Latest news with #R.N.Singh
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- The Hindu
Southern Railway GM reviews progress of Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at Karur railway junction
Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh inspected the work taken up under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS) in Karur on Tuesday. Accompanied by senior officials of the Salem Railway Division, the General Manager took stock of the progress of work on the station building, entrance, facade, approach road, and other areas. A host of works are under way to give a complete makeover to the Karur railway station under the ABSS being executed at a cost of ₹30 crore, said a railway official. These include improvements to the circulating area and parking facility, facade, improvements to booking and reservation counters and waiting rooms and installation of lifts. Karur is one of the 15 railway stations in Salem Railway Division identified for carrying out a host of improvement work for the benefit of travellers.
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Development works at Erode Railway Junction inspected
Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh on Tuesday inspected various development works under way at Erode Junction railway station. He was accompanied by Panna Lal, Divisional Railway Manager of Salem Division and N. Ganga Raju, Chief Project Manager. Mr. Singh reviewed ongoing works, including platform shelter installation, platform renovation, construction of toilets on platforms 1 and 2, the newly established two-wheeler and four-wheeler parking stands, the improved circulating area, upgrades to waiting rooms, seating arrangements, drinking water facilities, and the extension of the portico. Officials briefed him on the status of each project, and the General Manager instructed them to ensure timely completion as per schedule. Erode Junction is among the stations being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme of Indian Railways, which focuses on modernisation and enhanced passenger amenities.
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Southern Railway GM holds meetings with MPs, Constituency-wise infrastructure development works reviewed
Passenger amenities, introduction of new trains, additional stops, extensions of existing services and station development were among the issues that were discussed at a meeting organised by the Southern Railway's Thiruvananthapuram Division with MPs from Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Friday. The meeting reviewed completed and ongoing Constituency-wise infrastructure development works under the jurisdiction of the Division, the Railway said in a statement. Kerala MPs and the MPs representing Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli constituencies in Tamil Nadu attended the meeting with R.N. Singh, General Manager, Southern Railway. The progress on the construction of new railway lines, extensions of existing train services, doubling and electrification works and construction of Road Over Bridges/Road Under Bridges also were discussed. Focused efforts are underway to improve railway infrastructure in regions falling under the Thiruvananthapuram Division of the Southern Railway, Railway officials said. Ongoing works in Kerala include station redevelopment at Varkala-Sivagiri, development of the Thiruvananthapuram south station as a coaching terminal and redevelopment of Thiruvananthapuram Central and Neyyattinkara stations. Railway officials noted that Ernakulam is emerging as a major hub with large-scale redevelopment underway at both Ernakulam Town and Junction stations. Other major stations such as Alappuzha and Kayamkulam Junction are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Scheme with lifts, waiting rooms and upgraded roofing. In Tamil Nadu, the redevelopment of key stations such as Nagercoil Junction and Kanyakumari under the Amrit Station Scheme is progressing with escalators, platform shelters, and other modern amenities under implementation, the Railway said. Doubling of the Nagercoil Town-Nagercoil Junction-Kanyakumari line has been completed as part of Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari Doubling project, the Railway said. Kerala MPs Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, Kodikkunnil Suresh, N.K. Premachandran, Shashi Tharoor, K.C. Venugopal, Anto Antony, Adoor Prakash, Hibi Eden, John Brittas and Haris Beeran and Tamil Nadu MPs C. Robert Bruce and Vijay Vasanth attended. Manish Thaplyal, Divisional Railway Manager, Thiruvananthapuram Division, and principal heads of departments of the Southern Railway also were present.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Southern Railway GM orders for safety audit of New Pamban Railway Bridge
Exactly one month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Pamban Rail Bridge on April 6, Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh has instructed the Principal Chief Safety Officer (PCSO) and Principal Chief Electrical Engineer (PCEE) to undertake safety audit on synchronisation of vertical lift span in the new bridge. Consequently, the PSCO and PCEE along with Chief Signal Engineer, officials of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited and the original equipment manufacturers would make a detailed site inspection followed by a technical meeting at Pamban Bridge on May 7 and 8. The decision on site inspection was taken during the General Manager's weekly safety meeting held on April 22 in which critical issues related to Pamban Bridge, specifically regarding synchronisation of the lifting system and the auto application of brake were discussed. The GM has instructed the senior officials to resolve the issues at the earliest. The Prime Minister operated the 72.5-metre-long vertical lift for allowing Coast Guard ships to pass under it on the Pamban navigational channel. The movable deck was lifted up for 17 metres. Lift stuck midway However, within a few minutes, when the railway officials attempted to lower the movable deck, it got stuck midway, much to the embarrassment of railway officials. Meanwhile, rail movement continued uninterrupted on the bridge. However, the vertical span was lifted only on April 30 for the first time for passage of big fishing vessels. A railway source said that a preliminary meeting was held with representatives of Control Care Automation that has supplied SCADA system for operation of the movable deck and officials of RVNL on April 28. The meeting underlined various issues that required site inspection with all the stakeholders involved in design, construction, commissioning and testing of the vertical lift span. Representatives of the original equipment manufacturers of all electro-mechanical components, the designers of the bridge, civil contractor and officials of RVNL pertaining to mechanical, civil, electrical and signal departments would participate in the two-day inspection, termed to be high importance, for the safe and uninterrupted operation of the New Pamban Rail Bridge. However, a senior railway official downplayed the conduct of safety audit claiming that the zonal railway wanted to thoroughly check the electromechanical system of the vertical lift.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tirunelveli MP seeks introduction of additional overnight train to Chennai
C. Robert Bruce, MP, has appealed to the Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh to introduce a shadow Nellai Express train to connect Tirunelveli with Chennai as the existing service, which is serving the people for more than 50 years, has a heavy rush every day. Moreover, the MP has also reminded the General Manager of the earlier promise of extending the Bengaluru – Madurai Vande Bharat Express to Tirunelveli. In a petition submitted to Mr. Singh at the MPs meeting in Madurai on Thursday, Mr. Bruce said that due to unavailability of accommodation in Nellai Express, people are forced to travel in omni buses which collect a hefty fare. Hence, a second overnight train should be operated on the Tirunelveli -Chennai route. Moreover, the tri-weekly Shencottai – Tambaram and Nagercoil – Tambaram tri-weekly express trains should be operated every day as the existing train services operated from Nagercoil and Shencottai to Chennai are generating a huge revenue to Indian Railways with good occupancy. During his visit to Tirunelveli on September 20 last, the General Manager had promised to extend the Madurai – Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express to Tirunelveli, which is yet to be fulfilled. Besides the extension, this train should skip Tiruchi so as to enable the passengers to reach Bengaluru three hours in advance. Since the Tambaram – Tiruchi – Madurai – Tirunelveli – Nagercoil section has become fully electrified double line, the Tiruchi – Thiruvananthapuram Intercity Express may be extended to Tambaram with minor adjustments in timings and increased speed. The Ernakulam – Okha bi-weekly train should be extended to Tirunelveli or Thoothukudi via Shencottai for serving the passengers of Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts. In the wake of consecration of Tiruchendur Lord Subramaniya Swami Temple to be held in July 2025, the Southern Railway should create more amenities in Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur railway stations besides operating additional trains of Kollam – Tiruchendur via Punalur, Shencottai and Tirunelveli; Thiruvananthapuram North to Tiruchendur via Nagercoil and Tirunelveli; Palani to Tiruchendur via Tirupparankundram; and Tiruttani to Tiruchendur via Villupuram, Swamimalai and Tirupparankundram. Weekly circular trains may be operated to connect all six abodes of Lord Muruga for the benefit of devotees. The Madurai – Punalur Express should be extended to Karaikal via Dindigul, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam so that pilgrims from southern districts can easily reach Tirunallar Saneeswaran Temple, Velankanni Church and Nagore Dargah. The Thiruvananthapuram – Tirunelveli Train via Nagercoil, which was discontinued in mid-1980s, should be revived with revised timings. The Kanniyakumari – Chennai Central Express, which was operated via Katpadi, Jolarpet and Salem prior to gauge conversion, is now being operated via Tiruchi and Vriddhachalam. Hence, this train should be revived and the railways must upgrade the weekly Chennai Central – Nagercoil Express as a tri-weekly service via Madurai, Dindigul, Namakkal, Karur and Salem without touching Tiruchi. Since the air-conditioned buses being operated by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation between Nagercoil and Tirunelveli enjoy 100% occupancy round-the-clock, MEMU services should be operated between Thiruvananthapuram and Tirunelveli via Nagercoil, the petition read.
