Latest news with #VSomanna
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chennai to get second AC EMU by October
Chennai: Amid complaints over poor service, high cost, and delays, Chennai's second AC EMU—built at Integral Coach Factory—will be ready in two months and is likely to be launched by October after safety clearances and test runs. When asked if design changes were made after the rake scraped platforms at Pallavaram and Chromepet last month, ICF officials clarified that their coaches follow standard national dimensions, and any mismatch at a few stations should be corrected by Southern Railway. Meanwhile, ICF is also building two non-AC EMU train sets fitted with automatic doors—a feature introduced after a recent Mumbai suburban accident killed four passengers hanging from footboards. Though built in Chennai, these rakes are likely to be allotted to Central Railway, where demand and crowding remain highest. The auto-door mechanism won't allow doors to close unless all passengers board fully, eliminating the common risk of commuters clinging onto doors. The loco pilot will control door operation, and sensors will block movement if anyone hangs out. ICF officials said this model will be tested in Mumbai and extended to other cities like Chennai based on commuter response. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 안구건조 걱정 없이 안전하게! 강남아이원스안과 지금 신청하기 Undo You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai On the Vande Bharat sleeper front, the first rake is currently stationed at New Delhi, where ICF engineers are making minor modifications based on Railway Safety Commissioner feedback. The second rake is expected by August 15, and a third by mid-September. Visiting ICF on Thursday, Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna said, "The Make in India push has made ICF a global rail coach hub. From 3,700 coaches last year, production will touch 4,200 this year." He also inspected the Chennai–Arakkonam–Kanchipuram rail section on Thursday and said the govt will examine building a new railway station near the upcoming Parandur airport. ICF's production calendar for 2025–26 includes 4,356 coaches, including 88 Vande Bharat chair car rakes, 3 Vande Bharat sleepers by September, 8 AC EMUs, and 2 auto-door non-AC EMUs by December.
News18
7 days ago
- Health
- News18
Indian Railways Hosts Yoga Sessions On Iconic Chenab, Anji And Pamban Bridges
Last Updated: Indian Railways marked the 11th International Day of Yoga by organising special yoga sessions at iconic sites, including the Chenab and Anji Bridges in Jammu and Kashmir Indian Railways on Saturday marked the 11th International Day of Yoga by organising special yoga sessions at iconic sites, including the Chenab and Anji Bridges in Jammu and Kashmir, and the Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu. 'For the first time, a yoga session was conducted on the world's highest Railway arch bridge – Chenab Bridge, located in Jammu and Kashmir symbolising Indian Railways' confidence and engineering capabilities," the Railway Ministry said in a press release. 'Yoga sessions were held on India's first cable-stayed rail bridge – Anji Khad Bridge, and the country's first vertical-lift rail bridge – Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu, showcasing a unique blend of yoga and engineering excellence," it added. सेवा, समर्पण और सह-अस्तित्व के भाव के साथ दुनिया के सबसे ऊंचे रेल आर्च ब्रिज #ChenabBridge के नीचे योग करते भारतीय रेल के कर्मचारी और अधिकारी। #InternationalYogaDay #IDY2025 #YogaforOneEarthOneHealth #YogaMahotsav2025 — Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) June 21, 2025 The ministry said that a special EMU train dedicated to yoga was operated by the Howrah Division in West Bengal, featuring illustrations of various yoga mudras along with their health benefits. The Railway officials said that the celebration aligned with the theme 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health". Besides employees, Union Ministers of State for Railways V Somanna and Ravneet Singh also participated in the yoga sessions held at Karnataka's Hassan and Chandigarh's Sukhna Lake, respectively, the release said. Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar took part in a yoga session organised at Karnail Singh Stadium, New Delhi, it added. The ministry said the sessions included asanas (physical postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), meditation and awareness activities focused on the holistic benefits of yoga. First Published: June 21, 2025, 23:18 IST
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Time of India
Special train between B'luru and Bidar
Kalaburagi: V Somanna, Union state minister for railway and jal shakti, announced a special train between Sir M Vishweshwaraiah Terminal Bengaluru and Bidar. The announcement was shared on social media platforms, which indicates that this special service will assist in managing passenger distribution and reduce congestion on existing train routes. Train Details: SMVB-Bidar-SMVB Special Express Train (Train No. 06539/06540). The train will operate five trips between June 15 and June 29, running every Friday and Sunday. The train will depart from SMVB station at 9.15pm, arriving at Bidar at 11.30am. Bidar – SMVB (06540) Train: Operating five trips between June 16 and June 30, the service runs every Saturday and Monday. The train departs from Bidar at 1 pm, reaching SMVB station at 4 am. Major stops inculde Humanabad, Kalaburgi, Shahabad, Wadi, Yadgiri, Raichur, Mantralaya, Guntakal, Yalahanka. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Jalshakti Min Somanna says Hemavathi express canal project should be modified
TUMAKURU: Union MoS for Railways and Jalshakti V Somanna on Wednesday held a meeting with those who protested against Hemavathy Express canal at the project site at Sunkapura in Gubbi. He asked them to continue with their agitation demanding that the Rs 1,000 crore project be stalled. Three legislators and several religious heads were among hundreds of agitators booked for protesting on May 31. Somanna said he will ensure the project gets modified, and demanded that water should flow naturally using gravity instead of the pipeline to Kunigal.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Circular Railway project to undergo route change?
Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project K-RIDE . The much-anticipated Circular Railway project, designed to enhance connectivity to and around Bengaluru, may undergo significant realignment. Originally proposed to stretch between Devanahalli and Anekal, the revised plan extends the route's total length from 34 km to 39 km, reflecting critical changes in alignment and regional considerations. The earlier proposed Malur–Anekal corridor has now been altered due to objections from the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, as parts of the previous alignment fell under its jurisdiction. To resolve this, the new route will pass through key emerging localities such as Swiss Town, Infosys Headquarters at Sarjapur, and Dodda Thimmasandra, eventually linking Lakkur and Hosahalli. This section, which was initially 21 km long, has now been extended to 23 said that further changes have been implemented along the Malur–Devanahalli stretch as well. In D Shettihalli, a planned real estate development over 100 acres has necessitated minor diversions to the route. In Channarayapatna, the earlier route passed through Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) land, which now hosts several industrial units. To avoid disruption, the alignment will bypass the developed industrial zones and instead connect via Bendigannahalli and Thimmanahalli to the proposed rail terminal at Devanahalli. Consequently, the length of this stretch has increased from 13.01 km to 15.06 ahead, the Circular Railway project will work in tandem with the(BSRP) to provide a seamless transit network across the city and its outskirts. A detailed feasibility study is being conducted to examine integration possibilities between these two major projects. Similar to the metro system within the city core, this suburban and circular railway system will play a vital role in connecting the outer districts to Bengaluru, offering a reliable mass transit alternative. To coordinate and evaluate this integration,(Karnataka Railway Infrastructure Development Company) is conducting a feasibility assessment to ensure that the circular rail complements the ongoing suburban railway developments.'The Circular Railway project around Bengaluru is being proposed as a sustainable and long-term solution to the city's growing traffic and mobility challenges,' said Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna. He noted that a detailed survey has already been conducted, which highlighted some implementation hurdles. 'The proposed network, covering approximately 271 kilometres, is designed to link Bengaluru's peripheral areas and integrate seamlessly with the upcoming Suburban Railway and National Highways,' he said. The project aims to ensure smoother and more efficient transportation for both commuters and industries. About 2,500 acres of land will be required for the project, and the entire cost will be borne by the central government. The initiative is being developed with a 50-year infrastructure outlook to serve the long-term mobility needs of the Bengaluru Metropolitan proposed Circular Railway looping around Bengaluru's periphery will connect key growth zones such as Doddaballapur, Devanahalli, Malur, Heelalige, Solur, and Nidavanda. With ongoing revisions and minor extensions, the total route length is expected to rise slightly to 291 km. A rail activist said, 'This ambitious infrastructure project aims to ease traffic pressure on the city, boost suburban development, and support the growing economic ecosystem across Bengaluru's extended metropolitan region.'
