By Dominick Rodrigues
Mumbai, Dec 30: The year 2020 will be etched in the annals of railway history as an extraordinary year that included the Central Railway’s remarkable achievements like unprecedented infrastructure works, innovation, social work etc – in the face of the pandemic creating havoc across the globe.
The first AC suburban local was introduced on Central Railway’s ‘Transharbour’ line between Thane-Vashi/Panvel in Mumbai. Womens security was at the fore with the + Meri Saheli+ and +Smart Saheli+ initiatives with focused action for women travelling in long distance and suburban trains.
Infrastructural works: girder launching of 14 foot-over bridges and 2 road over bridges, dismantling of 9 foot-over bridges and deck dismantling of road over bridge, limited height subways at 22 locations in lieu of level crossings, replacement of steel girder bridges with PSC slabs of 8 bridges, rebuilding of 24 bridges by insertions of RCC boxes, one bridge by micro tunnelling and one work of rail over rail bridge.
Over 600 “Shramik Specials” transported 8.5 lakh people to their home states and May 26, 2020 witnessed Central Railway dispatching a “record number of 71 shramik specials in one day.” Free food/food packets were served to 23 lakh needy persons in coordination with IRCTC, NGOs and departments.
While medical teams at Central Railway’s hospitals worked against the COVID pandemic, its robots — “ Innovative Medical Assistant” (RO)BOT and “Rakshak”of Parel workshop — were developed in-house to protect the medical professionals from infection – thus giving impetus to “Atma Nirbhar Bharat”. In the Pandemic forefront were its sanitation and housekeeping staff ensuring upkeep and disinfection of railway premises, stations, rolling stocks, offices and colonies.
Rail Parivar Dekh-Rekh Muhim, conceptualized by Central Railway, was launched to contact and record every employee and their family’s health status to provide adequate support in case of emergency. Muhim has been appreciated by Railway Board and has been adopted by other Railways.
Innovations: The Central Railway’s innovative steps to protect passengers and staff from COVID infection included: RPF-introduced Robotic ‘CAPTAIN ARJUN’ at Pune, FebriEye at CSMT and LTT stations and ATMA facility on Nagpur Division; Neckband PA system provided to frontline ticket checking staff to ensure contactless interaction; QR code at major stations to check tickets; Baggage wrapping facility at major stations; Health Kiosks, automatic vending machine for dispensing masks, hand sanitizer at major stations.
Restarting of long distance special trains in a graded manner from June 1, 2020 and, subsequently, festival and special trains also to clear extra rush of passengers. Restarting of suburban services for essential category persons from June 15,.2020 with gradual increase to 1590 suburban services daily.
India’s “first” Kisan Rail started from Devali to Danapur, before extending to Muzaffarpur as a weekly and popular demand making it a Tri-weekly. The Orange Kisan Rail started in October 2020 from Nagpur to Adarsh Nagar Delhi. Recently, the 100th Kisan Rail was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Sangola to Shalimar.
Freight & Parcel operations witnessing the Central Railway transporting 40.85 million tonnes of freight during the lockdown and unlock period. Around 16 stations were opened for parcel traffic, besides the + First-ever+ loading of onions from Lasalgaon to Darsana in Bangladesh; Total 182 ‘onion’ rakes including 103 rakes for domestic destinations; Automobile loading touched a new high of 155 rakes; First time Ro-Ro service started from Bale (Solapur) to Nelmangala (Bengaluru); Central Railway ran 649 parcel special trains carrying 1.62 lakh tonnes of items.
CR’s Business Development Units” aggressive marketing captured new traffic like Dolomite, Cotton husk, cotton seed oil cake, rice and Fly-ash from Nagpur Division, Husk from Bhusaval Division, Agro based Potash from Pune Division; CR Parel Workshop developed — in barely 45 days — a prototype coach for carrying automobiles.
CR’s Infrastructure development witnessed: 68 km of doubling and 134 km of electrification; AC suburban services on main line section between CSMT and Kalyan; Automatic Block signalling in 9 Km in Khapri–Ajni section of Nagpur division; 1900 high sensitivity digital Walkie-Talkie sets for smooth train operations, a CR release stated.
