68th Independence Day Celebrations at Southern Railway, Salem Division

68^th  INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS AT SOUTHERN RAILWAY SALEM DIVISION

The 68^th Independence Day was celebrated today (15.08.2014) at Salem Division of Southern Railway with patriotic fervor. Shri SHUBRANSHU, Divisional Railway Manager, Salem Division, Southern Railway, hoisted the tri-color and accepted the guard of honor presented by the RPF personnel of Salem Division.

While speaking on the occasion, Shri Shubhranshu recalled the sacrifices by our great leaders for the freedom. He also pointed out that Railways have been a major force in elimination of discrimination and untouchability among the people, by providing equal accommodation, irrespective of their caste or creed. As country was witnessing the winds of change, the message was very clear that we have to perform or perish, he quoted.

Along with the major changes taking place in the Nation, he said that Railways have also started focusing more on the cleanliness, safety and passenger amenities, like never before. Salem Division is also bettering its records year over year by registering an earnings of Rs.548 crores during the year 2014-13 that is 8.5% more than the earnings of previous year, he added. He further said that up to July 2014, the gross earnings of Salem Division has touched Rs.142 crores, which is an increase of 4% over the last year, for the same period. Shri Shubranshu said that Salem Division has performed better on punctuality front, clocking 93.16% compared to 92.70% last year.

On the passenger trains facilities, he said that during the last year, several new trains have been introduced such as Chennai-Palani Daily Express, Bangalore-Nagercoil Daily Express, Coimbatore-Rameswaram Weekly Express, Yeshwantpur-Mangalore Weekly Express and Vishakapatnam-Kollam Weekly Express trains. Shri Shubranshu also pointed out the extension of Bangalore-Nagore passenger up to Karaikal, Guwahati-Ernakulam Weekly Express train up to Trivandrum, and Mangalore-Trichirapalli Weekly express Train up to Pondicherry. He mentioned that proposals have been made for extension of the existing Salem-Karur passenger train, up to Trichirappalli and a new overnight express train from Coimbatore to Bangalore. 

On safety front, he mentioned that Safety Branch of Salem Division has been organizing Awareness Programs at unmanned level crossings, markets nearby, petrol bunks, schools, etc. to educate road users on safely crossing such unmanned level crossings, apart from organizing road shows, ambush checks, counselling truck and car drivers, screening safety clippings on televisions, and campaigning through Safety Rath. He also lauded the role of RPF in ensuring fool-proof security at railway stations, employing CCTVs and mobile teams to escort the passengers.

To ensure cleanliness, he said that all major stations are being directly supervised by DRM  and solicited the co-operation of passengers as well as staff, by not pasting posters/notices in any of the railway premises. Last year Salem Division has put a major step forward in providing emergency medical care to passengers by way of inauguration of Medical Assistance Booths at Karur and Erode. To facilitate the easy movement of elderly, sick and physically challenged passengers, he said that Battery Operated car services have been introduced in Coimbatore in addition to Salem. He further said that escalators and lifts will be installed in Erode and other important stations, which already are available in Salem and Coimbatore.

To reduce the crowding at railway stations, in addition to the 16 Jansadharan Ticket Book Sevaks in different parts of the Division, (who provide unreserved tickets to passengers), 50 such JTBS are planned to be appointed, he said. The retiring rooms at Tiruppur and Coimbatore and the waiting rooms at Erode and Tirupur have been recently renovated for the convenience of passengers. Salem Junction is getting a face lift by way of construction of new station entry, waiting halls, food plazas and spacious parking lots for the convenience of passengers. Likewise, the second entry at Tirupur junction is nearing completion and in Coimbatore, a second entry is being planned, to ease congestion in the present entry.

The subway extension to Platform 5 of Salem Junction is nearing completion and will be opened shortly and new Foot Over Bridges (FOB) are under construction at Sankaridurg, Kulitalai and Kodumudi, he added.

On use of Green Energy in line with the Central Government stress on clean energy, Shri Shubranshu said that Salem Division is planning to set up a 100 KW Solar Power Plant in the Divisional Office and smaller units in other stations.

On staff welfare front, he said that Railway School, Erode, has obtained permission for affiliation with CBSE for the academic year 2015-16 and similar affiliation is being planned to be obtained for Podanur Railway School. To redress the grievances of staff, a Grievance Redressal System has been introduced under which employees can directly meet the DRM on every Thursday evening to get direct hearing from the DRM.

A talent show by the RPF Dog Squad and a cultural show by the Railway School children were the highlights of the function. The function was attended by Shri V. Thavamani Pandi, Addl. Divisional Railway Manager, Shri I. Jones, Divisional Security Commissioner/RPF, Shri Govindarajan, Asst. Security Commissioner/RPF, and other Divisional officers.   டனர்.