Two Years Achievements of Ministry of Railways (May 2014 to May 2016)

PASSENGER AMENITIES AND DIGITAL INDIA INITIATIVES

Indian Railways established three social media platforms and Also You Tube together with the handle @railminindia. Ministry of Railways used first of its type, a real time 24×7 grievance system that is public through Twitter and provided medical, security and other emergency aid to travelling passengers

All India Security Helpline 182 set up to report any untoward event and seek emergency help during travel

The All India Passenger Helpline ‘138’ provided for all other query/criticisms during traveling

A mobile established program viz. Criticism Management System (COMS) started

E-catering facility established at 100 stations. 408 railway stations designated for providing E-catering

A massive scheme for supplying Water Vending Machines (WVMs) to supply RO Water at affordableprices is under implementation by Railway PSU IRCTC

Reservation quota of two lower berths per coach in Sleeper class improved for Senior Citizens and Women to four lower berths per trainer

Tatkal booking timings have been staggered to function double purpose of providing benefit to the passengers as well as for staggering traffic on the e-ticket portal site. All agents are debarred from booking tickets during thirty minutes of opening of booking

Automatic refund of Confirmed /RAC etickets on cancellation of trains similar to waitlisted etickets is granted without filing of TDR

Time limit for booking reserved tickets was raised to 120 days w.e.f. 01.04.2015

Destination alert and wake up alarm services established on 139

Automatic Destination Alarms through SMS for Rajdhani and Duronto trains to passengers.

E-ticketing facility established for accredited journalist on concession pass as well as for disabled persons.

Mobile billing facilities in all new general class trainers initiated.

Out of 1252 Stations identified to Adarsh Stations’ for upgradation, 986 stations have up to now been developed. 160 developed in last two years

Scheme namely ‘SMS Gateway’ established enabling passengers to get SMS alarms on the status of tickets that were reserved

New Generation system put in place that may reserve 7200 on-line tickets instead of 2000 tickets per minute and may attend 2,00,000 enquiries instead of 50000 per minute

Rationalization of Computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) done to enable passengers to get tickets even following the preparation of reservation graphs

Paperless unreserved ticketing including Paperless Platforms tickets through mobile phone introduced in suburban segments of Western Railway, Central Railway, South Central Railway, Southern Railway, Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway

Pilot Project of hand Held Terminals for TTEs found

E-booking of disposable linen began on trains at New Delhi Railway Station and Nizamuddin Railway Station, Mumbai Central (BCT), Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CSTM), Southern Railway

E-booking of Wheel chair established

Currency Coin cum Card controlled Automatic Ticket Vending Machines installed at select stations.

Started one of the largest free public wifi fi systems on earth. Launched at 26 stations using a plan this year to extend it to 100 Stations and to 400 stations by 2018.

The booking of retiring rooms at different railway stations made online making it transparent and suitable

E-Ticketing portal in Hindi established

150 escalators and 60 lifts provided in last 2 years at Railway stations

Model Rake (a passenger carrying train with 24 coaches) developedwith improved interiors, colour scheme, aesthetics and amenity fittings. This is running as a train between New Delhi and Varanasi.

Cancellation of supported, RAC and Waitlisted PRS counter tickets made easy using IRCTC site or phone No. 139.

Provision made for acceptance of international debit and credit cards for payment of Eticket through IRCTC site

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

Indian Railways started six pilgrims’ special tourist trains. More such trains being planned in succeeding stages

Dustbins to be supplied in non AC coaches also

For designing of bedroll etc., nIFT, Delhi continues to be engaged

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

To be able to improve availability of accommodation for general group passengers on long distance Mail/Express trains, GMs were delegated powers to de-reserve Sleeper Class (SL) coaches as General Coaches (GS) in identified trains & sectors

Suvidha Trains of small refund on cancellation of ticket introduced for booking on PRS as well as e-tickets and facility with graded pricing arrangement

The Defense Travel System to get rid of exchange of defense warrants was rolled out on the NGeT platform. Till date about 2000 Defense units have began issuing tickets without exchange of warrants through this stage

Quantity of spots available for physically challenged has been increased from 2 to 4

‘VIKALP’, Alternative Train Accommodation System (ATAS) found using a view to provide affirmed lodging to waitlisted passengers and also to ensure optimal usage of accessible lodging. This facility is currently accessible New Delhi – Lucknow, on New Delhi – Jammu, Delhi- Howrah, Delhi - Delhi, Chennai - Mumbai and Delhi -Secunderabad Circuits,

Found precooked (prepared-to-eat) meals of reputed brands on some trains.

Commencement of provision of Braille signage on 3000 coaches continues to be given in order to facilitate journey to visually impaired passengers.

Supply of foldable ladder in First AC coaches launched

Provision of Bio degradable garbage bags to passengers began on pilot basis

Escorting ladies special trains and ladies compartment by security squad

Security helpline 182 activated and real time grievance resolution through Twitter applied to girls security dilemmas using a high priority

Fitment of CCTV surveillance cameras for girls security in trains initiated with first such fitment undertaken in Amritsar-New Delhi-Shan-e Punjab Express

Development of security App over some of the Zonal Railways

Middle bay reserved for women

Pilot Project of Sale of Unreserved Tickets through Hand Held Terminals initiated at Hazrat Nizammudin Railway Station of Northern Railway.

SUPPORT AND iNFRASTRUCTURE CREATION TO MAKE IN INDIA INITIATIVE

Indian Railways has taken a giant leap forward in ‘Make in India’ drive by signing Deal for setting up of Diesel Locomotive Factory (DLF) at Marhowra, Saran district, Bihar for procurement and upkeep of mainline most modern high power Diesel Electric Locomotives with M/s GE Diesel Locomotive Pvt. Ltd. Another deal signed with M/S ALSTOM for setting up for procurement and maintenance of modern high power electric locomotives, both FDI bids and major PPP of Indian Railways. This might be one of the highest FDI’s in India amounting to order book of nearly Rs 40,000 Crore.

The Ministry has started process for procuring high speed train sets that may improve average rate of passenger carrying trains thus reducing journey time.

MoU between India and Japan signed for Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project using Shinkansen Technology covering a total of 508 kms. A brand new thing named National High Speed RaExtension of just introduced cancellation facility for PRS

High Speed Rail Corporation Limited has been set up to implement the project

Farther high speed studies are being conducted by Ministry of Railways on Diamond Quadrilateral High Speed Rail network. Feasibility studies of Delhi- Mumbai, Mumbai- Chennai and Delhi - Kolkata are underway. The feasibility studies of Delhi- Nagpur and Mumbai –Nagpur hallways are being taken up with Spanish and Chinese authorities through G2G collaboration respectively

Ministry of Railways started state’s first semi high speed train with a maximum rate of 160 kmph between Agra and Delhi heralding a new age of high speed rail travel, Gatimaan Express

Redevelopment of 400 Stations to be developed on e-bidding on as is where is basis; 10 stations

Indian Railways commissioned 2828 Kilometers of Broad Gauge lines, maximum ever in 2015 16 against an average of 1528 Kilometers from 200914.

IR commissioned two mega bridges over river Ganga at Patna and Munger.With these, the Railway systems of North and South Bihar have now been incorporated.

The performances of the greatest infrastructural projects in Western DFCs, Eastern and pnr status by pnr number have been fast-tracked. Revised price estimates have been accepted by the Cabinet and financing was tied up. Rs.25,320 Cr worth of contracts have been awarded in the last two years, which is more than double of the total contracts of Rs.12,240 Cr awarded since commencement. The first section on DFC of 56 km between Durgawati Sasaram has been commissioned. The project is advancing well for commissioning in phases by 2019

Rail Wheel Plant, Bela commissioned and routine production began

Diesel loco factory at Varanasi will be enlarged

DEMU factory at Haldia was commissioned and pnr status kerala express for coaches at Jhansi finished.

One of the very most challenging railway jobs, conversion of 1500 V DC to 25000 V AC grip system continues to be successfully finished on the complete Mumbai section of Central Railway.

During 2014-16, 3105 course kilometres are electrified, which is an average of 1552.5 RKM/ annum as against 1236 RKM/annum during preceding five years.

Construction of Electric Lolo Assemblage & Ancillary Component of CLW at Dankuni in West Bengal finished

Modern LHB Coach manufacturing facility commissioned at ICF Chennai.

The Chhapra factory has started regular generation of cast wheels for rolling stock. The installed capacity of the plant is 1Lac wheels per annum.

Foundation stone laid for setting up Grip Alternator Factory at Vidisha to make 100 grip alternators per annum of high horse power diesel locomotives which are being imported

Considerable increase in elimination of unmanned level crossing which has resulted in safe operations. In 2015-16, a total of 1253 unmanned level crossings were removed and 1024 Road over/ Road under bridges were built. This marks an improvement of 35% against the typical number from 2009-2014

REFORMS

A Memorandum of Understanding with LIC of India for obtaining funds to the tune of Rs.1.5 lakh Cr signed.

MOF approved issue of tax free bonds by IRFC amounting to pnr status chart started with World Bank for setting up a Railway Infrastructure Development Fund of around USD 30 Bn

For improving transparency and efficiency powers delegated and decentralized. Measures for E-tendering, E-auctioning, E-ticketing, E-Governance, E-Freight Demand, E Catering, E-Wheel Chair, Econcierge etc. takenfor efficiency and transparency

Ministry of Railways (MoR) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for formation of Joint Venture Firms with six State Governments viz. Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.JVs would undertake job development works for an identified basket of endeavors, which will inter-alia include surveys, preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) and getting requisite acceptances, processing for sanctioning of identified projects and observation

Ministry of Railways ran world’s biggest on-line test for recruiting for nearly 90 lakh aspirants. With a view to raise transparency, a brand new system of handing over the Question Pamphlets to the nominees has been introduced.A pilot project of uploading of Solution Keys and Cut off marks has also been started.

A consulting firm was engaged for analyzing the work force rationalization of the Group A services. Report is under assessment and submitted

Four Centres of Railways Research set up in premier educational institutions

Development of an internet system began for retired railwaymen in addition to grievance redressal of both functioning

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

For putting in place a regulator “Rail Development Authority” the method continues to be initiated. A concept note was uploaded to get feedback from all stakeholders. Procedure for drafting of a bill/executive order underway.

100 % FDI permitted in identified areas of sectoral guidelines and railway sector on FDI developed

Ministry of Railways implemented 100% E-procurement solution for a myriad of works, contracts – goods and services. It isIndia’s largest e-procurement system

An internet-empowered IT-Application “Endeavor Observation and Information System (PMIS)” started which will probably be executed in Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramullah Railroad Link (USBRL) endeavor, followed by other mega and elaborate projects of Indian Railways. This increase transparency in project observation

“Technology Assignment on Indian Railways (TMIR)” for Development/Research/Innovations in Railway Technologies in association with Department of Science & Technology, MoHRD and representatives of Industry continues to be set up

Creation of Mobility Directorate

Development of Non-Fare Revenue Directorate in Railway Board’s Office

Release of Handout on ‘Railway initiatives for Ease of Doing Business’ and Nomination of ‘Key Customer Supervisors’