India News
Why are trains in India always running late? CAG provides the answer
Waiting at the ‘outer signal’ and spending time waiting for the train to get to the station – after reaching the destination town or city – is a common experience.
There isn’t enough space for trains on stations, and little is being done to change that.
A report by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) finds this to be the reason behind late running of trains, a problem that is getting progressively worse due to misplaced priorities of railways infrastructure development.
The CAG report points that one of the most important reasons for train delays was the lack of basic infrastructure which leads to detention of trains before they reach the station.
Coming down heavily on the Railways for focussing on improving passenger facilities and facade of stations, instead of trying to ensure timely movement of trains, the CAG said the station modernisation plans should address infrastructural constraints.
In its latest report tabled in Parliament, CAG said, “The station development/redevelopment plans mainly address on facilities for the passengers on the station premises and facade of stations only and not on removing constraints and bottlenecks for ensuring timely arrival and departure of trains to/from the stations, which should be one of the most important parameters of the quality of service being provided to the passengers.”
Due to non-availability of path (platform/line), the trains have to wait at outer signal or the adjacent station until the platform is vacated by preoccupied trains. CAG observed significant detentions to trains at the selected stations. Passenger trains were detained for 15 to 25 minutes per train at all stations except Howrah, Bhopal, Itarsi and Ahmedabad.
The auditor observed that over a period of time the number of trains handled per day in 15 selected stations has increased significantly. “However, the infrastructure such as platforms, washing pit lines and stabling lines at the stations were not augmented according to increase in number of trains,” the CAG said.
Of the 2,436 trains handled by the 15 stations as of March 2017, 638 trains are being run with 24 or more coaches every day.
“To accommodate these train rakes of longer length, there should be platform of adequate length and adequate facilities of stabling and washing pit lines,” it said.
The CAG also said that the absence of adequate number of platforms was one of the important reasons for detention of trains at the preceding station or at the outer signal.
The CAG report has found that the railways keep launching new trains but the infrastructure needed to sustain them doesn’t grow accordingly.
The audit reviewed the number of trains handled, platforms, washing pit lines and stabling lines at these station for March 2007, March 2012 and March 2017 and observed that infrastructure such as platforms, washing pit lines and stabling lines at the stations were not augmented according to increase in number of trains handled on these stations over a period of time.
In its suggestions to the railways, the CAG recommended that all zonal railways need to prepare comprehensive Master Plans for stations with heavy passenger traffic, identify constraints of station line capacity and devise measures to be taken to address these constraints on priority.
The auditor also said that before taking up modernization/redevelopment of stations and constructing new buildings, the possibility of further expansion of the stations by adding more platforms need to be considered.
India News
Bihar: Government releases caste-based survey report, 27% backward classes, 36% extremely backward classes
Union Minister Giriraj Singh mentioned that the caste census will do nothing more than spreading confusion among the poor and public of the state.
Nitish Kumar led Bihar government released a caste-based survey report on Monday. The report indicated that 36 per cent of the state’s population are from Extremely Backward Classes, 27.1 percent are from Backward Classes, 19.7 per cent are from Scheduled Castes and 1.7 per cent are from Scheduled Tribes. The general population accounts for 15.5 per cent.
Scheduled caste accounts 19.65% and Scheduled Tribe consists of 1.68% of the population. Among the OBCs, Yadavs comprise 14.26% of the surveyed population, Kushwaha 4.27% and Kurmi 2.87%. The release of the caste based survey data comes at a time when the Supreme Court continues to hear petitions challenging a Patna High Court’s judgement that paved the way for this controversial caste-based headcount.
Speaking about the caste survey report, Union Minister Giriraj Singh mentioned that the caste census will do nothing more than spreading confusion among the poor and public of the state. He added that the Bihar government should have given a report card that Nitish Kumar ruled the state fr 18 years and Lalu Yadav ruled the state for 15 years but they did not develop the state.
Earlier today Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he plans to call all nine parties that are part of the ruling coalition, including Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, to discuss next steps, which could include dealing with decisions to increase OBC quotas at 27 per cent.
Reports said that around 2.64 lakh enumerators fanned out across the state, documenting the details of 29 million registered households on 17 socio-economic criteria, ranging from employment, education, marital status, land holding and property ownership and caste. Enumerators will have to choose between 214 pre-registered castes that have been allotted to individual codes.
India News
Gandhi Jayanti: President Droupadi Murmu, PM Modi pay tribute at Rajghat
Mahatma Gandhi’s influence is global and inspiring the entire humankind to further the spirit of unity and compassion, said PM Modi.
On the occasion of the 154th Gandhi Jayanti, President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid flowers to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in the nation’s capital on Monday.
According to the PM Modi, Mahatma Gandhi’s influence is global and inspiring the entire humankind to further the spirit of unity and compassion. He also led the tributes to Gandhi on social media.
PM Modi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, he bows to Mahatma Gandhi on the special occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. PM also appreciated Gandhi’s teachings as he wrote, his timeless teachings continue to illuminate our path. He further said, may we always work towards fulfilling his dreams. May his thoughts enable every youngster be the agent of change he dreamt of, fostering unity and harmony all over, the Prime Minister added.
At Rajghat, vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, presented floral tributes at Rajghat and said Mahatma Gandhi is not just an individual, but an idea, an ideology, and the moral compass of our great nation.
The congress president shared a post on X, in which he saluted Bapu’s values and ideologies as he wrote, his ideals of truth, non-violence, freedom, equality and coexistence have eternal value. We bow in reverence to Bapu’s ideals on his Jayanti.
Meanwhile, the Congress party’s official X account posted, on Gandhi Jayanti, we pay a billion tributes to the Mahatma, whose lifelong commitment to the cause of freedom won India her Independence. Let us promise to continue following his principles, which are the cornerstone of our country and are peace, unity, and nonviolence.
Gandhi Jayanti, observed annually on October 2, commemorates the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. To remember the values of nonviolence and tolerance that Mahatma Gandhi stood for, the day is also observed as the International Day of Nonviolence.
Festivals
Gandhi Jayanti: Interesting facts, quotes and wishes to share with friends and family
The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi is also celebrated as International Day of Non-violence across the globe to commemorate the non-violence policy of Gandhiji.
Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated every year on October 2 to honor the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, fondly known as the Father of the Nation. Indians across the world pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi through several activities including prayer meetings, cultural events, and cleanliness drives. The day is celebrated to promote Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings and their relevance in today’s world.
Interesting facts about the Father of the Nation:
The birthday of Mahatma Gandhi is also celebrated as International Day of Non-violence across the globe to commemorate the non-violence policy of Gandhiji.
Mahatma Gandhi was nominated for Nobel Prize five time but never won the award
He was listed as the Person of the year’ in Times Magazine in 1930
Before taking vows of celibacy, Mahatma Gandhi already had four sons
Mahatma Gandhi was married during his teenage to Kasturba Gandhi, who was 14 years old
Quotes by Mahatma Gandhi:
The future depends on what we do in the present
It is easy to stand in the crowd but it takes courage to stand alone
Our greatest ability as humans is not to change the world, but to change ourselves
Service without humility is selfishness and egotism
It does not require money to live neat, clean and dignified
Satisfaction lies is effort, not in the attainment
Hate the sin, love the sinner
Be the change you are trying to create
There us a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed
Those who know how to think needs no teachers
What barrier is there that love cannot break?
Wishes to share on Gandhi Jayanti:
Lets uphold the values of truth and nonviolence set out by the man who guided us to freedom. Greetings on Gandhi Day!
I hope you have a day full of Gandhi’s wisdom and the willpower to follow his example. Greetings on Gandhi Day!
May Gandhiji’s principle continue to motivate us to strive for a more equitable and peaceful world
