Provision of Escalators at Railway Stations

Provision of Escalators at Railway Stations

The total number of railway stations having two or more platforms are 4786. So far, 56 railway stations have been equipped with 153 escalators including Metro Railway Kolkata and suburban section of Chennai.

Out of a total budget layout of Rs. 914 crore under ‘Passenger Amenities’ during 2013-14, an amount of Rs. 46 crore has been allocated besides some additional provision by Zonal Railways towards provision of escalators which is adequate for the current year requirement.

Provision of escalators at important stations is a continuous process and is done as per need, inter-se priority of works and availability of funds.

Higher priority has been accorded for provision of escalators at A-1 category and other important Railway stations. The work for provision of 100 escalators is currently under progress and 400 more escalators are under procurement stage.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

AKS/HK/BS
(Release ID :98588)
Source: PIB

Indian Railways: Now Book Railway Reservation through Simple SMS! – an IRCTC/CRIS initiative

Indian Railways: Now Book Railway Reservation through Simple SMS! – an IRCTC/CRIS initiative

A user’s guide, comparisons and limitations of the railway’s latest SMS based ticketing service targeting the mobile phone population

Indian Railways now provides enough options for you to avoid the queue at the booking counter. The latest is the SMS ticketing service which targets the 80 percent mobile phone population in India.

Railways has launched the service to book tickets through SMS on July 1. You do not need to download any app and do not even need a phone with internet connection. This is a smart move because only less than 5 percent of India owns a smart phone among the 80 percent who own mobile phones in India.

As with any new service, there are many questions and apprehensions regarding the service; there are a few pointers hence on how to book tickets using the SMS ticketing method.

There are two numbers through which people could book tickets through SMS: 139 and 5676714

Booking through 139

This is a simple process and involves two steps, sending the travel information (date of journey, number of passengers, train number) and getting a transaction id and paying for the ticket. Before getting on to booking your ticket with 139 on SMS, you need the following essentials:

• An IRCTC account for which you have to register at www.irctc.in
• A mobile number registered both with your bank and IRCTC. A registered mobile number is the one in the records with your bank and can also be used for your banking needs. This same number should be in the records of IRCTC else the SMS ticketing will return an error.
• A four-digit Mobile Money Identifier (MMID) code needed for the payment process. To register your bank account for MMID, choose your bank from a list <hyperlink ‘list’ to http://www.npci.org.in/bankmember.aspx> of 26 banks which offer this service.

You can click on the bank in the list which will direct you to bank site which explains the procedure for availing an MMID. For most banks, all one has to do is send one’s MMID followed by the last four digits of your account number from a registered account number to this number. The MMID is sent almost instantly.

Once armed with an IRCTC account, MMID and a registered mobile number, you are ready to book your ticket.

To start, SMS, BOOK <TravelDate(DDMM)> (upto 6 passengers) to 139 to book your ticket.

You will receive a message in the following format:

Transaction id, Ticket Amount, Service Charges, Total Amount Seat status. For Payment: SMS PAY IMPS IRCTCUserID to 139

Decoding the above message:

The customer will get a message with a unique transaction id of seven digits, the amount of the ticket, added service charge, total amount and the status of availability of seats. For payment, the format for SMS code to be sent to 139 will be as follows:

PAY IMPS IRCTCUserID

This where you need to get an OTP. OTP is one-time password provided by the banks for safe banking. Different banks have different procedures for OTP. For example, with ICICI Bank it can be requested by sending ‘OTP’ from a registered mobile number to a specific number provided by ICICI Bank. You can also request it on your registered email id.

Where TID is Transaction id.

IMPS is used when you want to use the mobile payment gateway to pay for the ticket.

OTP or one-time password

IRCTC User Id is your IRCTC user name.

Once your details are verified, your ticket will be booked and you will get a congratulatory message about your ticket booking.

Tickets can be cancelled by sending CAN followed by PNR number and IRCTC user ID to 139. This is for full cancellation. For partial cancellation, the customer needs to send CAN followed by PNR number, IRCTC user ID and passenger name and number.

Booking through 5676714

This method is a little different method of booking tickets. For this method too, the customer would need a mobile number registered with IRCTC and his/her bank account. Apart from IMPS, this also provides the facility to pay by ‘mWallet’ which is a mobile payment platform where payments can be made from an existing account known as ‘Zipcash’.

To register on ‘Zipcash’, all a customer needs to do is send ZIP to 56767 after which a login name and PIN number will be sent to the mobile phone number. You can recharge your Zipcash account online at https://www.zipcash.in/User/commands.html and pay through that when you book your ticket.

To start with the process, SMS START IRCTC user id to 5676714. This message again should be sent from a registered mobile number.

As a reply, the customer will receive the format for sending the SMS along with instructions for booking the ticket. One can get further clarifications by sending HELP to 56767.

The format is as follows:

BOOK Date of journey in DD/MM/YY format, Train number, class, passenger name, age, gender. This is valid for only four passengers.

If all the fields are entered correctly, the customer will receive the following reply:

As mentioned above, payment can be made through IMPS, which is the same as the payment method when ticket is booked through 139 or through MPAY. MPAY is the mobile wallet application through which payments can be made using Zipcash.

For payment, the following SMS needs to be sent to 5676714:

For IMPS method: Pay IMPS

For MPAY method: Pay MPAY

Instructions in both cases would be sent as a reply to the customer. In case of IMPS, customer will have to proceed with MMID and OTP received from the bank to complete the transaction, just as when using 139. Money would be deducted in one step in case of MPAY system where the customers use Zipcash to pay for the ticket.

Limitations

While both the methods provide an easy way to book tickets, you cannot book tickets under any quota and not between 8am and 12am. Everything is in English, which is again a limitation as the target population of mobile owners is not all English-speaking. Both the payment options need you to be under the umbrella of banked population which is also not true of all the people this service is targeting. Hopefully, such shortcomings will be taken care of once the system starts running and changes are made accordingly.

Comparison

In booking with both 139 and 5676714, the 139 method looked easier as it was just a two-step process. In booking with 5676714, the payment step was further divided into two more steps which looked complicated when compared with 139. Of course, 5676714 gives an option to book using Zipcash which will be an easier method for those who already have Zipcash accounts for making other payments. 139 also allows you to book tickets for six passengers in one go while 5676714 allows for only four.

Source: Railnews

RAILWAY EMPLOYEES STRIKE: 7th CPC, MERGER OF DA Etc - Government Reply in LOK SABHA

RAILWAY EMPLOYEES STRIKE: 7th CPC, MERGER OF DA Etc - Government Reply in LOK SABHA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF  RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO: 897
ANSWERED ON: 08.08.2013

STRIKE BY RAILWAY EMPLOYEES

897 .    Shri GURUDAS DAS GUPTA
  
R. THAMARAISELVAN
P. LINGAM
S. RAMASUBBU

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:-


(a) whether the All India Railwaymen’s Federation and National Federation of Indian Railwaymen have threatened to go on an indefinite strike in case their demands are not met;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the reaction of the Railways thereto and the manner in which the Railways propose to address the situation so as to prevent such strike?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY)

(a) and (b): All India Railwaymen’s Federation (A.I.R.F.) and National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (N.F.I.R.) have made numerous demands. Some of the demands are setting up of VIIth Central Pay Commission, abolition of New Pension Scheme, merger of Dearness Allowance with Pay, filling up of all vacant posts, implementation of the report of Joint Committee for career growth of Track Maintainer, reduction in duty hours of staff. While A.I.R.F. have indicated that if their grievances are not resolved in a time bound programme, the Federation would be compelled to conduct strike ballot as a first step. N.F.I.R. have decided to give a time of four months to the Government for satisfactorily settling their demands failing which the Federation will be compelled to give call for ‘Indefinite Strike’ on Railways.

(c): Some of the demands like setting up of VIIth Central Pay Commission (7CPC), abolition of New Pension Scheme, Merger of Dearness Allowance with Pay which are not within the purview of Ministry of Railways are being considered for referring to concerned Ministries/ Departments. In accordance with Government’s policy, other demands of the Federations are given due consideration within the framework of existing rules and financial constraints, and action as considered necessary is taken.

Source: Central Government Staff News

Cancellation of partially and fully trains in the route between Pollachi and Podanur

Cancellation of partially and fully trains in the route between Pollachi and Podanur

As per the Southern Railway press release, due to gauge conversion work will be progressed in the following routes the train  services has been cancelled and partially cancelled. Interlocking and Non Interlocking work will be undertaken in different spells at Podanur Junction from 10.08.2013 to 26.08.2013.As a result, train services will be regulated and a number of Mail/Express, Passenger Trains as well as local trains will be Cancelled, Short Terminated and Diverted.

The details are given below…

TRAINS PARTIALLY CANCELLED FROM 20.08.2013 TO 25.08.2013:

Train No.16107/16108 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore – Chennai Egmore express will be partially cancelled between Coimbatore – Mangalore.

Trains Regulated :

ON 11.08.2013 (SUNDAY)

Train No.16107 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central express will be regulated for 60 minutes at Coimbatore.

ON 12.08.2013 (MONDAY)

Train No.16107 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central express will be regulated for 70 minutes at Coimbatore.

ON 13.08.2013 (TUESDAY)

Train No.16107 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central express will be regulatedfor 60 minutes at Coimbatore.

ON 14.08.2013 (WEDNESDAY)

Train No.16107 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central express will be regulated for 60 minutes at Coimbatore.

ON 15.08.2013 (THURSDAY)

Train No.16107 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central express will be regulated for 70 minutes at Coimbatore.

Train No.16318 Jammutawi –Kanniyakumari express will be regulated for 105 minutes at Coimbatore.

ON 16.08.2013 (FRIDAY)

Train No.12678 Ernakulam Junction – Bangalore express will be regulated for 45 minutes at Madukkarai.

Train No.13352 Alleppey – Dhanbad – Alleppey express will be regulated for 75 minutes at Madukkarai.

Train No.13351 Dhanbad – Alleppey – Dhanbad express will be regulated for 60 minutes at Coimbatore.

Train No.16107 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central express will be regulated for 120minutes at Coimbatore.

Train No.12660 Shalimar – Nagercoil express will be regulated for 90 minutes at Coimbatore.

ON 17.08.2013 (SATURDAY)
Train No.16107 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central express will be regulated for 60minutes at Coimbatore.

ON 18.08.2013 (SUNDAY)
Train No.16107 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central express will be regulated for 60minutes at Coimbatore.

ON 19.08.2013 (MONDAY)
Train No.16107 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central express will be regulated for 60minutes at Coimbatore.

ON 22.08.2013 (THURSDAY)
Train No.16318 Jammutawi – Kanniyakumar express will be regulated for 105 minutes at Coimbatore.

ON 26.08.2013 (MONDAY)
Train No.16107 Chennai Egmore – Mangalore Central express will be regulated for 70minutes at Coimbatore.

Employment News Weekly Updates : Job Highlights for the week from 22.06.2013 to 28.06.2013

Employment News Weekly Updates : Job Highlights for the week from 22.06.2013 to 28.06.2013

Employment News Weekly is updating some important opportunities under the title of ‘Job Highlights’ on its portal to the young Indian Job Seekers…

In this respect, this week six fantastic opportunities are given below…

Job Highlights  (22 June- 28 June 2013)

1. Sashastra Seema Bal requires 645 Constable Driver. Last Date : 01.08.2013

2. Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai requires 68 Security Guard. Last Date : 12.07.2013

3. Medical Officer Selection Board (CAPFS) requires 608 specialist Medical Officers (Deputy Commandant), Medical Officers (Assistant Commandant) and Dental Surgeons(Assistant Commandant) Last Date : 13.07.2013

4. Andhra Bank requires Company Secretary. Last Date : 13.07.2013

5. Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (MHA) requires Dy. Judge Attorney General (Dy. Commandant). Last Date: 22.07.2013

SMS & USSD Based Ticketing System – Non Internet based Mobile ticket booking for train journey

SMS & USSD Based Ticketing System – Non Internet based Mobile ticket booking for train journey

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Railways

28-June-2013 17:30 IST

Mallikarjun Kharge Launches SMS Based Ticketing System

This New System will Improve Customer Convenience and Empower the Common Man: Kharge

The Minister of Railways Shri Mallikarjun Kharge launched SMS based ticketing system at a function here today. While addressing a gathering on the occasion, Shri Kharge said that this user-friendly service which will be effective from today i.e 28th June 2013, is being introduced in order to further improve the customer convenience and empower the common man who does not have access to internet and cannot afford to buy smart phones.

He said that since the mobile penetration in India has increased rapidly and more than 80 per cent people have mobile phones, this new system will be helpful in enabling booking of tickets by masses themselves. Ticket booking through non-internet based mobile, introduced as a pilot project by Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a Public Sector Undertaking of the Ministry of Railways, will also help Railways in overcoming the menace of touting whereby unsuspecting people are fleeced by such elements.
This will particularly be useful for labourers and workers staying away from their home and who have to book tickets for travel to their native place, the Minister added.
The Railway Minister further said that inconvenience in booking reserved railway tickets has been a cause of concern for all.  In order to facilitate easy access, Indian Railways have been making efforts by expanding the    passenger reservation system counters network.  The online booking through IRCTC has now grown up to about 45% of total reserved tickets.  This has eased the rush at counters to a great extent. While internet access in India is only about 10%, mobiles are now in easy reach and more than 80% people in our country use mobile phones, the Minister said.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Vinay Mittal said that Indian Railways’ initiative of launching the non-internet based ticketing through a mobile phone would further enhance the scope and each of ticketing since it has huge potential to tap the power of mobile phone. Shri Mittal said that this service will be improved further with provision of more payment options, user-friendly interface and value added services like alerts and updates.
Payment through mobiles is still in an evolving state and Commercial Banks, RBI and National Payment Corporation of India are working on providing a safe, secured and quick payment mechanism through mobile. As the payment option mature and user gets accustomed to SMS booking, it has the potential of overtaking bookings through internet as well as counters, he added.
In his welcome address, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director, IRCTC, Shri Rakesh Tondon said that this is, indeed, IRCTC’s successful effort in making railway ticket booking even easier through SMS or menu based USSD technology which works on all mobile phones.  Through this service, customer can not only book ticket but also can search for stations, trains, availability, PNR enquiry, make cancellation etc, he added.
Launch of ticket booking service through mobile phones had been announced in Railway Budget 2012-13.    This initiative will go a long way in customer convenience.  With the passage of time, it is expected that mobile booking will surpass reserved ticket booking by all other modes like internet and counters.  Mobile booking is not only convenient but it also saves time and money.  The user will have to get mobile money account opened from his/her bank or mobile money providing agencies as approved by the Reserve Bank of India.

The key features of ticket booking on mobile:

• Ticket can be booked within minutes;
• basic mobile phones are sufficient; no internet connection is required;
• The user will get ticket details on SMS instantly.
• SMS along with valid ID in original can be used for travel, no printout is required.

Book your ticket through USSD:

USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) based booking for Airtel subscribers*

Registration

•     Register for Airtel money by dialing *400#.

•     Load cash on this or recharge from any Airtel money outlet.

Booking Flow

•     Dial *400# and select book tickets option.

•     Select Reservation.

•     Enter your IRCTC User ID.

•     Enter the details of ticket (station, train no. date of journey, class etc.).

•     Enter mPIN for authorizing payment.

•     Booking confirmation SMS is sent by IRCTC and same can be used during journey along with valid ID proof.

•     Fare & IRCTC service charges are debited from your Airtel money account.

•     Charges: No PG Charges.

•     Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable

Helpline No.: 121

Helpline Email : 121@airtelmoney.in

Book your ticket through SMS:

1. SMS based booking through 139*

Registration

•     Register your mobile number with IRCTC as well as with your bank.

•     Bank provides MMID (Mobile Money Identifier) & OTP (one time password) for authorization of payment.  (More than 25 banks are providing this facility. For details, visit website:  http://www.npci.org.in/bankmember.aspx.)

Booking Flow

•     Send SMS, in the following syntax, to 139

      BOOK

•     You will receive Transaction ID alongwith other details.

•     Make payment through sending an SMS, in the following syntax, to 139

      PAY and your ticket is booked.

•     Service is available to all mobile subscribers.

•     SMSes @ Rs 3/- per SMS (2 SMSes are required for each booking).

•     PG charges Rs 5/- for ticket amount Rs 5000/- (as applicable by bank).

•     Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable

Helpline No.: 139

Helpline Email : smsticket139@bharatbpo.in

2. SMS based booking through 5676714*

Registration

Register your mobile number with IRCTC as well as with m-wallet (http://www.zipcash.in/user/nlogin.aspx)

Send SMS, to 5676717, in the following syntax START for user authentication (first time only)

Booking Flow

• Send an SMS to 5676714 to book a ticket in the following syntax:
• BOOK,, , ,, ,,
• You will receive the Transaction number.
• Send the 2nd SMS, for payment, in the following syntax.

1.   “PAY , MPAY, ” for authorizing payment through MPAY

or

2.   “PAY  ,,, ,” for authorizing payment through IMPS.

• After payment is made booking confirmation is sent to your mobile.
• Charges: No PG Charges. Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable. SMSes @ Rs 3/- per SMS (2 SMSes are required for each booking).

Helpline No. : 8882001001

Helpline Email : support@saarthii.com

3. SMS based booking through BSNL*

User should have the following:

1.   BSNL SIM card installed.

2.   Java enabled mobile phone.

3.   Andhra Bank Prepaid card.

This is a menu driven application where user has to enter the details asked for in simple step-by-step process to get the ticket.

Registration

•     Install the application.

•     Select the Register option to get the mPIN.

Booking

•     Click the icon BSNL Prepaid Card

•     Select Ticketing > Train (IRCTC)

•     Fill up the journey details such as From stn, To Stn, Train No, DOJ, Class, Quota, passenger details.

•     Enter the mPIN to get the ticket information.

•     Charges: No PG Charges. Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable. SMSes without charges.

Helpline No. : +91-8801298038

Helpline Email : bsnl.support@pyrogroup.com

India Uses Railway as Mobile Science Classroom

India Uses Railway as Mobile Science Classroom

India's railway system is one of the largest and busiest in the world. But it is not just for passengers. The Indian government is utilizing this vast network to provide children in the remotest corners of the country with a moving classroom.

Raghav Pandya loves science, so much so, that he spends six months out of the year on this train to help share his passion with youngsters across India.

“I am passionate about spreading and popularizing awareness regarding scientific knowledge and mechanisms that are surrounding us. People want to know why it is and how it is,” said Pandya.

Pandya is one of 40 postgraduates who make the Science Express train their home as it travels 19,000 kilometers throughout India from April to October of this year.

The train will stop at 62 different locations, including here in the Indian capital, where hundreds of students line up to get their chance to see exhibits focusing on biodiversity, conservation and climate change.

Crowds flock to Science Express

More than 8.5 million people have visited the mobile exhibition - a project that India’s prime minister launched in 2007 to attract young people back to science.

Department of Science and Technology advisor Chander Mohan was tasked with finding a way to reverse what he says was a growing disinterest in the field.

“Why not take science to the people instead of taking people to the science? And what better way than the Indian railway network, which is so vast that it is the largest network in the world. And it is stretched across the country. Each and every nook and corner of India is connected by the railway network,” said Mohan.

The train stops at each station for three to four days and young people have a chance to take part in the hands-on laboratory where educators help them conduct experiments highlighting math and science principles.

Educators reach out

For some of these children, particularly from small towns in the farthest corners of India, this is a rare opportunity to learn beyond the four walls of their classroom.

Seeing their reaction makes riding the rails worth it for educators like Pandya.

“Fascinating experiments or sort of things - when they come to know - they say ‘oh wow.’ So this 'wow factor' you see it in their eyes. In our childhood we have not gotten such sort of exposure,” said Pandya.

The Science Express train is making its way through eastern India, with stops planned in West Bengal and Orissa states in July. The moving exhibit is expected to attract its 10 millionth visitor by the end of this year.

Source - http://www.voanews.com/content/india-railway-used-as-mobile-classroom-science-express/1689839.html