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Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Cops to be deployed on all long-distance trains in Mumbai
Mumbai: Two recent robberies on board long-distance trains in the city have prompted the Government Railway Police (GRP) to step up patrolling and vigilance activities and crack down on gangs involved in luggage, jewellery and mobile phone theft. The GRP has launched a special campaign to trace mobile phones stolen over the past five years besides deploying personnel in long-distance trains, said Rakesh Kalasagar, railway police commissioner. 'Thirty-one long-distance trains leave Mumbai everyday,' Kalasagar said on Sunday. 'From now on, two railway police personnel will be deployed in each of these trains. They will patrol the entire train and protect passengers up to the limits of the railway police commissionerate, which will curb criminal activities.' Increase in crime On June 1, knife-wielding robbers targeted a Joesghwari-based family travelling via the Jaipur-Bandra Terminus Superfast Express after the train crossed Borivali and camped off with a trolley bag containing cash and valuables worth ₹7 lakh. Then, on June 5, a robber targeted Dipali Deshmukh, a Panvel-based doctor, travelling on board the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Nanded Special train when it was between Bhandup and Kanjurmarg. The robber dragged her till the door in a bid to snatch her purse, her husband following her – then he jumped off the moving train, pulling the couple down behind him. The incident cost Dipali's husband Yogesh Deshmukh, also a doctor, his left arm, which had to be amputated due to injuries caused by the fall. The robberies were indicative of increasing crimes on railway premises. According to data from the GRP, 12,000 cases of theft were registered in 2022, including cases involving theft of mobile phones. But in 2024, 11,143 mobile phones alone were stolen from railway premises, taking the monthly average of mobile phone thefts to over 928. Between January and May this year, over 3,576 mobile phones were stolen, taking the monthly average to over 715. Security measures The GRP has initiated several measures in light of recent incidents to increase security and prevent crimes on trains. The most prominent among these is a special campaign to prevent mobile thefts. A team has been formed under the campaign within the crime detection branch of every railway police station. 'These teams will conduct technical investigations and try to recover all stolen and lost mobile phones in their jurisdiction in the past five years,' said Kalasagar. Most mobile phone thefts occur when commuters try to board trains or when they use phones carelessly while travelling on trains, said the commissioner. 'Thieves often take advantage of large crowds that gather to board trains. Besides, many people are inattentive while talking and keep their phones in their hand while standing at the door, which makes snatching easy,' he said. Thefts of mobile phones, laptops and luggage are most common on railway premises, followed by molestation cases, said Kalasagar. Four railway police personnel are deployed in every local train including in ladies compartments to curb such cases, he said. 'Along similar lines, we will join forces with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and deploy two personnel on every long-distance train,' said Kalasagar. 'Most crimes are committed for the purpose of theft. Our teams will keep an eye on such activities and bring down crimes,' he said. 758 RPF posts vacant While efforts are underway to enhance security on long-distance trains, the RPF is severely understaffed, with 758 posts lying vacant. The vacancies span 25% posts for officers and 16% posts for employees. The recruitment process for the vacancies would be started soon, said Kalasagar.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
New rail lines in M.P. will boost freight movement and tourism, says Railways Minister
Union Minister for Railways, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday (May 29, 2025) shared key details of the recently approved Third and Fourth Rail Line project between Ratlam and Nagda in Madhya Pradesh. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had earlier cleared the ₹1,018 crore project aimed at easing congestion on this high-density corridor. Addressing a press briefing in New Delhi, Mr. Vaishnaw said the 41.4-km section, once four-lined, will reduce line capacity utilisation in the Ratlam area from 116% to 65%. The corridor, which connects major junctions such as Nagda (North), Vadodara (South), Indore (East), and Chittorgarh (West), will significantly improve regional and inter-state connectivity, he said. The Minister added that the project would enhance freight movement from Madhya Pradesh to key West Coast ports such as Kandla, Mundra, Pipavav, Hazira, Dahej, JNPA, and the upcoming Vadhavan Port. 'It will directly benefit Indore SEZ, Chhindwara SEZ, MMPL Indore, MMLP Bhopal, the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor, and key industrial hubs such as the Nagda Thermal Power Plant and associated viscose and chemical industries in the Ratlam region,' he said. The upgraded infrastructure is expected to expedite the movement of coal, containers, petroleum products, and agricultural produce, Mr. Vaishnaw noted. He also said that improved connectivity will facilitate tourism in Madhya Pradesh, providing better access to destinations such as Khajuraho, Gwalior, Kanha National Park, Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga, Sanchi Stupa, Ujjain, Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Amarkantak, and Bhim Janmabhoomi. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, 80 railway stations in Madhya Pradesh are being redeveloped with enhanced passenger amenities, modern facilities, and improved aesthetics, he said. In response to growing passenger demand and persistent waiting lists for the Dr. Ambedkar Nagar–New Delhi Superfast Express, Mr. Vaishnaw announced three new train services. These include a Rewa–Pune service via Jabalpur and Satna, a Jabalpur–Raipur service via Nainpur, Balaghat, and Gondia, and a Gwalior–Bengaluru service via Guna and Bhopal. Operations are expected to commence within the next two months. On the preparations for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2028 in Ujjain, the Minister said the Ministry of Railways has initiated comprehensive planning to manage the anticipated influx of pilgrims.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru MP Tejasvi Surya pushes for high-speed rail link between Bengaluru and Mumbai: Report
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has renewed his call for a high-speed rail corridor between Bengaluru and Mumbai, arguing that such a project would significantly improve regional connectivity and drive economic growth in Karnataka and Maharashtra. According to a Moneycontrol report, speaking on the matter during a recent meeting of the Public Accounts Committee, Surya emphasised the long-standing need for faster and more efficient train travel between the two major cities. 'A high-speed corridor linking Bengaluru, Hubballi, Pune, and Mumbai will be a game changer for North Karnataka, helping both passengers and the regional economy,' said the Bengaluru South MP. (Also Read: Bengaluru's Hebbal flyover to remain shut for 4 nights due to maintenance. Check details) According to the publication, Surya pointed out that there have been no new direct trains introduced between Bengaluru and Mumbai for the past three decades. With the Udyan Express remaining the only rail link on this busy route, many travellers are forced to rely on costlier air travel. The MP criticised the railway authorities for failing to act on repeated demands for improved services, noting that several lines continue to operate at a mere 25 per cent capacity. 'It's disappointing that despite the demand, a dedicated express train has not been introduced,' he said, calling for the immediate launch of a new Superfast Express connecting the two cities. Surya also voiced frustration over delays in Bengaluru's critical rail infrastructure projects, blaming poor coordination between the state government and Indian Railways. He said only a few tenders had been finalised so far, leaving much of the suburban rail network project stuck in limbo. 'The suburban rail project is vital to decongest the city and provide affordable daily commute options to lakhs of Bengalureans. But most of the planned corridors remain on paper,' he added according to the report. He also urged the railway ministry to prioritise the doubling of essential rail lines, upgrade station infrastructure, and enhance integration between railway stations and the city's metro network. Surya assured that he would continue to raise these issues in Parliament and work with the railway ministry to ensure long-overdue infrastructure projects for Bengaluru and Karnataka are finally implemented. (Also Read: Karnataka to receive electric buses under PM E-Drive: HD Kumaraswamy)
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Critical for city, yet stuck': MP Tejasvi Surya slams delays in Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project
Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya expressed frustration over the slow progress of the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project (BSRP) during a Public Accounts Committee meeting in Delhi on Thursday. Criticising the lack of coordination between the railways and the Karnataka state government, Surya highlighted the project's minimal advancement, essential for easing Bengaluru's traffic congestion and providing affordable transport to lakhs of daily commuters. 'The Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project is critical for the city, yet it remains stuck with only a couple of tenders finalised,' Surya said, addressing the authorities managing the Rs 15,767-crore, 148-km suburban rail network. Approved in 2022, the project's completion has been delayed to 2027 due to stalled corridors. Surya urged the railways to prioritise its execution to meet Bengaluru's urgent needs, and raised concerns about the underutilised railway lines operating at just 25 per cent capacity and the absence of a new direct express train between Bengaluru and Mumbai. 'For 30 years, no new direct train has been introduced between these two economic hubs. The Udyan Express is the only option, pushing travellers to costlier flights,' he said. Surya also demanded the immediate introduction of a Superfast Express and reiterated the need for a proposed High-Speed Rail corridor connecting Bengaluru, Hubballi, Pune, and Mumbai. 'This high-speed corridor will transform connectivity and boost North Karnataka's economy,' he added. The MP further called for expanding Bengaluru's suburban rail network, doubling critical railway lines, upgrading station infrastructure, and improving integration between railway and metro stations. 'These long-pending projects deserve serious attention, and the railways must act without delay,' Surya urged. The delay in the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project has also received extensive backlash from civic groups. Many have pointed out that the works on corridors 2 and 4 have stopped, with no clarity yet from K-RIDE, which is implementing the project. 'BSRP is slated to provide the 3rd option of public transport after bus and Metro. Unfortunately, BSRP has already faced numerous delays on various grounds. A classic example is: work on the most important Corridor 1 (to Airport Terminal) is yet to begin, 55 months after sanction. The present status does not bode well for the city and is bound to not only delay further the solution but will also lead to cost escalations,' Rajkumar Dugar, convenor of Citizens 4 Citizens forum, said. A December 2024 expert committee report from the Indian Institute of Science also states that almost 20 lakh people will directly benefit from using BSRP corridors for their daily commute.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- The Hindu
Ernakulam-Pune services to get LHB coaches
Rakes of a bi-weekly superfast express and a weekly express services between Ernakulam-Pune-Ernakulam running via Mangaluru Junction will be replaced by Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches in the month of July. A release from Southern Railway, quoting a Central Railway notification, said the rake replacement would enhance passenger comfort and safety. Train No. 22150 Pune – Ernakulam bi-weekly Superfast Express (Sundays and Wednesdays) will run with LHB coaches with effect from July 6 while its pairing service, Train No. Ernakulam – Pune bi-weekly Superfast Express (Tuesdays and Fridays) will run with LHB coaches with effect from July 8. Train No. 11097 Pune – Ernakulam weekly Poorna Express (Saturdays) will run with LHB coaches with effect from July 5 while Train No. 11098 Ernakulam – Pune Poorna weekly Express (Mondays) will run with LHB coaches with effect from July 7. Consequent to the conversion of LHB Rakes, the coach composition of both the services will be revised to have two 2-tier AC, four 3-tier AC, seven second class sleeper, four general second class, one pantry car, one second class (Divyangjan friendly) and one luggage-cum-brake van coaches.
