ABOUT INDIAN RAILWAYS
The first railway on Indian sub-continent ran over a
stretch of 21 miles from Bombay to Thane. The idea of a railway to
connect Bombay with Thane, Kalyan and with the Thal and Bhore Ghats
inclines first occurred to Mr. George Clark, the Chief Engineer of the
Bombay Government, during a visit to Bhandup in 1843.
The formal inauguration ceremony was performed on 16th
April 1853, when 14 railway carriages carrying about 400 guests left
Bori Bunder at 3.30 pm "amidst the loud applause of a vast multitude and
to the salute of 21 guns." The first passenger train steamed out of
Howrah station destined for Hooghly, a distance of 24 miles, on 15th
August, 1854. Thus the first section of the East Indian Railway was
opened to public traffic, inaugurating the beginning of railway
transport on the Eastern side of the subcontinent.
In south the first line was opened on Ist July, 1856 by
the Madras Railway Company. It ran between Vyasarpadi Jeeva Nilayam
(Veyasarpandy) and Walajah Road (Arcot), a distance of 63 miles. In the
North a length of 119 miles of line was laid from Allahabad to Kanpur on
3rd March 1859. The first section from Hathras Road to Mathura
Cantonment was opened to traffic on 19th October, 1875.
These were the small’s beginnings which is due course developed into a network of railway lines all over the country. By 1880 the Indian Railway system had a route mileage of about 9000 miles. INDIAN RAILWAYS, the premier transport organization of the country is the largest rail network in Asia and the world’s second largest under one management.
These were the small’s beginnings which is due course developed into a network of railway lines all over the country. By 1880 the Indian Railway system had a route mileage of about 9000 miles. INDIAN RAILWAYS, the premier transport organization of the country is the largest rail network in Asia and the world’s second largest under one management.
Territorial Readjustment of Zones and In-House Reforms
In order to bring about greater efficiency in
administration, speedy implementation of on-going projects, better
customer care, reduction of workload on General Managers etc., Indian
Railways have decided to create seven new zones by territorial
re-adjustment of existing zones. The new zones, having limited financial
burden on Railways, will have thin and lean, efficient and modern
administrative set up. Two of the new zones have already started
functioning.
National Rail Vikas Yojana
With a view to complete strategically important
projects within a stipulated period of time, a non-budgetary investment
initiative for the development of Railways has been launched.. Under the
scheme all the capacity bottlenecks in the critical sections of the
railway network will be removed at an investment of Rs.15,000 crore over
the next five years. These projects would include:
1.Strengthening of the golden Quadrilateral to run more
long-distance mail/express and freight trains at a higher speed of 100
kmph.
2.Strengthening of rail connectivity to ports and development of multi-modal corridors to hinterland.
3.Construction of four mega bridges - two over River Ganga, one over River Brahmaputra, and one over River Kosi.
4.Accelerated completion of those projects nearing completion and other important projects.
2.Strengthening of rail connectivity to ports and development of multi-modal corridors to hinterland.
3.Construction of four mega bridges - two over River Ganga, one over River Brahmaputra, and one over River Kosi.
4.Accelerated completion of those projects nearing completion and other important projects.
New Steps towards Safety and Security :
Safety of 13 million passengers that Indian Railways
serve every day is of paramount importance to the system. Over the
years, apart from the regular safety norms followed, the network has
taken a number of steps through innovative use of technology and stepped
up training to its manpower to enhance safety standards. Constitution
of Rs.17,000 crore non-lapsable Special Railway Safety Fund (SRSF) to
replace the arrears of aging assets of Railways over the next six years
has been a historical move in this direction. A number of distressed
bridges, old tracks, signalling system and other safety enhancement
devices will be replaced during this period. As far as budget allocation
for safety is concerned, Rs.1,400 crore was allocated in the revised
estimate for the year 2001-02 and Rs.2,210 crore for the year 2002-2003.
Extensive field trials of the Anti-Collision Device (ACD), indigenously
developed by Konkan Railway, is going on and once deployed across the
Zonal Railways, this innovative technology will help railways reduce
accidents due to collision between trains.
Security of railway passengers is at present a shared responsibility of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Reserve Police (GRP). Efforts are on to amend the Railway Act to give more powers to the RPF in ensuring security of passengers on trains and within Railway premises. Deployment of women police Force has been made for security and assistance of women passengers.
Security of railway passengers is at present a shared responsibility of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Reserve Police (GRP). Efforts are on to amend the Railway Act to give more powers to the RPF in ensuring security of passengers on trains and within Railway premises. Deployment of women police Force has been made for security and assistance of women passengers.
Improving Financial Health :
The financial position of Indian Railways has been
slowly but steadily improving. Some of the highlights of the financial
performance during 2001-02 include: improved operating ratio from 98.8
per cent to 96.6 per cent, savings in ordinary working expenses of
Rs.1,487 crore, Depreciation Reserve Fund (DRF) balance goes up from Rs.
78.04 crore during March last year to Rs.632.99 crore during same time
this year. Railways have established a new milestone in incremental
freight loading during July this year by carrying 5.70 million tonnes of
goods. Freight loading for the last financial year crossed the target
and attained 492.31 million tonnes.
New Trends in Passenger Amenities :
To take care of the unreserved segment of the
passengers, a new pilot project on computer based unreserved ticketing
has been launched this year. Of the 13 million passengers served by the
network everyday, nearly 12 million are unreserved passengers. To cater
to this huge segment, computer based ticketing systems has been launched
for all stations in Delhi area and in due course throughout the
country. With this, unreserved tickets can be issued even from locations
other than the boarding station and will reduce crowds at booking
offices and stations.
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation
with the assistance of Centre for Railway Information
Systems has launched On-line ticketing facility which can be accessed
through website irctc.co.in. Computerized reservation facilities were
added at 245 new locations. At present these facilities are available at
758 locations in the country covering about 96 per cent of the total
workload of passenger reservation. Computerized Reservation related
enquiries about accommodation availability, passenger status, train
schedule, train between pair of stations etc. have been made web
enabled.
A pilot project for issuing monthly and quarterly season tickets through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) has been launched in Mumbai this year and has been found very successful. Another pilot project for purchasing tickets including monthly and quarterly season tickets through Smart Card has also been launched.
"National Train Enquiry System" has been started in order to provide upgraded passenger information and enquiries. This system provides the train running position on a current basis through various output devices such as terminals in the station enquiries and Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) at important railway stations. So far the project has been implemented at 98 stations.
Freight Operations Information System (FOIS) Computerisation of freight operations by Railways has been achieved by implementing Rake Management System (RMS). Such FOIS terminals are available at 235 locations
Railways have established their own intra-net ’Railnet’ It provides networking between Railway Board, Zonal Headquarters, Divisional headquarters, Production Units, Training Centers etc.
Sterling Performance by PSUs The public sector undertakings of the Railways, especially IRCON and RITES, scored commendable achievements during the last three years. IRCON International has achieved a record turnover of Rs.900 crore during 2001-02 and the foreign exchange earnings of this prestigious organization has increased six fold over the years. At the international level, IRCON is at present executing different projects in Malaysia, Bangladesh and Indonesia. The PSU has registered a strong presence in the international scenario by its sterling track record.
RITES, another prestigious PSU under the Ministry has scaled new heights in performance, profit and dividend to the shareholders during the last three years. Its turn over increased from Rs.172 crore in 1999 to Rs.283 crore in 2002. RITES for its sterling performance secured the prestigious ISO-9001 Certification this year. The company has also entered into export/leasing of locomotives in different countries in Asia and Africa. RITES is operating all over the world including Columbia, UK, Iran, Malayasia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Indian Railways Finance Corporation Limited secured excellent rating for fourth year in succession by the Department of Public enterprises on the basis of the performance targets. Besides, Standards and Poor’s, the international credit rating agency, also reaffirmed the sovereign ratings to IRFC. The Corporation has been making profits and paying dividends.
Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC ) Internet based ticket booking has been launched by IRCTC in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Calcutta this year. Hygienic and air-conditioned food plazas having consumer-friendly ambience opened at Pune and Chennai and license for similar plazas awarded for 17 more locations. In all, 50 such plazas will be opened by the end of this financial year across the zonal Railways. Railneer - packaged drinking water is to be made available from December this year.
More than half a lakh tourists have availed the value added tour package programme launched by the Corporation this year.
A pilot project for issuing monthly and quarterly season tickets through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) has been launched in Mumbai this year and has been found very successful. Another pilot project for purchasing tickets including monthly and quarterly season tickets through Smart Card has also been launched.
"National Train Enquiry System" has been started in order to provide upgraded passenger information and enquiries. This system provides the train running position on a current basis through various output devices such as terminals in the station enquiries and Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) at important railway stations. So far the project has been implemented at 98 stations.
Freight Operations Information System (FOIS) Computerisation of freight operations by Railways has been achieved by implementing Rake Management System (RMS). Such FOIS terminals are available at 235 locations
Railways have established their own intra-net ’Railnet’ It provides networking between Railway Board, Zonal Headquarters, Divisional headquarters, Production Units, Training Centers etc.
Sterling Performance by PSUs The public sector undertakings of the Railways, especially IRCON and RITES, scored commendable achievements during the last three years. IRCON International has achieved a record turnover of Rs.900 crore during 2001-02 and the foreign exchange earnings of this prestigious organization has increased six fold over the years. At the international level, IRCON is at present executing different projects in Malaysia, Bangladesh and Indonesia. The PSU has registered a strong presence in the international scenario by its sterling track record.
RITES, another prestigious PSU under the Ministry has scaled new heights in performance, profit and dividend to the shareholders during the last three years. Its turn over increased from Rs.172 crore in 1999 to Rs.283 crore in 2002. RITES for its sterling performance secured the prestigious ISO-9001 Certification this year. The company has also entered into export/leasing of locomotives in different countries in Asia and Africa. RITES is operating all over the world including Columbia, UK, Iran, Malayasia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Indian Railways Finance Corporation Limited secured excellent rating for fourth year in succession by the Department of Public enterprises on the basis of the performance targets. Besides, Standards and Poor’s, the international credit rating agency, also reaffirmed the sovereign ratings to IRFC. The Corporation has been making profits and paying dividends.
Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC ) Internet based ticket booking has been launched by IRCTC in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Calcutta this year. Hygienic and air-conditioned food plazas having consumer-friendly ambience opened at Pune and Chennai and license for similar plazas awarded for 17 more locations. In all, 50 such plazas will be opened by the end of this financial year across the zonal Railways. Railneer - packaged drinking water is to be made available from December this year.
More than half a lakh tourists have availed the value added tour package programme launched by the Corporation this year.
Innovative Technologies by Konkan Railway :
Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC), the technological
marvel of Indian Railways, has invented quite a few new technologies.
Anti Collision Device (ACD), state-of-art indigenous technology of KRC
is currently under-going intensive field trials and is capable of
avoiding collision between trains. Sky bus metro is another innovative,
economic and eco-friendly mass rapid transportation solution devised by
Konkan Railway. Self Stablising Track (SST) devised by KRC, which is
undergoing trials at present, will help Railways run the fastest train
in the near future and will make tracks much more safe and sustainable.
Private Sector Participation :
The participation of both private and public sectors in
developing rail infrastructure has gone up. A joint venture company was
formed with Pipava Port authorities to provide broad gauge connectivity
to Pipava Port. MoUs have been signed between Ministry of Railways and
the State governments of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West
Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand in developing rail infrastructure in
these States.
Telecommunication - New Trends :
To give improved telecommunication systems on Railways,
Optical Fibre based communication systems has been adopted and laying
OFC has increased to 7,700 route kilometer this year. Rail Tel
Corporation has been created to make a nationwide broadband multimedia
network by laying optical fibre cable along the railway tracks. This
system will provide better operational and passenger amenities and
additional revenue to Railways.
New Technologies :
India became the first developing country and the 5th
country in the world to roll out the first indigenously built
"state-of-the-art" high horse power three phase electric locomotive when
the first such loco was flagged off from Chittranjan Locomotive Works
(CLW). CLW has been achieving progressive indigenisation and the cost of
locomotives has come down to the level of Rs.13.65 crore.
Diesel Locomotives Works, Varanasi has produced state-of-the-art 4000 HP AC/AC diesel locomotive in April this year. These locos are capable of hauling 4,800 tonne freight trains at a speed of 100 KMPH and can run continuously up to 90 days in one stretch without any major maintenance.
Diesel Locomotives Works, Varanasi has produced state-of-the-art 4000 HP AC/AC diesel locomotive in April this year. These locos are capable of hauling 4,800 tonne freight trains at a speed of 100 KMPH and can run continuously up to 90 days in one stretch without any major maintenance.
Honours and Awards
Indian Railways achieved a number of recognitions and
awards in sports, tourism sector and for excellence in operational
matters. In the Common Wealth Games in Manchester, the Indian teams
record performance has been mainly due to Railway team’s excellence in
sports. Except one member the entire women’s Hockey team which bagged
the gold medal belonged to Railways. Mohd Ali Qamar of Indian Railways
has bagged gold medal for boxing and other participants from Railways
helped India win medals in many a team events. A number of sportspersons
from Railways were conferred with the coveted Arjuna Awards and other
major sports awards.
Darjeeling Himalayan Railways attained the World Heritage Status from UNESCO.
Fairy Queen, the oldest functioning steam engine
in the world, which finds a place in the Guinness Book of World
Records, got Heritage Award at the International Tourist Bureau, Berlin
in March, 2000. On operational front, Delhi Main station entered the
Guinness Book for having the world’s largest route relay interlocking
system.
Social obligations and care for weaker sections
Senior citizens, students, disabled persons etc. enjoy
concessional benefits from Railways. New initiatives in this area during
the last three years include reduction of age limits for special
concession to senior women citizen from 65 to 60 years, blind and
mentally challenged persons can now travel in AC classes on confessional
rates. Free second class Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs) for school going
children upto tenth standard for travel between home and school was
also introduced.
Tie-Up with Foreign Railways
Indian Railways is in constant touch with Railways
across the world to bring in state-of-art facilities in its system.
Towards this, a Memorandum of Understanding was singed during the Eighth
Session of the Indo-Austria Joint Economic Commission held in Vienna.
This seeks to promote and deepen long-term infrastructure-specific
cooperation between Indian and Austrian Railways to their mutual
benefit.A three-day International Conference of Union of Railways was
organised by Indian Railways in New Delhi in which hundreds of delegates
from various industries and Railways around the world participated.
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