Mileage exemption enhanced to 10000/-

INCOME TAX DEPARTMENT:

Prescribed allowances for the purposes of clause (14) of section 10.

2BB. (1) For the purposes of sub-clause (i) of clause (14) of section 10, prescribed allowances, by whatever name called, shall be the following, namely :—

(a) any allowance granted to meet the cost of travel on tour or on transfer;

(b) any allowance, whether, granted on tour or for the period of journey in connection with transfer, to meet the ordinary daily charges incurred by an employee on account of absence from his normal place of duty;

(c) any allowance granted to meet the expenditure incurred on conveyance in performance of duties of an office or employment of profit :

Provided that free conveyance is not provided by the employer;

(d) any allowance granted to meet the expenditure incurred on a helper where such helper is engaged for the performance of the duties of an office or employment of profit;

(e) any allowance granted for encouraging the academic, research and training pursuits in educational and research institutions;

(f) any allowance granted to meet the expenditure incurred on the purchase or maintenance of uniform for wear during the performance of the duties of an office or employment of profit.

Explanation : For the purpose of clause (a), “allowance granted to meet the cost of travel on transfer” includes any sum paid in connection with transfer, packing and transportation of personal effects on such transfer.

Item number 4.

Any allowance granted to an employee working in any transport system to meet his personal expenditure during his duty performed in the course of running of such transport from one place to another place, provided that such employee is not in receipt of daily allowance

Enhanced from present :70 per cent of such allowance up to a maximum of [Rs. 6,000] per month. To 10,000 per month.

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Privitising Railways

Mamata for fast-tracking private participation in railways

BS Reporter / New Delhi November 25, 2010

In the wake of the growing funding constraint for additional infrastructure creation in the railway sector, minister Mamata Banerjee today held discussions with industry on options to make private participation in the sector attractive.

“Addressing the coordination gaps between the rail ministry and the industry is important to increase investments in rail projects. This is very urgent,” Banerjee said. The meeting saw

To make private investment viable, Banerjee called for decentralising the system of coordination between the ministry and industry. “The general managers of different zones should be told to set up a separate system at the local level through which companies can submit their business proposals. The businessman should be responded to within a month of the proposal,” she said.

She said the ministry would set up a committee, headed by the secretary, Railway Board, to invite and assess business proposals. Banerjee also directed the Board members present to take into account the opinion of private sector companies before finalising policies.

“Companies can now invest in new rail line projects, which was not possible earlier. These projects will increase connectivity, for example, to coalfields. The Dedicated Freight Corridor is another area where huge private participation is needed,” she said.

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PPP -will not succeed- Sreedharan.E

A PPP model for a metro has never succeeded

Unni Rajen Shanker: When you look back at your stint with the Konkan Railways project and now the Delhi Metro, which was a tougher assignment and why?

The tougher and more challenging is Delhi Metro. With Konkan Railways, the main challenge was the length of the line: it passes through four states, a lot of reserved forest land and the most unfriendly, undulating terrain. The other challenge was raising funds. The government had given us one-third of the cost of the project, two-thirds had to be raised from the open market. At that time, the condition of the capital market was very poor, and raising money was very difficult. We could not raise money within the country and had to go countries like England, Japan, Korea to raise funds.

For Delhi Metro, money was not a problem. The problem was that it is the capital; whatever we do is directly under the gaze of the people in power—President, Prime Minister, Lt Governor, Chief Minister—everybody is aware of what we do. People here are educated, they are exposed to what other cities, countries have achieved. So expectations are very high. Also, we have to work with the least inconvenience or disturbance to the public. The technology for the Metro is highly complex. It is four times more complicated than railway technology. And tight targets had to be met: in the second phase, the target was the Commonwealth Games

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Railway organised Retirees meeting- The Hindu news

Railway retirees sit to live in peace Staff Reporter

Pension benefits, entitlements discussed

TIRUCHI: A meeting for railway retirees was organised at the rail kalyana mandapam here on Friday to educate them on leading a retired life peacefully.

About 60 employees from Tiruchi railway division and Golden Rock Railway Workshop retiring this month and in December took part in the meet, which was the first of its kind in Southern Railway.

Inaugurating the programme, the Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi P.V. Vaidialingam emphasised the need for save investment of the benefits besides explaining about various schemes available for senior citizens. He stressed the importance of maintaining good health by practicing physical and breathing exercises.

The Assistant Personnel Officer S. Mohan spoke about filing and submission of pension forms besides explaining the method of calculation of pension benefits and various entitlements applicable to the pensioners and their dependants.

He also explained about the need to join the Railway Employees Liberalised Health Scheme to avail free treatment, medicines and reimbursement. E. Suresh, Assistant Divisional Finance Manager spoke about various schemes of safe investments.

The Chief Medical Superintendent, Railway Hospital, Golden Rock Dr. P. Velusamy gave tips on balanced diet to avoid cholesterol, blood pressure and heart ailments. R.K. Mohan Narayanan, Divisional Personnel Officer, Tiruchi welcomed the gathering, while K. Tamilarasan, Assistant Personnel Officer proposed a vote of thanks, a Southern Railway press release issued here recently said.

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Chinese Railways-The Hindu News

China plans S-E Asia rail links Ananth Krishnan — PHOTO: Xinhua

Track record: The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, last week.

BEIJING: China will, in coming months, accelerate plans for high-speed rail links with Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos, as part of a wider effort to deepen engagement with its Southeast Asian neighbours, officials said this week.

In two months, work will begin on a 1,920-km high-speed rail line connecting south-western Yunnan province with Yangon in Myanmar, with trains running at over 200 km/h, the official China Daily reported on Monday. The newspaper quoted Wang Mengshu, one of China's leading railway consultants, as saying studies were also under way to link Yunnan's capital Kunming with Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. In August, the Ministry of Railways also sent a team to Thailand to explore investing in a $ 25.6-billion, 240-km high-speed railway and rail network.

Mr. Wang, who is a professor with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, told The Hindu in an interview earlier this year that construction had already begun on a line connecting Kunming with Singapore. The Southeast Asian network, he said, could be completed as early as 2020.

Expanding influence

Beijing's increased infrastructure investment in Southeast Asia, analysts say, is part of a larger effort to expand economic and strategic influence in the region. Beijing hopes the investment will also ease anxieties among its ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) neighbours over the impact of China's rising economic influence. While China became the first country to ratify an ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a fast-widening trade imbalance in China's favour, in part fuelled by the flooding of the ASEAN market with Chinese goods, has led to strains in commercial relationships with many ASEAN countries. The trade deficit grew to $21.6 billion last year. A number of countries have also voiced concern over the pattern of Chinese investments, which have generally targeted resources such as oil and minerals.

“China needs to reinforce the peaceful rise message by showing, first of all, that its pattern of investments is not just for resource security,” Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Pangestu told The Hindu in an interview during a visit here last month.

Ms. Pangestu suggested increased infrastructure investment, such as in railway networks, as one way for China to do so.

During her visit, China signed a deal to support $350-million financing for trade and investments in Indonesia.

China has also recently proposed a $15-billion fund for infrastructure-building in ASEAN countries.

Recouping investments

One concern for China is how it will recoup its vast investments in projects such as the high-speed rail lines. “There is no technological barrier to building high-speed railways to Southeast Asian countries but China needs to take profitability into account,” Ji Jialun, a professor at the Beijing Jiaotong University, told the China Daily.

One proposal that has been mooted by China's Ministry of Railways calls for equivalent access to resources in countries where China invests in such projects.

In recent years, China has increasingly begun to explore expanding its domestic high-speed rail network, which is already the world's biggest, beyond its western and southern borders. In the west, China has, so far, reached agreements to build railway lines from its Xinjiang region to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, according to Mr. Wang.

The national network will reach 120,000 km by 2020, and 60 per cent of the railway lines will be located in China's western regions, which have historically lagged the coastal east on most development indicators.

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Joint Coucil of Central Trade Unions.

MARCH TO PARLIAMENT on 23^rd Feb 2011.

After United Trade Union actions by Central Trade Unions and particularly 7^th September strike the decision of Central Trade Unions (INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AICCTU, AIUTUC, UTUC, TUCC and the All India Federations of employees in Telecom, Railways, Defence, Banks, Insurance, various public sector units, Central and State Govt offices and departments) to March to Parliament on 23rd February will further strengthen Trade Union Movement and will be a mile stone in trade union unity. The March to Parliament will create history when trade unions from different affiliation and ideologies will march together to highlight the common demands of

(i) Curb on price rise

(ii) Increase in employment

(iii) Effective implementation of labour laws for workers of unorganized sector

(iv) Stop disinvestment of public sector.

More than five lakhs workers from throughout the country are likely to reach New Delhi to join the protest march on above demands.

The workers particularly from unorganized sector are most suffering lots because neither Central Government nor State Government is caring for them. They are not being paid minimum wages, no dearness relief, no working hours, no service security, no ESI, no P.F. The labour laws are likely fairly tales for them. The worst effected people in the country due to price rise are working class and particularly who are daily wage earners. The unity forged by Central Trade Unions for these common problems is really commendable.

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AILRSA-SWR- Dharna

To pressurize the Labour Ministry to refer the dispute for adjudication
DHARNA
In front of RLC/Bangalore,
Shram Sadan, Tumkur Road, Yeswanthpur(near to Foreman Training Centre)
On 1st Dec, 2010, Wed. From 10 to 12 hours.
Inauguration: Com. VJK Nair, All India Vice President, CITU
Presiding : Com. DS. Niranjan, Divisional President, AILRSA
Addressing
Com. Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary, CITU
Com. S.Radhakrishna, Working President, Central Govt Employees Co ordination Committee, Karnataka.
Com. C.Sunish, General Secretary, AILRSA
Com. A. Jayachandran, Central Organising Secretary, AILRSA.
Com. R. Surendran, Divisional Secretary, AILRSA
Com. D. Rajkumar, Zonal Vice President, AILRSA
Com. G Rajan, Ex. Central President, AISMA.
Com. Sakara Narayanan, AIGC
Com. VR Prakash, Ex AGS, AILRSA Southern Railway.

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Duronto-Press News.

Mamata special’s track record under fire again

Published: Saturday, Nov 20, 2010, 2:33 IST

The non-stop Duronto Express, started by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, is giving non-stop trouble to commuters on Central Railway.

In another case of negligence on part of the railway administration, AC coach attendants supplied dirty and unwashed bed sheets, blankets and pillow covers to deputy commissioner of railway police Ashok Deshbhratar and Sunil Mankikar, chairman of the Indo-Israel Krishi Samitee, and 46 other passengers travelling in the 2nd AC coach of the Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express on Wednesday night.

Narrating the experience, Nagpur resident Mankikar said, “I boarded the second AC coach A1 at Nagpur at around 8.15pm on Wednesday.

DCP Ashok Deshbhratar was also travelling in the same coach. Soon after the train started, two coach attendants had started supplying bed sheets, blankets, pillows and pillow covers to the 48 passengers in the coach.”

“I noticed that the bed sheets and pillow covers supplied by them were foul-smelling, dirty and unwashed, and had probably been used by passengers earlier,” Mankikar said and added that he brought it to the notice of the coach attendants and other passengers.

Attendants in turn politely told the passengers that they had on several occasions informed their superiors about such complaints.

But the enraged passengers abused and thrashed the attendants, said Mankikar, and added that he lodged a complaint at the CST railway police station when the train pulled into the station at 9.45am on Thursday morning.

DCP Deshbhratar, however, was not available for comment. Confirming the incident, senior police inspector Dilip Mane of CST railway police station said, “We have registered a case under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the Kolkata-based Band Box company, which was awarded the contract of supplying bed sheets, blankets, pillows and pillow covers to passengers travelling in the AC coaches of the train and seized five dirty and unwashed bed sheets and a pillow cover,” said Mane.

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Duonto-Media Reports

AC mishap in 3 Duronto coaches

By: Vedika Chaubey and Shrikant Kupekar Date: 2010-11-19 Place: Mumbai

Passengers travelled from Nagpur to city for 14 hours without air-conditioning It seems that the premium Duronto trains are not living up to their reputation these days. On Wednesday, passengers of three AC compartments of the Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express were made to travel for over 14 hours without air-conditioning. "This is supposed to be the fastest train but the journey is a pain when the facilities are not working," said Yogesh Thakkar, a passenger. According to the passengers, the AC in the train stopped working as the train left Nagpur at 8.25 pm on Wednesday. The affected compartments were B1, B2 and B3. "Since the AC wasn't working, we decided to pull the chain after half an hour and complain about the problem. The officials promised to resolve it at Wardha Station," said 51-year-old Thakkar, who was travelling with his wife Rupal in coach B3. The passengers found it unbearable to stay inside the coach since there was no air circulation. However the train did not stop at Wardha. "So we pulled the chain and some officials came with engineers. They tried to fix the problem but couldn't. Again they told us to wait till Budnera," Thakkar added. Uday Patel, another passenger from the same coach said, "It was very suffocating inside the coach. The journey was so uncomfortable. I had taken this train so that I could sleep peacefully through the night but it turned into a nightmare instead." Alternate option At Budnera station, Additional Divisional Railway Manager R J Meena attempted to fix the problem with some officers but in vain. With no options left, Meena then suggested removing the glass of emergency windows. Four windows of B3 and two windows of B1 coaches were removed, causing a delay of about three hours. If passengers are to be believed, this is not the first time a mishap like this has occurred. On November 9, just after the train had left from CST, it had to be pulled back from Sandhurst Road to have its AC repaired. The Other Side Sriniwas Mudgerikar, Chief PRO, Central Railway, said, "The air-conditioning of a three-tier coach of Nagpur- CST Duronto express was not cooling properly because of which emergency windows were opened." "Duronto coaches have recently been received by Central Railway from RCF (Rail Coach Factory) at Kapurthala. We have informed them about these teething problems and they are sending a team of officers to investigate and rectify these problems," Mudgerikar added.

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Elephants Death

Railways Not Responsible for Elephants death-Mamata
"After the seven elephants were killed, Ramesh visited the accident site and said he would take up the matter with the Indian Railways so that such incidents could be avoided in future. He also talked about the railways' 'poor track record' in taking steps to ensure safe passage to the jumbos crossing the rail lines."
Kolkata, Nov 16 - Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Tuesday said her department was not responsible for the increasing incidents of elephant deaths after being hit by trains in north Bengal. 'It's unfortunate that elephants have got killed. But the railways is not responsible. We had no prior information from the West Bengal Forest Department about the movement of elephants in what we called 'denotified' area - between Binnaguri and Banarhat stations of Alipurduar division in Jalpaiguri - where seven elephants were killed Sept 22,' Banerjee said while commencing work for the Dedicated Eastern Freight Corridor at Dankuni in Hooghly. 'In a notified forested area, known as an elephant corridor, railway drivers drive very slowly, at a maximum speed of 50 km an hour, and they blow the whistle constantly to warn the animals,' she said. 'But if the state forest officials do not inform us properly about the 'denotified' elephant corridors, then how can the driver be blamed for the accident,' Banerjee asked. As many as 33 elephants have been killed and several others have been injured on the tracks over the last 10 years. The latest death was reported Monday night, when a tusker was hit by Mahananda Link Express in the Dalgao area of Jalpaiguri. Referring to the same incidence, the minister said the driver was not alerted even though the state forest department alleged they did. Banerjee also criticised the Minister of State for Environment and Wildlife Jairam Ramesh for overstepping his mandate and blaming her for the death of the elephants on railway tracks. After the seven elephants were killed, Ramesh visited the accident site and said he would take up the matter with the Indian Railways so that such incidents could be avoided in future. He also talked about the railways' 'poor track record' in taking steps to ensure safe passage to the jumbos crossing the rail lines. 'Everyone should know his limit. I know mine. There are different departments for looking after various subjects and everyone has his boundaries. I would not like it if somebody crosses over to my boundary,' added Banerjee.

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Mamata's tour expenses.

Railways refuse to divulge Mamata's tour expenses

November 12, 2010 18:41 IST

Disclosure of expenditure incurred on domestic and international tours of Railway Minister will endanger her life-- this was the argument cited by the ministry while denying information about the travels undertaken by her.

Activist S C Agrawal had filed an RTI application seeking to know the travel expenses of Members of Parliament and ministers, which was transferred to Railway Ministry for giving details about domestic as well as international tours undertaken by their minister and two ministers of State.

"The information sought by the applicant is not maintained in the format as desired by the applicant. The revelation of information relating to movement of high dignitaries could endanger their life and physical safety and exemption is sought under clause 8(g) of the RTI Act, 2005," Under Secretary Protocol Sudhir Kumar said in the reply.

But at the same time, the ministry has provided file notings on the movement of RTI application, sought by the applicant, wherein the protocol officer has said Minister of State for Railways E Ahmed has taken one foreign visit.

However, Agarwal said he will appeal against the decision. "How can information about tours undertaken in the past endanger lives of Ministers? It is beyond comprehension why Railway is not ready to share expenses of its minister and ministers of state," Agrawal said.

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2G spectrum allocation-News

Proposal on 2G auction ignored by Raja, says ex-Telecom Secretary

PTI

THE HINDU

Communications Minister A Raja and D S Mathur, Secretary, Dept of Telecommunications at the 13th International Telecommunications Summit in New Delhi. A file Photo: V.V.Krishnan.

Amid demand for ouster of Telecom Minister A Raja on account of 2G spectrum allocation, former Telecom Secretary D S Mathur today said that his proposal for auctioning the radiowaves was ignored.

“I had also said that the spectrum was limited and therefore only limited number of licences can be given,” Mr. Mathur told PTI over phone from Bhopal.

He, however, refused to comment on how all the new players or 121 licencees were given start-up spectrum of 4.4 Mhz within a few weeks of being allocated licences.

“How did he (Raja) do it, I have no idea, So I cannot comment on it,” Mr. Mathur said, adding that there was not enough spectrum to accommodate over 500 applicants.

Mr. Raja has been claiming that he managed to break the cartel of telecom players and managed to give 2G spectrum to new players to bring in competition that resulted in massive growth in the sector, besides lowering of tariffs.

Mr. Raja has been in the eye of a storm over allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008 at prices fixed in 2001, which has allegedly caused the exchequer a loss of a whopping Rs 1.40 lakh crore, besides Rs 36,000 crore loss due to giving additional spectrum to existing operators beyond the contracted 6.2 Mhz.

The telecom minister has said that the policy of 1999, which was followed by his predecessors, had been followed while distributing licences in 2008.

Mr. Mathur, on the other hand, also said that he along with the then Member (Finance), Telecom Commission, discussed the matter and proposed to the minister that “we should go for an auction route for distributing spectrum” but the same was ignored.

Mr. Mathur, who retired as Telecom Secretary on December 31, 2007, had reportedly refused to sign the file for issuance of Letters of Intent to new operators.

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Report of CBGM of AISMA.

Proceedings of the 44th CBGM held at Agra (NCR) on 22nd and 23rd of October 2010

The 44th CBGM commenced at 11.00 hrs on 22.10.2010 with the lighting of Lamps by the Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Agra Sri. RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA followed by Com.U.S.SINGH our Ex-President, Com.C.M. Singh, Secretary General/AIREC, Com P.K.Das Central President and Com. U. John Vincent Kumar, Secretary General, Com. SHAMANDA SAGAR, CSF.

The House observed two minutes silence in honour of those who laid down their lives for the working class. The Reception Committee then honoured the leaders on the dais with Garlands. Then Mr. ASHOK KUMAR SHARMA, retired Station Master and Chairman, Reception Committee welcomed the gathering. Sri. RAM SHANKAR KATHERIA addressed the house, greeted the General Body and wished the Meeting a Grand SUCCESS. He assured to take up our long pending demands in the floor of the Parliament and declared open the 43rd CBGM.

The Presidential address was delivered by Com.P.K.Das. He detailed the activities of the Association and steps taken to eliminate the Grade Pay of Rs.2800. He was vociferous about the lethargic attitude of some of the office bearers. He concluded his speech with emphasis on Unity amongst Station Masters and devolpment of proper organisational structure.

Com. U.S.Singh in his address narrated the history of this Association, its struggles, sacrifices of our erstwhile leaders and stressed the need for unity among Station Masters and specially impressed the gathering, with his vibrating oratorical skill, and stressed about the importance of the organizational structure and the functioning formalities. Then the SG/AIREC, Com.C.M. Singh explained in detail about the case on the election for the Railway Trade Unions. He stressed the importance of the Role of AISMA in AIREC.

Then the President called for the Reports of Secretary General and Central Secretary- Finance. Com. U. John Vincent Kumar, SG tabled his written report. The report covered all the activities of AISMA during his tenure, sojourn to NDLS, evaluation of Zonal Railways, Action Pack, Persisting Problems, relationship with sister Trade Unions etc, and invited the delegates’ constructive criticism.

The meeting adjourned for lunch on conclusion of the fore-noon session.

After lunch, the Secretary Finance, Com. Shamanad Sagar, tabled his report,in which he mentioned about the record membership during the tenure. But, he also expressed his unhappiness over the publication accounting system and dues getting piled-up on all fronts. He also appealed to achieve maximum member- ship for the financial strength of AISMA.

Both the reports were discussed in detail, queries were raised and answers given by the Secretary General and Secretary Finance. The first day’s proceedings came to an end after the same.

The Second day’s session commenced at 10.00 hrs on 23.10.2010 with the address by Shri.B.S.KUSHWAHA, MLA from Agra Cantonment. The reports submitted by SG and CSF came-up for further discussion. Though many appreciated the commendable improvements in the Cadre and the activities of the CEC, nevertheless the criticism for the shortcomings blasted the stage. With the supplementary questions and response, the SG’s report alone was passed and the CSF report kept pending and is to be approved in the next CEC with the audited statement of Accounts.

Then the President called for the opinion of the Members for the future course of Action. The Members eloquently dealt on the imminent problems on the working conditions of SMs; building of our organization and having a sound financial base. Many associates raised their voice for direct action and the expressed that the War path of the Association should not be diluted.

Then the agenda of ‘Election of office bearers’ was conducted by Com.U.S.Singh, as Election Officer, assisted by Com.G.Rajan and Com. Rajagopal. The following are the newly elected office bearers for the period 2010-12.

Central President : Com. ROY SUNIL KUMAR SHARMA,

Central Vice Presidents 1. Com. M.P.MISHRA

2.Com. J.S SHINDE

3.Com. NOMAL.C.BORA

4. Com. SUBHASH AVASTHI

Secretary General Com. U. JOHN VINCENT KUMAR

Joint Secretary General Com. R.N.CHATURBEDI

Dy.Secretary General-

1 Com. SUBHENDU SARKAR

2 Com. AJAY NARAYAN TIWARI

3 Com. SANJAY KUMAR SONKAR

4 Com. RAM KINKAR SINGH

5 Com. KODURU JOHNSON

Central Organising Secretary Com. YASHBHAN SINGH TOMER

Central Secretary-Finance Com.MANOJ G. NAIR

The following resolutions were passed unanimously:

A. The General Body Demands Rs.4600/- Grade pay as recruitment Grade Pay on the principle of Supervisor shall be place at least one grade higher than the supervised.

B. The house demands to grant of promotional increments to each pre-revised grade of Rs.5000-8000 and 5500-9000 when merged with the grade of Rs. 6500-10500 and 6500-10500 merged with Rs.7450-11500grade.

C. The house demands All sort of payment to the Railway employees like bonus payment, DA arrears etc trough bank only.

D. The General Body urges to Stop supply of blue colour uniform to lady SMs.

E. The house insists that All in-charge SMs shall be declared as supervisory SMs.

F. Centralised Head quarters for the benefit of the staff at way-side stations.

G. The House demands issue of Clear guidelines, to all Zonal Railway, with illustrations, with regard to eligibility for the MACP scheme, with special emphasis on the following:

1) Denial of Rs.4800 Grade Pay to those Station Masters who got their Rs.4600 Grade Pay on regular promotion ignoring their 20 years of continuous service in Rs.4200 Grade Pay.

2) Denial of the due MACP to those Station Masters who joined on transfer from other Divisions/Railways by not considering their earlier service as Station Masters in their Divisions/Railways

3) Denial of the due MACP to those Station Masters who became Station Masters from other cadres like CC/TNC/C.MAN by the wrong inclusion of their above elevation as a regular promotion

H. This House urges for Granting of UNIFORM ALLOWANCE, WASHING ALLOWANCE on par with Para Medical Staff.

Thereafter, the Reception committee conducted the lucky draw and distributed the prizes to the available winners. (The details of the draw will be published in SAMACHAR).

In the organizational Hour, the house discussed about the Action Programme. The house unanimously decided for a Direct Action. The new executive, in a way to honour the sacrifice of the 16 comrades, who sat for the 48 Hours fast for the cause of 35770 Station Masters of Indian Railways on 14th June 2010, authorized the CEC to plunge into direct action.

The house unanimously decided to conduct a Zonal Demonstration on 14.12.2010 in front of the concerned General Manager’s Office.

Indefinite Hunger Fast at NDLS to be conducted during the Budget session i.e. from 10.00 hrs of 19.02.2011.

Demanding:

1. Vacation of Victimization, especially in SR and SWR,

2. Minimum Grade Pay of Rs. 4200 for Station Masters;

3. Abolition of EI Roster;

4. All In-charge Station Masters to be declared as Supervisory;

5. Posting of Additional SMs to be simplified and posting to be done on war- footing;

6. Implementation of Junction type roster at all stations;

7. Uniform and Washing Allowance;

8. Curbing of MACPS anomalies and demanding uniformity in implementation;

9. Centralised Head quarters and

10. Uniform transfer policy.

The 44th CBGM concluded with a vow to work for the Station Masters’ Welfare and curtain being dropped with the declaration that the 45th CBGM is to be held in DURG in ECR

The vote of Thanks was delivered by Com. U.S.RANA, Zonal President / NCR.

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Improved ACD

Press Information Bureau Ministry of RailwaysMinistry of Railways
Government of India

IMPROVED ANTI COLLISION DEVICE (ACD) TO BE TRIED ON SOUTHERN RAILWAY FROM 10TH NOVEMBER 2010

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Continuing efforts to reduce human error and enhance safety, Indian Railways will conduct the second set of equipment proving trials with the modified Anti Collision Device (ACD) on the electrified, multiple-line automatic signaling section in southern Railway from 10th November 2010, on the Chennai-Arrakonam section. The first set of trials was done in the same section in September-October 2010. The trials are aimed at providing a fair opportunity for success of the indigenous technology.

Evaluation of the first set of trials had led to modifications and corrections in respect of several software and hardware parameters. Devices with modifications will now be tried out in the second set for making headway in achieving the objective.

The Minister for Railways, Mamata Banerjee has assigned the highest priority to safety and security of passengers. Recently while addressing the Economic Editors’ Conference in Delhi, the Minister announced that Indian Railways has been working sincerely to make its operations totally accident free in a fixed time frame. She has emphasized introduction of technological aids such as safety systems like ACD, Train Protection Warning System (TPWS), and Vigilance Control Device (VCD) etc. to strengthen safety in operation of trains.

Anti Collision Device is an indigenous concept evolved by Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and is based on GPS. The devices which aim at preventing train collisions are to be installed on locomotives of trains and at stations as non-signaling system with no manual interventions to activate braking if collision like situations are detected; at the same time, the devices are also to be dependable so as not to act on spurious signals..

Earlier, this device was put on in-service trials in 2006 as a pilot project on the Northeast Frontier Railway which is predominantly a non-electrified single line territory. Based on experience gained there, specifications of the ACD have had to be revised to improve efficacy, reliability and availability. The current phase of trials in Southern Railway with the modified ACD on the basis of NFR experience is on the multiple electrified lines, including automatic block sections which is available on Chennai-Arrakonam section Once the trials are completed and Railways are assured of the capability of the device to provide a dependable anti collision mechanism, it will be implemented in three Railway Zones, namely Southern, South Central and South Western Railways which is already a sanctioned works.

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WR for more 12 car EMU

Now, WR will have 32 12-car locals

Roana Maria Costa, TNN, Nov 11, 2010, 12.11am IST

MUMBAI: Traveling on a local is set to get a tad easier. From Sunday, Western Railway (WR) will augment 32 nine-car services to 12-car ones. This will increase the carrying capacity by 33%. Of the 32 augmented services, 22 are between Borivli and Churchgate, six between Andheri and Churchgate and one each between Borivli-Mahalaxmi and Malad-Churchgate stations as well as two between Churchgate and Bandra stations. Details of the timings can be seen or downloaded from the WR website: www.wr.indianrail.gov.in

WR runs 1,210 services each day of which 798 or 66% are 12-car. With the addition of the new services, there would be a drop of 7.5 % in 9-car services, which on Wednesday stood at 432 and on Sunday will be 400.

Chief PRO, WR, Sharat Chandrayan said that the emphasis, in the last few years, has been on improving capacity without affecting punctuality. He claimed that WR averages a punctuality of 96% a day. "There has been an increase in punctuality after the closure of level-crossing gates. Even though trains may run behind schedule at intermediate stations, they catch up at the terminating ones," he said. Incidentally, punctuality is recorded at terminating stations.

"Increasing the number of 12-car services is an important step towards boosting capacity without congestion of the section (increase in trains)," he said. In the last three years, there has been a 56% increase in 12-car services. The hike in the number of passengers in the same period has been only 6%. According to WR officials, congestion in locals has dropped by 20% since 2007.

At present, WR has 76 rakes in its fleet. From Sunday, two 9-car trains would be augmented to 12-car ones and the fleet break-up would be 53 12-car trains, 22 nine-car trains and one 15-car train. From November 15, WR's 15-car rake will have halts at Mira Road, Bhayander and Nalasopara stations. Chandrayan also said that in a month from now, platform 6 at Andheri would be extended to accommodate a 12-car train. WR runs its trains to the Harbour line terminating platform, which until now was able to accommodate only nine-car trains. There are also plans to extend other Harbour line platforms, which fall in WR's jurisdiction.

WR will get 26 new DC_AC rakes by March next year, which would ensure more services as well as more 12-car services. It would also switch over to the more powerful 25,000 volts DC traction by June 2011.

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Demand more bonus- Press news.

Rail employees demand more bonus

TNN, Nov 10, 2010, 10.47pm IST

ALLAHABAD: The railway employees have been misguided on payment of bonus, said national president of Loktrantik Samajwadi Party Raghu Thakur while presiding at a meeting of Rail Sewak Sangh outside the DRM office here on Tuesday. He also raised several issues pertaining to the welfare of the railway employees.

Thakur said while the railways had announced that bonus would be made on 77 days of salary, the payment was made on the basis of ceiling of last year's salary. He said that in corporate sector, bonus of Rs 3000 crore was paid to the three lakh employees, but in railways Rs 1060 crore was paid as bonus to about 13 lakh employees.

He demanded a separate wage board for railway employees alleging that the pay commission has not done justice with them. There are different types of works being done by railway employees spread over diverse categories which generally are ignored by the pay commission, he said.

He added that unemployment is increasing in the families of railway employees as their children do not get adequate opportunities for proper education. Thakur demanded that one child of every railway employees should be given a job and arrangements be made for free education to children of group C and Group D railway employees in government and private educational institutions.

The Sangh also raised the issue of corruption in the railway department

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Railway Freight earnings increased.Press news.

Railways revenue earning freight for Oct 78.71 MT

New Delhi, Nov 10 : The revenue earning freight traffic carried by Indian Railways was 78.71 million tonnes (MT) during October 2010.

There is an increase of 5.25 MT over the actual freight traffic of 73.46 MT carried by the Indian Railways in October 2009. The increase is of 7.15 per cent, an official release said.

Compared to the previous month of September 2010, the increase is 7.24 MT, a growth of 10.01 per cent.

Significant growth in loading of coal in October 2010 was approximately 9.88 per cent, foodgrains 14.96 per cent, steel 9.91 per cent and Cement 15.28 per cent.

Negative growth, however, continued in the loading of iron ore which has been affected by sanctions imposed in Orissa and Karnataka, it added.

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RBE 159/2010-Addl allovance from 01.01.2006

Sl No. PC VI/234 - PC-VI-2010/I/RSRP/4 -

RBE NO.159/2010 New Delhi, Dt.02.11.2010

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA - MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (RAILWAY BOARD)

Sub: Railway services (revised pay) rules 2008-schedules for revised pay scales of Pay-clarification regarding additional allowance.

1. Please refer to item 3 of annexure B of Ministry of Railways letter No. PC VI/2008/I/RSRP/1 dated 11.09.2008(Sl no. PC-VI/2 & RBE 108/2008) circulating schedules of revised pay structure of running staff effective from 01.01.2006. Based on the recommendations of 6^th CPC, the concept of Additional allowance (on which DA is payable) has also been introduced for specified categories of Running staff as laid down therein. Doubts are being expressed regarding the date of effect of grant of Additional allowance to the above categories. It is clarified that the additional allowance is admissible to the specified categories of Running staff along with revised pay structure from the date of concerned employees opt the revised pay structure. Further except Dearness allowance no other benefit is admissible ob Additional Allovance.

2. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Directorate of Ministry of Railways.

UK Tiwari,

Director, Pay Commission-VI,

Railway Board.

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Individual letter

Matter for individual protest letter,

Sir, Date:

Due to irresponsible and adamant attitude of Railway authority, the RLC (C) New Delhi, conciliation on the genuine demands of Loco Running Staff of Indian Railway ended with failure after a prolong discussion for about 1 ½ Yrs. result of which the dissatisfaction, resentment and disappointment amongst us.

I therefore request your kind intervention into the matter. So that matter is referred to industrial tribunal for adjudication to have industrial peace in the Railways.

Thanks,

To, yours’ faithfully

Hon’blePM Name. ___________

Hon’ble Minister for Labour Sign.____________

Hon’ble Minister for Railways Desg. ___________

Station __________

Rly_____________

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