India News
Train 18 – India’s semi-high speed engineless train set for roll out, trials begin
India’s much awaited indigenously built semi-high speed engineless train Train 18 or T18, which is being regarded as a successor to the 30-year-old Shatabdi Express, is set for roll out with Indian Railways starting its trials today (Monday, October 29).
Made in just 18 months, T18 will replace the Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi – India’s fastest – next year. The 16 coach fully AC train set has been manufactured at ICF Chennai under the ‘Make in India’ initiative at a cost of Rs 100 crore.
Train 18 has a potential to travel up to the speed at 160 kmph as against 130 kmph for Shatabdis and will result in the travel time being reduced by around 15% once tracks are fitted to suit.
India’s first engine-less train was developed by Chennai Integral Coach Factory in 18 months, the full AC train is designed in such a way that passengers can have a look at the driver’s cabin.
Train 18 has an aerodynamic driver cabin at each end. The entire set operates as a computer unit; the various equipment of Train 18 “talk to each other digitally” says ICF General Manager Sudhanshu Mani.
PTI quoted Sudhanshu Mani as saying that Train 18 will cost nearly Rs 100 crore to build the prototype and subsequent production will bring down the cost.
The self-propelled train, fitted with CCTV cameras, will have two executive compartments.
The two executive compartments will have 52 seats each, whereas trailer coaches will have 78 seats each. A unique feature of the executive chair car seats is that they can be rotated 360 degrees to face fellow passengers or to align with the direction of the train.
The non-executive chair car has seats in the usual 3+2 configuration. These European-style seats have a leather-like covering with graded colouring of purple and pink. The middle table area of the coach now has foldable snack tables attached to it. This closes the gap between the seat and the table, making it easier to eat food.
Instead of aircraft-like reclining system where you push the back support, passengers need to push forward the seat below, hence creating a reclining posture. The feature does not reduce the space available to the passenger sitting behind you. In case of executive chair cars, this can be done with a button.
Train 18 has continuous windows for panoramic passenger viewing experience. The windows also have touch-based push up/down blinds.
Train 18 has aircraft-like diffused LED lighting which can brightened or dimmed depending on the time of the day. Each seat also has personalised reading lights.
It has an on-board infotainment system with Wi-Fi, vacuum toilets, besides two GPS-enabled information screens at each end of the coach that will keep you informed about the next destination, time of arrival and the speed.
It has spacious cushioned luggage racks and toilet occupancy indicators.
Train 18 is disabled-friendly. The driver cabins allow for wheelchairs to be rolled in from each end of the train and the trailing coach area next to the driver cabin has space to park wheelchairs. The toilets in this coach are also disabled-friendly.
Train 18 has centrally operated automatic doors with sliding footsteps to bridge gap between platform and train. The coach entry area also has automatic sliding doors with optical sensors. Like in a metro, the doors of Train 18 would open only after the train stops to ensure safety of passengers. The train would start only after all doors are shut.
The footstep in a coach’s doorway slides outward when the train stops at a station, enabling passengers to alight safely with comfort in view of the variation in height between a train’s floor and the platform.
Train 18, a 100 per cent ‘Make in India’ project, will have a stainless steel car body with LHB as the base design.
It has a colour scheme of white and blue by ICF – a first for Indian Railways. It gives the look and feel of a world-class bullet train!
The propulsion system and rigid couplings in the bogie mean jerk free rides with faster acceleration and deceleration. The overall journey time will be cut by at least 15%.
Train 18 makes use of regenerative braking, making it more energy efficient. Train 18 will have no power cars or diesel-based locomotives, hence the carbon footprint would also be lower.
After test runs in Chennai, the train will reach Delhi on November 7 and then move to the Moradabad-Bareilly section for a second round of test run, reported NDTV. The final trials will be held between Kota and Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan.
India News
Goa child rights body serves notice to Education department after worms found in mid day meals
Peter F Borges, Chairperson Goa state commission for protection of child rights said this shocking, sheer, neglect and outrageous that the meal had been consumed by children. He added the MDM scheme has elaborate monitoring systems in state, district and local levels.
The Goa state Commission for Protection of Child Rights served notice to the state Education department as worms were found in mid day meals served to children. Officials of the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration on Tuseday took food samples from three schools. This came in response to a complaint from schools in Priol said worms were found in Soya Chunks Pulao which was served as the mid day meal.
Peter F Borges, Chairperson Goa state commission for protection of child rights said this shocking, sheer, neglect and outrageous that the meal had been consumed by children. He added the MDM scheme has elaborate monitoring systems in state, district and local levels.
He said the school management committee (SMC)s are responsible for continuously monitoring the wholesomeness of the midday meal served to the schoolchildren. They are responsible for the hygiene standards and the service of the meal and the timeliness of good quality ingredients on a daily basis.
The commission has called for investigation in the incident and an enquiry so that necessary action can be taken against those found responsible for the incident. It has further sent directives to the education department to file status of all mechanisms at various levels in place.
Director of Education Shailesh Zingade told the media after the complaints were received the food and Drugs administration officials were summoned. They also collected the food samples and a report was awaited. He said the supplier has been told to stop the supply till the issue is cleared. According to reports the education department will take action against the self help group supplying the mid day meal. The mid day meal is served to students from Class I to Class VIII. The food is served to 160 lakh students of 1400 aided and government schools.
Bihar news
Nitish Kumar on ‘digital library’ inauguration in Bihar’s Banka asks officials to change signboard language to Hindi | Watch video
The chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, went to inaugurate a ‘digital library’ in Banka district where he noticed the language of the signboard of the newly established ‘digital library’.
The chief minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, went to inaugurate a ‘digital library’ in Banka district where he noticed the language of the signboard of the newly established ‘digital library’ and asked the officials to change the signboard as the information was written in the English language.
CM Kumar said he respects the English language but Hindi is a part of the tradition. He further schooled the officials saying you are ending the importance of the Hindi language, adding that it is our language. Officials present at the moment were asked to change the board by CM Kumar.
In March, Kumar made headlines for ridiculing a farmer who used English words in his speech at an event, demonstrating his consistent disapproval of the use of English in public settings.
Nitish Kumar reminded the farmer that using smartphones during COVID-19 was causing people to distance themselves from their own language in Bharat, Bihar.
Look at what has happened to people. They are distancing themselves from their language, Kumar interrupted, when people learn words through smartphones. Is it England, Kumar questioned the farmer. Your language should be used since you have been conversing with farmers in Bihar and Bharat, Nitish Kumar said.
As per the reports, the Chief Minister of Bihar carried out unannounced inspections at several government offices and discovered that a considerable number of ministers from his cabinet were missing in action. The observations revealed that while the majority of the ministers belonging to his party, JD(U), were present, a significant number of ministers from his alliance party, RJD, were found to be absent, the reports added.
According to reports, the development occurred amidst speculations that CM Kumar may switch alliances and join the BJP.
During the G20 event, the Prime Minister cordially introduced Nitish Kumar to none other than the esteemed US President Joe Biden.
It was worth noting that this was the initial encounter between PM Modi and Nitish Kumar following the latter’s party, JD(U), ending its affiliation with the BJP last year. Instead, they joined the Mahagathbandhan and formed a government with RJD and other opposition parties.
India News
Watch: Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Ashish Patel injured in road accident
The minister suffered injuries because the air bags of the car did not open after the collision of the vehicles. Principal of Trauma centre Dr Sunil Singh and Dr RB Kamal said everything is normal in the X ray.
UP Cabinet Minister Ashish Patel received injuries when his car rammed into another vehicle in his convoy. The accident took place on the Mirzapur Prayagraj highway near Meja road. According to reports emergency brakes were applied by the vehicle leading the convoy to prevent an accident with a motorcycle. The minister received injuries on his chest and legs due to the accident of the vehicles in the convoy.
Immediately a police team with senior district officers reached the area of the accident. The minster was taken to a hospital. He is receiving treatment in the trauma centre. In the video it can be seen the car of Minister Ashish Patel is completely damaged in the accident. A crowd of people have gathered around the damaged vehicle.
The minister suffered injuries because the air bags of the car did not open after the collision of the vehicles. Principal of Trauma centre Dr Sunil Singh and Dr RB Kamal said everything is normal in the X ray. Ashish Patel is also the husband of Anupriya Patel. She is the Union minister of State for Commerce and state in the Indian government. She is also the president of Apna Dal (Sonelal) Party. She is the daughter of ApnaDal founder Sonelal Patel
Ashish Patel is an MLC in the UP assembly and the technical education minister in the Uttar Pradesh government. Patel is undergoing treatment at the Mirzapur Trauma Centre. In the video doctors can be seen attending the minister. It was the 14th wedding anniversary of the politician couple.
Anupriya Patel had also posted about her marriage anniversary on X (formerly Twitter). She wrote walking on the irregular path of life facing the ups and downs , the couple lost something and got something. In another post she said they were just characters on the stage of life.
