‘Station managers responsible to monitor railway track’

THE HINDU SALEM, 16 August 2016  SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Salem Divisional Railway Manager Hari Shankar Verma addressing the gathering at the Railway ground in Salem on Monday.— Photo: E.Lakshmi Narayanan

The Salem Railway Division has entrusted the responsibility of monitoring the railway station premises and the railway track in its vicinity and other safety aspects to the respective station managers.

Salem division is the first division in the Southern Railway where station managers are given the job of monitoring the station premises and track along with ensuring passenger amenities.

Hari Shankar Verma, Divisional Railway Manager, told presspersons here on Monday that this step had been taken following the derailment of Chennai – Palani Express at Dasampatti Railway Station in Dharmapuri district recently.

Mr. Verma said that till now only the traffic inspectors alone were in charge of monitoring the track. Now, the station managers too would take care of the track in the vicinity of the railway stations. This programme had been introduced with the active cooperation of the railway trade unions.

The station managers would also represent the railways in the local programmes, meeting the revenue and officials of other departments and they would also be responsible for redressing the grievances of the local commuters.

Mr. Verma said of the 78 unmanned level crossings in Salem Division, 58 would be replaced with limited use subways this year, and the rest would be eliminated by March 2018.

The Salem division had taken up the work of strengthening all the 36 railway bridges in the division, including the major bridge across River Cauvery. The strengthening work of four stations had already been completed.

Referring to the development works in Coimbatore Junction, Mr. Verma said that a couple of pay and use air-conditioned waiting halls would be coming up. Hot water facilities would be ensured along with janani seva baby food stalls with covered areas for lactating mothers.

On the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Mr. Verma said the Railways had planned to increase the mesh on the rocky areas to prevent land slides and fall of boulders.

The heritage railway stations of Udhagamandalam, Mettupalayam and Coonoor would be a given a facelift without compromising on heritage nature and safety. All steps would be taken to preserve and protect the existing buildings while undertaking the development works. The flower garden in front of the railway station would also be expanded. The division had also planned to display an NMR steam loco and a compartment in the Udhagamandalam railway station and also steam loco at Erode Junction.

Mr. Verma unfurled the National Flag at the Independence Day celebrations at the Railway ground.

A rifle show by RPF Commando Force, RPF dog squad, and a cultural show by the Railway School children were the highlights of the function. The function was attended by Chander Pal, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, and P. Raajmohan, Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF.