Press Meet by Shri Shubhranshu, DRM, Salem, held on 09.11.2015, on the Growth of Salem Division in 8 Years

While interacting with the media persons on 9.11.2015, on the occasion of completion of 8 years by Salem Division, Shri Shubhranshu, Divisional Railway Manager, Southern Railway, Salem, had stated that over the years, Salem Division has been performing well and the passenger amenities have been improved in a large scale.

He listed a few of the trains that were introduced after the creation of Salem Division, such as Salem-Chennai Egmore Express, Coimbatore Mannargudi Semmozhi Express, 3 extra passenger trains between Coimbatore and Mettupalayam, Salem Vridhachalam DEMU passenger train, Salem-Karur passenger trains after inauguration of Salem-Namakkal- Karur section, extension of Coimbatore-Erode MEMU up to Salem, extension of Mangalore-Palakkad Passenger up to Erode, etc.,

Sri Shubhranshu added that the following amenities have been added:
Salem:
At present:
Extension of Station Building
New Waiting Hall at Platform Nos.3 & 4
New Foot Over Bridge and Lifts
Future:
Multifunction complex is coming up
2nd Entry for junction
New AC waiting hall
New Food Plaza

Coimbatore:
At present:
New Subway with 2 escalators and lift
Food Plaza upgraded
New Vegetarian Refreshment Room (VRR Stall)
Future:
2 more lifts are coming up

Erode:
At present:
New AC waiting hall
Garden area developed
1000 trees planted in junction and colony area
Future:
2 lifts are coming up

Mettupalayam:
Present:
New Toilet complex that is differently abled friendly
New Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) Museum
New Vegetarian Refreshment Room (VRR Stall)
Future:
Extension of Platform length so as to accommodate 24 coaches (full length train)

Tirupur
Present:
2nd entry for station
New waiting hall
RO water facility with the help of Rotary Club
Future:
Food plaza coming up
Renovation of Goods Shed

Karur
Present:
Parking facility
Wall painting with the help of volunteers to prevent defecation
Future:
New retiring rooms

Coimbatore North:
Present:
New Station Building
New ticket counter
Future:
Developing Coimbatore North as a major passenger train terminal by stopping major trains there, to decongest Coimbatore junction

He further stated that new station buildings have been constructed for Thottipalayam and Vijayamangalam. 15 Automated Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) have already been installed in 9 major stations such as Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Karur, Salem, Salem Town, Chinna Salem and Attur and one more Coin/Currency Operated Ticket Vending Machine (CoTVM) is coming up in Erode. 40 Water Vending Machines are to be installed in all major stations, to provide safe drinking water to passengers at affordable costs, he added.

Postal Passenger Reservation Offices (PRS) have been provided in Rasipuram and Namakkal and 6 more such PRS counters will be installed.  He further added that a private reserved ticket booking facility called Yatri Ticket Suvida Kendra (YTSK) has been started in Erode, to enable passengers to book beyond working hours as well, and the two Passenger Telephone complaint booking Numbers viz. 138 for general complaints and 182 for Security (RPF) complaints have been working very well in redressing the passenger grievances, and on an average 50 complaints are attended to every month, he said. 3 foot over bridges (FOBs) have been provided in Sangagiri, Kulithalai and Kodumudi. Battery operated cars in Salem and Coimbatore, and Emergency Medical Care Centers at Salem, Karur, Erode and another coming up soon in Coimbatore, he said. Booking of retiring rooms in Salem Division has been made on line.

On staff welfare front, Sri Shubhranshu listed a few measures such as 44 new staff quarters have been constructed at Karur, a new Hospital for railway staff is getting ready in Erode, new railway institute at Salem, renovation of kalyana mandapam at Karur, etc.,

On financial performance of Salem Division, he said that Salem Division has performed well over the years and the in the current year, such as,
Passenger earnings Rs.282.44 crores compared to Rs. 261.33 crores last year (from April- Oct) i.e.8.08% increase
Other earnings Rs.6.13 crores compared to Rs. 6.10 crores last year (from April- Oct) i.e.0.55% increase
Ticket Checking earnings Rs.286.20 lakhs compared to Rs. 259.98 lakhs last year (from April- Oct) i.e.10.09% increase, with 18619 checks
Parcel earnings Rs.1219.40 lakhs compared to Rs. 1207.06 lakhs last year (from April- Oct) i.e.1.02% increase
Catering earnings Rs.184.85 lakhs compared to Rs. 84.62 lakhs last year (from April- Oct) i.e. 118.45% increase

While discussing the ongoing projects, he said that the Doubling of Omalur-Mettur Dam section is in progress and is likely to be completed in 2 years, because of the rough terrain and the land acquisition litigations.

On Safety aspect, he pointed out the Installation of train warning system in unmanned level crossing on trial basis in Coimbatore Mettupalayam section, and Posting of 60 Gate Mitras/Level Crossing Safety Counsellors posted in 60 unmanned level crossings all over Salem Division.

On Green Energy/Energy saving initiatives, Shri Shubranshu listed out the initiatives viz.,
Solar water heaters at Coimbatore, Tirupur, Podanur and Salem junctions,
2.88 KW capacity Solar Panels installed in Tirupur,
Solar powered level crossing lightings at Level Crossings in Coimbatore Mettupalayam section,
GSM based light control system at Platforms in Erode junction that will enable remote switching on and off from a mobile phone of the electrical supervisor,
24 Nos Remote operated energy efficient Super Fans that save up to 40% electricity and provide more air, installed in Coimbatore junction,
Replacing high powered 600 watts lamps with energy efficient CFL lamps