OREANDA-NEWS. May 27, 2015. Followings are the initiatives/achievements of Ministry of Railways in the last one year:-

PASSENGER AMENITIES & SERVICES

1.    All Indian helpline no. 138 launched for passengers to register complaints etc.

2.    All India Security helpline 182 launched to help report any unsavory incidents.

3.    A ‘Customer Complaint Web Portal and Mobile Application’ (Android/Windows based mobile app) launched.

4.    The scheme of paper less unreserved ticketing using Mobile phone started. The first pilot introduced in the Egmore-Tambaram Suburban Section of Chennai.

5.    Next generation e-ticketing system introduced increasing booking speed by around 4 times.

6.    E-catering services introduced in 134 pairs of trains with a view to serve meal to the passengers at their seat by placing order through a phone call, SMS or website.

7.    The facility of SMS alerts started on informing the status of reserved tickets.

8.    SMS alerts to give wake up calls introduced.

9.    Yatri Ticket /Sewa Kendra (YTSK) Scheme launched to allow private agents to operate ticketing terminals for selling reserved as well as unreserved tickets.

10.RO drinking water units commissioned at Dwarka, Gadag, HNZM, Katihar, Madurai and Tirupati Stations.

11. Passenger amenities were improved at 108 stations under the scheme of Adarsh Stations during 2014-15.

12.Indian Railways started six pilgrims special tourist trains to cover Hindu Pilgrim centres, Jain Pilgrim centres and Sikh Pilgrim centres. More different pilgrim centres being planned in subsequent phases.

13. Mobile App for security of women launched in Mumbai suburban trains in the first phase.

14. Decision taken to provide CCTV cameras on train coaches in order to improve security measures.

15.Wi-Fi services now made available on 9 stations. include Bengaluru, Secunderabad, Mumbai CST, Agra, Varanasi, Howrah, Chennai and Ahmedabad. More stations in phases.

16.Indian Railways participating in the ‘Swachch Bharat Abhiyan’. Separate directorate for Environment and Housekeeping created. Integrated policy for cleanliness is under formulation.

17.More than 10159 bio-toilets have been fitted till March 2015.

18.Additional 83 numbers of trains have been covered under On Board Housekeeping Scheme taking total coverage to around 500 trains.

19.Mechanised laundries for supplying clean linen set up at 6 new locations taking total to 33 laundries.

20.Dustbins to be provided in non AC coaches also.

21.First ‘Green’ DEMU train introduced on Northern Railway to run betwee4n Rewari-Rohtak section.

22.Disposable bags for garbage disposal have been started as a pilot project in Mumbai-Amritsar Punjab mail.

23.NIFT, Delhi has been engaged for designing of bedroll etc.

24.E-ticketing portal in Hindi is ready for launch.

25.Online booking of retiring rooms functional. 

26.Instructions have been issued to provide mobile charging facilities in all new general class coaches. Mobile charging facilities will be provided in 3000 existing coaches in 2015-16.

27.E-concierge services started in 22 railway stations.

28.Online booking of retiring rooms functional. 

29.Instructions have been issued to provide mobile charging facilities in all new general class coaches. Mobile charging facilities will be provided in 3000 existing coaches in 2015-16.

SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT

30.E-concierge services started in 22 railway stations.

31.Instructions issued for TTEs to help senior citizens/pregnant women to get lower berths.

32.Instructions have been issued for reserving middle bay for women & Senior citizens.

33.E-Samiksha launched for on line monitoring of implementation of railway Budget announcements.

34.Instructions issued for organizing training of frontline staffs on soft skills.

35.E-demand system for booking freight demands on-line.

36.Tender powers delegated to zonal railway level.

37.E-tendering and e-auction introduced.

38.Railways singed MoU to set up its own Railway Design Centre in collaboration with  National Institute of Design (NID).

39.Railway constituted Kayakalp Council under the chairmanship of Ratan Tata.

40.The process for putting in place a regulator has been initiated.

41.MoU signed for Railway Research Centre at Mumbai University.

42.Indian Railways to use Solar Energy. 30 KW Solar Plant has been commissioned at roof top of Rail Bhawan at New Delhi. Katra Station now solar powered.

43.Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) to provide the highest ever funding of Rs. 1.5 lakh crore to Indian Railways – a landmark achievement.

44.Three separate MOUs were signed with the states of Orissa, Jharkand and Chhatisgarh for critical coal connectivity projects to improve transportation of coal.

INFRASTRUCTURE

45.In 2014-15,  1983 km of railway lines have been commissioned and 1375 km of railway electrification completed. This is the best ever performance of Indian Railways.

46.A new ‘Rail Neer’ plant for package drinking water set up at Ambernath (Mumbai).

47.Rail Wheel Plant, Bela commissioned and regular production started.

48.Diesel loco factory at Varanasi being expanded.

49.DEMU factory at Haldia was commissioned and Mid-life Rehabilitation Workshop for coaches at Jhansi completed.

50.Indian Railways and Ministry of Water Resources to jointly work for creating logistics hubs with rail connectivity on National Waterways.

51.The scheme of open bid on ‘as is where is’ basis introduced for redevelopment of railway stations.

52.Agreement for World Bank loan of US \\$ 1100 million for Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) (Phase-2) signed.

53.Electrification contract for 945 km of Western DFC awarded.

54.100 % FDI allowed in identified areas of railway sector and sectoral guidelines on FDI formulated.

55.New instructions have been issued on 10th April, 2015 to liberalize the private freight terminal policy.

56.Rail connectivity to Dighi Port approved through PPP.

NORTH EAST

57.The much awaited Lumding-Silchar Broad gauge section inaugurated giving seamless BG connectivity to Barak Valley of Assam with the rest of the country.

58.Meghalaya comes on the rail map with the flagging off the first ever train from Guwahati to Medipathar in Meghalaya by the Prime Minister.

59.The Prime Minister laid the foundation for a new line to take rail connectivity to Mizoram’s capital Aizwal.

60.Director train connectivity started from Delhi to Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh.

61.The first ever perishable cargo centre set up Adarsh Nagar station in Delhi to help farmers.

FINANCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS

62.During 2014-15, the Railways’ total earnings were Rs.157880.50 crore, registering an increase of 12.16 per cent over last year.

63.During 2014-15, Railways carried 1097.578 million tonnes of revenue earning freight, showing an increase of 4.18 per cent over the last year.

64.Railways succeeded in achieving the 91.1% target of operating ratio in 2014-15 which is an improvement over 93.6% achieved in 2013-14.

HIGH SPEED TRAINS

65.Interim Report of feasibility study by Japan for Bullet Train on Mumbai-Ahemdabad corridor received. The final report expected in June/July 2015.  China to undertake feasibility study of introducing Bullet Train on New Delhi-Chennai corridor.

MISCELLANEOUS

66.  Indian Railways lent helping hand during the Nepal earthquake tragedy by providing ‘Rail Neer’ bottles and by transporting Nepal evacuees. Similarly, Railways also helped during the J&K floods. Railways were in the forefront in extending help to the Indian nationals returning from Yemen also.