Latest news with #SouthernRailways
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Railways approves underpass for Thokkottu-Olapete link
Mangaluru: Southern Railways has approved the construction of a pedestrian railway underpass at Thokkottu to connect Olapete. Residents of Olapete in Ullal, one of the oldest towns in the area, have faced difficulty for a long time to cross railway tracks due to a lack of infrastructure. With no railway gate, foot overbridge, or underpass, people were forced to walk across the tracks illegally. Following repeated representations and inspections, Southern Railway approved a pedestrian underpass of 3m to connect Thokkottu with Olapete, said speaker and Mangaluru MLA UT Khader. The underpass will be built for Rs 2 crore, he said. "The access from Thokkottu to Olapete is a major stretch that connects the national highway with Ullal town. However, the railway tracks on the stretch cause inconvenience for thousands of people, including students and residents. They are forced to cross the railway track on the stretch to access markets, schools, colleges, mosques, temples, and churches. Although the railway department long demanded the closure of the level crossing due to safety concerns and past mishaps, local authorities so far maintained access in consideration of public convenience," the MLA said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like അപൂർവ്വയിനം റോസാ വിത്തുകൾ: വേഗത്തിലുള്ള ഡെലിവറി Rare Climbing Rose Seeds Learn More Undo "With the railway department giving approval for constructing the underpass, the work will be taken up within three to four months. Once completed, pedestrians and two-wheelers will be allowed," he added. Ullal Students Union, in association with various like-minded organisations, held protests to draw the attention of the people's representatives and the railways to the demands of an underpass. Organisations also submitted memoranda to people's representatives and officials in the past.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Conservationists lament damage to wetland caused by dumping silt from Ooty lake
The Water Resources Organisation (WRO) has been accused of destroying a key part of the wetland surrounding the Ooty lake by dumping silt from the lakebed. Conservationists who visited the site said the entire wetland complex surrounding the lake is at risk of complete devastation. 'It was only last year that the Salem division of Southern Railways destroyed another portion of a wetland surrounding the lake by constructing a parking facility. Now it seems to be the turn of the WRO,' said G. Janardhanan, president of the Ooty Public Awareness Association. He said that the government continued to have little regard for protecting wetlands, with major projects, including adventure park facilities already being constructed around the Ooty lake. The WRO is currently conducting a clean-up and desilting of the Ooty Lake, with conservationists stating that the wing, operating under the Public Works Department (PWD) was causing irreversible damage to the wetland ecosystem, home to multiple species of birds and small mammals as well as unique wetland flora. N. Mohanraj, a Nilgiris-based conservationist, said that plans to expand the bus stand adjoining the wetland were thwarted a few years ago, citing potential impacts to biodiversity and also due to increase of flooding risk within the town. Mr. Mohanraj said that the wetland acts as a sponge during spells of heavy rain, absorbing excess water from the Ooty lake that would otherwise flood low-lying areas of the town. 'The wetland acts as a swamp-cum-reservoir that reduces flooding. Dumping silt from the lake will fundamentally change it for the worse and reduce its ability to absorb water during rain,' he said, adding that the slurry should be dumped elsewhere where it does not impact biodiversity and fragile ecosystems. When contacted, sources in the Fisheries Department said that they were not given any prior notice of the dumping of waste from the Ooty lake. 'Due to the dumping by the WRO, our farms have become non-operational. We have raised our objections with the district administration which promised to take action,' said an official who requested anonymity. Conservationists said that damage done to the wetland would take years to reverse. The WRO's unscientific approach towards desilting the Ooty lake was destroying biodiversity both within the lake as well as wetlands around its perimeter. When contacted, Ddistrict Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru said that was no permission was granted to the WRO to dump silt in the wetland. She said that the WRO had ceased dumping the silt in May of this year, and that she had sought an explanation from the department for the same. 'They have also assured us that once the rain stops and the soil dries, they would remove the silt and transport it to Theetukkal (dump yard),' said the Collector.
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
School bus passing railway crossing hit by train in Tamil Nadu, 6 injured
A school bus crossing a railway crossing in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore, injuring at least six. While there is no official confirmation on the number of deaths yet, some local reports said at least three people died in the accident. A school bus crossing a railway crossing was hit by a train in Tamil Nadu(PTI/Representative image) The incident took place at around 7:45 am when the bus attempted to cross Railway Level Crossing Gate number 170, and was hit by 56813 Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai passenger train. Visuals shared by news agency PTI showed the school bus in a wreacked state, and people trying to inspect the damage. The railway crossing is non interlocked gate between Cuddalore and Alappakkam, the Southern Railways said. The bus driver insisted on allowing the vehicle to cross the gate, which should not have been permitted, preliminary probe has revealed. The driver insisted on doing so when the gatekeeper proceeded to close the gate.
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- The Hindu
Coimbatore Junction-Kannur Express to start from Podanur Junction on July 8 and 10
The Southern Railways has announced that the Coimbatore Junction - Kannur Express (Train no. 16608) will depart from Podanur Junction at the scheduled departure time of 2.03 p.m. on July 8 and 10. The train will be partially cancelled between Coimbatore Junction and Podanur. On July 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29 and 31, the train will depart from Palakkad Junction at the scheduled departure time of 3.10 p.m. The train will be partially cancelled between Coimbatore Junction and Palakkad Junction, a Southern Railway press release said. The Alappuzha-Dhanbad Junction Express (Train no. 13352) will be diverted via Podanur Junction and Irugur, skipping stoppage at the Coimbatore Junction on July 8, 9, 15, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26 and 31. An additional stoppage will be provided at Podanur Junction with Coimbatore Junction timings (Arrival at 12.17 p.m. and departure at 12.20 p.m.), the press release said.
The Hindu
28-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
There was no derailment of MEMU train: Southern Railway
With reference to the article published in The Hindu, titled 'Katpadi - bound MEMU train derails near Arakkonam on Saturday dated June 28, the Southern Railways claimed, on Saturday, that there was no derailment. The release from the Southern Railway said: 'There was no derailment of the Katpadi-bound MEMU train. The Loco Pilot of Train No. 66057 promptly detected a rail fracture at Chitteri station Yard Road 1 loop line—an identified maintenance caution location with a speed restriction of 20 kmph. Acting swiftly, the Loco Pilot stopped the train at 21.15 hrs, preventing any untoward incident. The track was restored within an hour, and the same train was cleared safely on the same line. All train services in the section are running normally.'
