Rly cover over platforms brought under safety head, likely to get more funding

Nagpur: Cover over platforms (COPs) at railway stations having high footfalls will get a boost now as the Indian Railways have included it under the safety head invoking more funds.
Talking to mediapersons on Tuesday, Central Railway general manager DK Sharma said, “Earlier COP was in the passenger head but after its inclusion in safety head, we expect more funding for it. Stations having more footfalls will get COPs.”

“In Nagpur, home platform at the Santra Market side of the station will get COP as more number of trains are now being admitted there post doubling of Nagpur-Kalamna line,” said divisional railway manager (DRM) MS Uppal.

Sharma along with principal heads was on annual inspection of Itarsi-Nagpur section. He said in next few months the Central Railway plans to open 40-45km of third lines in the division.

“This will include 20km section between Nagpur-Wardha. Work on land acquisition is going on for fourth line and it will take some time,” he said.

When asked about staff crunch in the division, Sharma said, “Railways’ focus will be on using technological driven work culture with less number of employees.”

On the issue of MoU with Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MahaMetro) to run fast metro trains to small towns in the region, Sharma said, “We are ready to operate such trains if MahaMetro provides the coaches.”

On the issue of proposed LHB coaches periodic overhaul (POH) plant in Kalmeshwar, Sharma admitted that with several projects in pipeline like the multi-modal transport hub at Ajni and converting it into a satellite terminus, and work on several of other major works in process in Nagpur division, it would be difficult to set up LHB coach unit, which requires at least 200-hectare land.

The Central Railway headquarters on December 6, has already written to the Railway Board that the proposal for setting LHB coaches maintenance unit be considered to be set up at Bhusawal on the ground that ample land was available there. Besides, Bhusawal was considered over Nagpur owing to most of the LHB coaches in Mumbai and Pune divisions.

To a question on running intercity trains to cities in Vidarbha, Sharma was non-committal saying such proposals are considered by the Railway Board.

During the annual inspection which started from Dodramohar, Sharma and his team inspected tracks, staff quarters, cleanliness, safety and security, depots, rest rooms and waiting halls, upkeep of stations among host of other issues. He also conducted speed trial of trains at 120 kmph between Dodramohar and Ghoradongri.