Customer Care training for the Commercial Branch staff of Salem Division, Southern Railway

 Sri Mahesh V. Giri addresses the gathering

Commercial Branch staff listening attentively to the speech by Sri Mahesh

Since Railways is basically a customer oriented organization both passenger and freight, Indian Railways is taking all effective steps to ensure the interaction between the Railway Staff and its customers is cordial and fruitful for all concerned.

As a step towards this goal, a special seminar on Customer Care was arranged today by the Commercial Branch of the Salem Division, Southern Railway, today (23.12.2016) in the Divisional Office premises. In the seminar, Sri Mahesh V. Giri of Prochamps, a Human Resources Consultant firm, participated as Chief Guest. While addressing the gathering of 62 frontline commercial staff from all over Salem Division, Sri Mahesh, emphasized that the courtesy extended to a customer always will rub on the railway staff as well and will be reciprocated. The customer being the important person in the scheme of things, should be served on par with we serve our own staff, he added. Further, the Chief Guest insisted that not only the frontline staff of Railways, but also those who work under them should also be educated and motivated to serve the customers of Railways in a better way.

Later, Sri Mahesh also answered to the questions from the Commercial Branch staff. The Seminar was presided over by Sri Vijuvin, Divisional Commercial Manager, Salem. Vote of thanks was rendered by Sri M. Shahjahan, Asst. Commercial Manager.  Earlier, Sri K.Madhu, Divisional Commercial Manager, welcomed the gathering. 

Ticket Checking Drive by Salem Division Commercial Branch at Erode and Karur

In continuation with the ticket checking drive undertaken by the Commercial Branch officials of Salem Division as per the directions of Sri Hari Shankar Verma, DRM, yesterday (20.12.2016) from afternoon till late night, checks were conducted in Erode & Karur junctions, as well as trains such as T.No.16331 Mumbai Nagercoil Express, T.No.16860 Mangalore Chennai Egmore Express and T.No.56108 Karur Salem Passenger, etc. In the check, 94 cases of ticketless and improper ticketing (such as travelling beyond the ticket route, travelling in a different class, travelling without proper concession authority, etc) and 2 cases of unbooked luggage, were detected, and a fine of Rs. 35,700/- was collected from them as penalty. 7 ticket checking staff and 1 RPF staff were involved in the surprise checks lead by Sri M. Shahjahan, Asst. Commercial Manager, Salem. As per Section 138 of the Indian Railways Act, 1989, ticketless/improper ticket holding passengers and carrying luggage  beyond the permissible limits, are punishable with a penalty of up to two times the fare/charges and/or imprisonment up to 1 year, on production before the Railway Magistrate. Hence, the passengers are advised to travel in trains with proper ticket and avoid any penal action. 

Surprise Ticket Checking at Erode Junction by Commercial Branch of Salem Division, Southern Railway

 Fortress check in Erode Junction today

DCM, Salem, seen checking tickets in one of the trains

In a surprise fortress ticket checking drive (a check conducted in railway stations covering all points of entry and exit) by the Commercial Branch of Salem Division in Erode Junction, today (19.12.2016) in 15 trains (13 express trains such as 16859-Chennai Egmore and Mangalore Express, 12676-Coimbatore-Chennai Central Kovai Express, 12659-Nagercoil Shalimar Gurudev Express, 22648-Trivandrum-Korba Express, etc. and 2 passenger trains-66603-Salem Coimbatore MEMU Passenger), as per the directions of Sri Hari Shankar Verma, DRM, Salem. 140 cases were booked for ticketless travelling, improper ticketing and unbooked luggage and an amount of Rs.52,870/- was collected from the defaulters as penalty. The check was carried out by a team of 13 ticket checking staff and 2 RPF staff lead by Sri K. Madhu, Divisional Commercial Manager, Salem. More such fortress ticket checking drives are being planned all over Salem Division. 

Pension Adalat (Pensioners’ Grievance Redressal Meet) for the year 2016 held at Southern Railway Salem Division today (15.12.2016)

Sri Hari Shankar Verma, DRM, addresses the pensioners and beneficiaries

  The pensioners and beneficiaries who participated in the Adalat 

Sri P. Kamban, Sr.DFM addresses the gathering

As is being done every year, the Pension Adalat for the year 2016, was held by the Salem Division of Southern Railway, today (15.12.2016) at the Conference Hall in the Salem DRM Office. The Adalat was presided over by Sri Hari Shankar Verma, Divisional Railway Manager. About 138 claims were received from 100 retired railway pensioners/beneficiaries during the Adalat. The members of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies, (SCOVA) an organization  recognized by the Govt. of India, were  also invited to be present to assist the pensioners/beneficiaries. Sri Chandrapal, Addl. Divisional Railway Manager, Sri. P. Kamban, Sr. Divisional Financial Manager, Sri S.Thirumurugan, Divisional Personnel Officer, and other Divisional Officers were present during the Adalat.

While addressing the participants, DRM Sri Hari Shankar Verma said that both Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Defence take utmost care of their pensioners and Indian Railways have redressed about 99% of the grievances of the pensioners, all over the Nation.

Out of the total 138 representations that were received during the Adalat, 118 were disposed in favour of the applicants and an amount of Rs.26,35,279/- (Rupees twenty six lakhs, thirty five thousands, two hundred and seventy nine only) was released in favour of them. It is pertinent to note here that this amount is the highest settlement amount made during such Pension Adalats since the inception of Salem Division. 16 representations could not be accepted as they were in contravention to the extant rules. Further, 4 representations had to be kept pending for want of sufficient documents. 

The pensioners/beneficiaries who attended the Adalat expressed their happiness and satisfaction over the steps taken by the Salem Railway Division authorities to listen to their grievances and settle them off. 

Salem Division, Southern Railway, takes first steps towards digital/cashless transaction

In line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India’s vision of a Digital India, and with a view to assist the public to buy train tickets, enabling them to carry out their transactions digitally/cashless, as per the instructions of Sri Hari Shankar Verma, DRM, the Commercial Branch of Salem Division, Southern Railway, has installed 4 credit cards swipe machines, technically called POS (Point of Sales) machines, from State Bank of India, in the PRS counters (advance ticket booking centers) of Coimbatore (2), Salem (1) and Erode (1), on trial basis. These 4 credit card transaction machines have been installed over and above the 3 debit card transaction machines from SBI installed in Salem, Coimbatore and Erode Railway Stations (1 each). Public are requested to make use of the same for easy and trouble tree ticket purchases. PRS counters in 15 more Railway Stations in Salem Division have been identified for installation of POS machines soon and the number of machines at each such station would be finalized based on actual demand. 

Coimbatore-Chingleput-Coimbatore Special Trains via Tiruppur, Erode, Salem, Vridhachalam

To clear the extra rush of traffic for Christmas, New Year, Irumudi, Thaipoosam festivals, Pongal, etc. Special trains will run as under:

Composition               :    13 Unreserved 2^nd Class & 2 Luggage cum brake vans = 15 coaches  

Days of service           :    From Coimbatore on Mondays & Wednesdays       

                  From Chingleput on Tuesdays &Thursdays

Total services             :    16+ 16 = 32 services

Month	Dates of service from Coimbatore	Total	Dates of service from Chingleput	Total
Dec ‘16	19, 21, 26, 28	4	20, 22, 27, 29	4
Jan ‘17	2, 4, 9,11, 16, 18, 23, 25,30	9	3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31	9
Feb’17	1, 6, 8	3	2, 7, 9	3
	Total services	16	Total Services	16

T.No.06068	¯	Station	­	T.No.06067
19.30	(d)	COIMBATORE	(a)	03.30
20.15/ 20.17	(a/d)	TIRUPPUR	(a/d)	02.15/02.17
21.00/21.15	(a/d)	ERODE	(a/d)	01.30/ 01.35
22.20/ 22.40	(a/d)	SALEM	(a/d)	00.01/00.30
23.57/ 23.59	(a/d)	ATTUR	(a/d)	22.22/ 22.24
00.28/ 00.30	(a/d)	CHINNASALEM	(a/d)	21.53/ 21.55
01.30/ 01.50	(a/d)	Vriddhachalam	(a/d)	20.35/ 21.00
02.25/ 02.30	(a/d)	Villupuram	(a/d)	19.45/ 19.50
03.30/03.35	(a/d)	Melmaruvathur	(a/d)	18.30/ 18.35
04.15	(a)	Chengalpattu	(d)	18.00

Partial modification of frequency and composition of coaches in Erode-Chennai Egmore-Erode Special fare special train

In partial modification, the frequency of T.Nos.06027/06028 Erode-Chennai Egmore-Erode Special fare special train is being revised as Bi-Weekly Special  train between Erode and Chennai Egmore on Saturdays and Sundays (only)  from 17.12.2016 to 31.12.2016.

Dates of Service :  17/12, 18/12, 24/12, 25/12 & 31.12.2016 = 5+5 = 10 Services.

The composition is revised as 13 General Second Class Unreserved Coaches + 2 Luggage cum Brake Vans = 15 Coaches (instead of 6 reserved coaches+4 unreserved coaches+2 Luggage-cum-brake van).

Salem Division, Southern Railway to take up special drive against defacation in railway tracks in Salem-Vridhachalam Section

During an inspection by Sri Hari Shankar Verma, DRM, Salem, in the Salem Vridhachalam Section today (01/12/2016), it was seen that there was a lot of defaction by human excreta in the entire section, particularly between Salem Town and Minnampalli railway stations. Defacation of railway tracks is a punishable offence with fine up to Rs.500 and/or imprisonment, under Indian Railways Act, 1989, Indian Railways (Penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at railway premises) Rules 2012 and Environment Protection Act 1986. The notification issued by the Railway Board on November 26, 2012, under Railways Act, 1989, prohibits littering in any occupied or unoccupied railway premises or the carriage, and bars an individual from cooking, bathing, spitting, urinating, feeding animals or birds, repairing or washing vehicles, washing utensils or clothes or any other objects or keep any type of storage in any railway premises.

Such defacation, apart from polluting the environment, also poses a threat to the safety and longevity of the railway tracks, by way of fast corrosion and deterioration. In addition, it also becomes difficult for railway personnel to work on track, as it creates health hazard to them, apart from being lower to the human dignity to work in such a polluted environment. Despite many awareness campaigns in the area, the practice of using the railway tracks continues, resulting in frequent ran over track deaths as well, time and again. 

With a view to curb this menace, Salem Division, Southern Railway, is taking up a special drive against such defacation in the entire stretch between Salem and Vridhachalam, starting from tomorrow (02.12.2016), as per the directions of Sri Hari Shankar Verma, DRM, Salem.

The public are therefore advised not to defacate the railway tracks nor use them for any other purposes such as drying of clothes, etc. failing which they will be apprehended by Railway Protection Force officials, liable to pay fine up to Rs.500 and/or undergo imprisonment.