways P.K. Srivastav has said. Keeping its colonial architecture intact, work is on to add structures
to the existing station and to beautify it.Speaking to newsmen, Mr. Srivastav said to expand the station premises, the goods shed by the side of platform number three was shifted to Jagannathpur. A fourth platform would be added in place of the goods shed. The new platform and the continuing work on the second foot overbridge at the railway station were expected to be completed by2008. As per the new plans, the Berhampur railway station would have two entry gates in a bid to reduce rush at the main gate.
Following is a picture of the station that appeared in Today’s Samaja.
Following is ECOR’s press release (dated July 19 2007) on this.
East Coast Railway has increased its freight loading and passenger carrying during the first quarter of the current financial year i.e. from Apr ’07 to June’07 and earned Rs.1266.86 Crores in originating basis during this period which is Rs.179.68 crores more than the corresponding period of last year.
ECoR has loaded 21.81 million tonnes of freight by registering an increase of 8.88% more in loading than the corresponding period of last financial year and has earned Rs.1115.66 Crores from this by registering an increase of 16.04% more revenue as compared to last financial year.
On passenger front, ECoR has carried 14.49 million of passengers by registering an increase of 11.37% more than the corresponding period of last financial year and has earned Rs.131.48 Crores by registering an increase of 20.46% more than the previous year.
ECoR has earned total revenue of Rs.1266.86 Crores from the first quarter of the current financial year registering an increase of 16.52% from the last financial year. It may be mentioned that, during the period of last financial year, ECoR earned Rs.1087.18 crores from passengers, freight, and other business operations.
Earlier it was reported that 20 stations (its started with 16 then became 17, tehn 19 and now 20) in India will be made world class. The 20 stations as reported here are: Agra, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Anand Vihar (Delhi), Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bijwasan (Delhi), Chandigarh, Chennai, Mumbai CST, Howrah, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mathura, Patna, Pune, Secunderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Varanasi.
In case of Bhubaneswar, due to lack of land adjacent to the existing Bhubaneswar station, there was speculation and bits of news regarding a new world class station being built in Barang. The following news report from Sambada confirms it.
Following is an article written by B. K. Mishra, Chief Public Relation Officer of ECOR. It appeared in the May 1-15 issue of Pratisruti Plus.
The following article from Sambada suggests connecting Bimlagarh with Nayagarh (near Keonjhar) for a shorter Bhubaneswar-Rourkela route. It talks about the delay in constructing the Talcher – Bimlagarh line and proposes this alternative.
If Bimlagarh is connected to Nayagarh then the route between Bhubaneswar and Rourkela will consist of the following segments: Bhubaneswar – Jakhapura (92kms), Jakhapura – Tomka (24kms), Tomka – Nayagarh (130kms), Nayagarh – Bimlagarh (30?kms), Bimlagarh – Bondamunda HLT (46.5kms), Bondamunda HLT – Rourkela Jn (12 kms).
(This is copied from my site on Railway infrastructure in Orissa.)
Most of Orissa’s rail network ( full-orissa-map, map-east-n- north-orissa, map-south-n-west-orissa) is part of the East Coast railway( map1, map2, time-table), and a small portion is part of the South eastern railway( map, plans) of Indian Railways. For trains across India see the Indian Railways Schedule, and for trains across Orissa see the ECOR schedule. Maps from IRFCA are here. India9.com has a list of stations and trains related to Orissa.
(ecor map)
Current railway connectivity and Indian railway websites:
Railway budgets:
New lines, gauge conversions, doublings: [Hindu-April05]
Future Plans:
Rail freight corridor: [TOI-Oct20-05] RVNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Limited) : projects, public notices
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