Minister of Railways
Flags off Sri Ganganagar - Tiruchirappalli Humsafar Express
Minister of Railways
Launches New Catering Policy
Minister of Railways
Launches New Partnership with India Post for Business Parcel
Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu flagged
off the fourth Humsafar clan of trains and first Antyodaya clan of trains
through video conferencing from Rail Bhawan:
1.
Train No 14715/14716 Sri Ganganagar - Tiruchirappalli
Humsafar Express (Weekly) (via Krishnarajapuram, Pune, Ahmedabad)
2.
Train No 22877/22878 Ernakulam - Howrah Antyodaya Express
(Weekly) (via Salem, Katpadi, Visakhapatnam)
He
also launched the following policies:
1.
New Catering Policy 2017.
2.
New partnership in Parcel Business with Department of Post.
Chairman,
Railway Board, Shri A. K. Mital, Member Traffic Shri Mohd Jamshed, other
Railway Board Members, Secretary Department of Post Shri Boyapati V. Sudhakar
and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the
occasion Ministry of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that “This is
the fourth Humsafar Express to be launched and it will cross the entire country
from North to South. Humsafar train is a fully
Air Conditioned 3 AC service having facilities like GPS based Passenger
Information System, Passenger announcement System, fire and smoke detection and
suppression system, CCTVs, comfortable seats, mobile and laptop charging
points, integrated Braille display, LCD display above compartment doors in the
aisle, Fire retardant curtains, etc.”
He
also said that “Today we are launching the country’s first Antyodaya Express to
be launched. Tejas and UDAY Express will be launched soon. Antyodaya Express is
a long-distance, fully unreserved, superfast train service, for the common man
to be operated on dense routes. Antyodaya Express will have facilities like
Cushioned luggage racks which can serve as seats Additional hand holds in
doorway area, J-Hook near longitudinal luggage racks, Multiple Unit cables at
both ends of the coach, Vestibuled ends for internal movement of the
passengers, Potable Drinking water dispenser, Mobile charging points, Fire
Extinguisher with anti-theft lock, FRP (Fibre Reinforced Plastic) Modular
Toilets, Pleasing interior colour scheme, Toilet Occupation indication display
board, LED Lights, SS Slip-free flooring at Doorway & Gangway,
Anti-Graffiti coating for exterior painting, etc.”
Shri
Prabhu further said that “In this new Catering Policy food production and food
distribution will be delinked. This will be a marriage between the best of both
worlds. Food can be cooked anywhere like the state of the art kitchens of IRCTC
in a hygienic manner using mechanized system. Food can be distributed using
professionals from the hospitality industry. For making of food SHGs especially
women SHGs can be used which will benefit them.”
He
also said that “Parcel is the fastest moving freight business of Indian
Railways. Through this new Business Parcel Policy not only India Post but any
private player can also book space in trains for movement of their Business
Parcel. Before rolling out this scheme on All India basis test was done on 2
trains viz, Train No. 15959 Howrah-Guwahati-Dibrugarh Kamrup Express between
Howrah and Guwahati and Train No. 12721 Hyderabad-Nizamuddin Deccan Express
between Hyderabad and Nizamuddin . After the success of the test today this
scheme is rolled out at All India level.”
Salient
Features of Services / Policies launched:
Humsafar
Express
Indian
Railways introduced a new Humsafar Express between Sriganganagar and
Tiruchchirapalli viz. 14715/14716 Sriganganagar-Tiruchchirapalli Humsafar
Express (Weekly). The train service inaugurated on 27.02.2017 by
Minister of Railways through video conferencing from Rail Bhawan, New Delhi. As
announced in Railway Budget 2016-17, Humsafar Express are fully air-conditioned
third AC service with an optional service for meals. Till date, 3 Humsafar
Express trains have been introduced on Indian Railways.
The
abstract schedule including timings, composition, stoppages etc. of the train
service to be introduced is as under:
14715/14716 Sriganganagar-Tiruchchirapalli Humsafar Express
(Weekly)
Arrives
|
Departs
|
Stoppage
|
Day ↑
|
Station Code
|
Station Name
|
Distance (km)
|
Day ↓
|
Arrives
|
Departs
|
Stoppage
|
13:30
|
|
|
Thu
↑
|
TPJ
|
Tiruchchirappalli Junction
|
0
|
Thu ↓
|
|
23:30
|
|
11:27
|
11:30
|
3m
|
Thu
↑
|
KRR
|
Karur Junction
|
76.2
|
Fri ↓
|
1:07
|
1:10
|
3m
|
10:54
|
10:55
|
1m
|
Thu
↑
|
NMKL
|
Namakkal
|
110.1
|
Fri ↓
|
1:39
|
1:40
|
1m
|
9:55
|
10:05
|
10m
|
Thu
↑
|
SA
|
Salem Junction
|
161.8
|
Fri ↓
|
2:45
|
2:50
|
5m
|
6:08
|
6:10
|
2m
|
Thu
↑
|
BWT
|
Bangarapet Junction
|
357
|
Fri ↓
|
6:42
|
6:45
|
3m
|
5:08
|
5:10
|
2m
|
Thu
↑
|
KJM
|
Krishnarajapuram
|
413.3
|
Fri ↓
|
7:38
|
7:40
|
2m
|
4:48
|
4:50
|
2m
|
Thu
↑
|
BAND
|
Banaswadi
|
419.4
|
Fri ↓
|
7:53
|
7:55
|
2m
|
3:20
|
3:25
|
5m
|
Thu
↑
|
TK
|
Tumakuru (Tumkur)
|
498.4
|
Fri ↓
|
11:15
|
11:20
|
5m
|
1:30
|
1:35
|
5m
|
Thu
↑
|
ASK
|
Arsikere Junction
|
594.7
|
Fri ↓
|
13:10
|
13:15
|
5m
|
0:38
|
0:40
|
2m
|
Thu
↑
|
RRB
|
Birur Junction
|
640.1
|
Fri ↓
|
13:58
|
14:00
|
2m
|
22:52
|
22:53
|
1m
|
Wed
↑
|
DVG
|
Davangere
|
754.8
|
Fri ↓
|
15:43
|
15:45
|
2m
|
22:33
|
22:35
|
2m
|
Wed
↑
|
HRR
|
Harihar
|
767.6
|
Fri ↓
|
15:58
|
16:00
|
2m
|
20:15
|
20:25
|
10m
|
Wed
↑
|
UBL
|
Hubballi Junction (Hubli)
|
898.7
|
Fri ↓
|
19:10
|
19:20
|
10m
|
19:18
|
19:20
|
2m
|
Wed
↑
|
DWR
|
Dharwad
|
918.7
|
Fri ↓
|
19:40
|
19:42
|
2m
|
17:08
|
17:10
|
2m
|
Wed
↑
|
BGM
|
Belagavi (Belgaum)
|
1040.5
|
Fri ↓
|
22:10
|
22:12
|
2m
|
14:50
|
15:00
|
10m
|
Wed
↑
|
MRJ
|
Miraj Junction
|
1177.8
|
Sat ↓
|
1:10
|
1:20
|
10m
|
13:55
|
14:00
|
5m
|
Wed
↑
|
SLI
|
Sangli
|
1185
|
Sat ↓
|
1:32
|
1:35
|
3m
|
10:52
|
10:55
|
3m
|
Wed
↑
|
STR
|
Satara
|
1311.7
|
Sat ↓
|
3:42
|
3:45
|
3m
|
7:40
|
7:50
|
10m
|
Wed
↑
|
PUNE
|
Pune Junction
|
1457.3
|
Sat ↓
|
8:05
|
8:15
|
10m
|
6:18
|
6:20
|
2m
|
Wed
↑
|
LNL
|
Lonavala
|
1521
|
Sat ↓
|
9:33
|
9:35
|
2m
|
4:47
|
4:50
|
3m
|
Wed
↑
|
KYN
|
Kalyan Junction
|
1595.3
|
Sat ↓
|
11:00
|
11:03
|
3m
|
3:38
|
3:40
|
2m
|
Wed
↑
|
BSR
|
Vasai Road
|
1636.9
|
Sat ↓
|
12:10
|
12:12
|
2m
|
0:01
|
0:06
|
5m
|
Wed
↑
|
ST
|
Surat
|
1852.8
|
Sat ↓
|
15:30
|
15:35
|
5m
|
21:43
|
21:48
|
5m
|
Tue
↑
|
BRC
|
Vadodara Junction
|
1982.6
|
Sat ↓
|
17:18
|
17:23
|
5m
|
20:58
|
21:00
|
2m
|
Tue
↑
|
ANND
|
Anand Junction
|
2018.3
|
Sat ↓
|
17:58
|
18:00
|
2m
|
20:41
|
20:43
|
2m
|
Tue
↑
|
ND
|
Nadiad Junction
|
2036.8
|
Sat ↓
|
18:14
|
18:16
|
2m
|
19:35
|
19:55
|
20m
|
Tue
↑
|
ADI
|
Ahmedabad Junction
|
2082.4
|
Sat ↓
|
19:10
|
19:20
|
10m
|
17:59
|
18:01
|
2m
|
Tue
↑
|
MSH
|
Mahesana Junction
|
2151.7
|
Sat ↓
|
20:41
|
20:43
|
2m
|
15:50
|
16:00
|
10m
|
Tue
↑
|
ABR
|
Abu Road
|
2269.1
|
Sat ↓
|
23:05
|
23:15
|
10m
|
13:00
|
13:02
|
2m
|
Tue
↑
|
MJ
|
Marwar Junction
|
2434.5
|
Sun ↓
|
2:28
|
2:30
|
2m
|
10:50
|
11:05
|
15m
|
Tue
↑
|
JU
|
Jodhpur Junction
|
2538.6
|
Sun ↓
|
4:05
|
4:15
|
10m
|
5:55
|
6:20
|
25m
|
Tue
↑
|
BKN
|
Bikaner Junction
|
2814.4
|
Sun ↓
|
9:25
|
9:35
|
10m
|
2:50
|
2:55
|
5m
|
Tue
↑
|
SOG
|
Suratgarh Junction
|
2996.2
|
Sun ↓
|
12:10
|
12:15
|
5m
|
1:25
|
1:50
|
25m
|
Tue
↑
|
HMH
|
Hanumangarh Junction
|
3046.7
|
Sun ↓
|
13:15
|
13:25
|
10m
|
|
0:25
|
|
Tue
↑
|
SGNR
|
Shri Ganganagar Junction
|
3113.7
|
Sun ↓
|
15:15
|
|
|
●
Days of run: Ex-SGNR – Tuesday
Ex-TPJ
– Thursday
●
One way distance: 3199 Kms.
Route of Train No. 14715/14716 Humsafar Express
●
Stoppages: Hanumangarh, Suratgarh, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Marwar Jn., Abu
Road, Palanpur, Mahesana, Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat,
Vasai Road, Kalyan, Lonavala, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Miraj, Belgaum, Dharwad,
Hubballi, Harihar, Davangere, Birur, Arsikere, Tumakuru, Banaswadi,
Krishnrajapuram, Bangerpet, Salem, Namakkal, Karur
●
Composition of regular service: 3AC-16, Power Car-2, Pantry Car-1= 19 coaches
●
Primary Maintenance: Sri Ganganagar (NWR)
●
Nature of Service: Humsafar Express
*****
Antyodaya
Express
Indian
Railways introduced the first Antyodaya Express between Ernakulam and Howrah
viz. 22877/22878 Ernakulam-Howrah Antyodaya Express (Weekly). The train
service was inaugurated on 27.02.2017 by Minister of Railways through
video conferencing from Rail Bhawan, New Delhi. As announced in Railway Budget
2016-17, Antyodaya Express are long-distance, fully unreserved, superfast train
service, for the common man to be operated on dense routes.
The
abstract schedule including timings, composition, stoppages etc. of the train
service to be introduced is as under:
22877/22878 Ernakulam-Howrah Antyodaya Express (Weekly)
22878 Ernakulam-Howrah Antyodaya Express (Weekly)
|
↓
|
Station
|
↑
|
22877 Howrah-Ernakulam Antyodaya Express (Weekly)
|
Arr.
|
Dep.
|
|
|
|
Arr.
|
Dep.
|
-
|
00.25 (Tue)
|
|
Ernakulam
|
|
06.00 (Mon)
|
|
14.50 (Wed)
|
|
|
Howrah
|
|
|
17.00 (Sat)
|
●
Days of run: Ex-ERS – Tuesday
Ex-HWH – Saturday
●
One way distance: 2307 Kms.
●
Stoppages: Kharagpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Khurda
Road, Brahmapur, Palasa, Srikakulam Road, Vizianagaram, Duvvada, Rajahmundry,
Vijaywada, Ongole, Renigunta, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Coiambatore,
Palakkad, Thrisur
Route of Train No 22877/22878 Antyodaya Express
●
Composition of regular service: General Coach-20, Power car-2= 22 coaches
●
Primary Maintenance: Santragachi on RBPC (SER)
●
Nature of Service: Antyodaya Express
*****
New
Catering Policy 2017
Mobile Units and Base Kitchens:
●
IRCTC shall manage catering service on all mobile units
including catering services on all new trains/ trains started on short notice.
Pantry car contracts awarded by zonal railways shall also be reassigned to
IRCTC.
●
Meals for all mobile units will be picked up from the
nominated kitchens, owned operated and managed by IRCTC. IRCTC shall develop
different archetypes of kitchens keeping in view supply of food and usage
assessed.
○
All four Base Kitchens under departmental operation of Zonal
Railways (Nagpur, CSTM, BCT and Balharshah) and all kitchen units i.e.
Refreshment Rooms at A1 and A category stations, Jan Ahaar, Cell Kitchens shall
be handed over to IRCTC on ‘as is where is basis’. Besides IRCTC may set up
its own Kitchens at additional stations if required.
○
Kitchen structures/ land/space will be handed over by Zonal
Railways to IRCTC, for a period of 10 years extendable for another period of 5
years, on a token license fee of Re.1/- (Re. one) per sqft. p.a. subject to
minimum of Rs.100/- p.a.
○
IRCTC shall develop the Business model for the kitchens so
that they can expand and enhance the service.
○
IRCTC shall prepare and submit a detailed concession
agreement for setting up/development of the kitchens for approval of Railway
Board.
○
IRCTC shall not outrightly outsource or issue licenses for
provision of catering services to private licensees.
○
IRCTC shall determine the menu of standard meals and
A-la-carte items. The standard meals served in trains shall be within the fixed
tariff approved by Railway Board.
●
IRCTC may involve/empanel Self Help groups for providing
catering related services.
Static Units
●
Zonal Railways will manage static units (catering/milk
stalls, trolleys etc.) except base kitchens and kitchen units to be handed over
to IRCTC. IRCTC shall be responsible for catering services in static unit viz.,
Food Plazas, Food Courts and Fast Food Units.
●
Allotment of all Minor Catering units at all category of
stations to be done through open tender.
●
For the first time, it has been envisaged that Allotment of
Special Minor Units (reserved category) at all category stations will be done
through open tendering system within the similar reserved category. The
technical eligibility criteria has been simplified
●
Allotment of Milk Stalls at all stations shall be done
through open tender system as against calling application.
●
For Milk Stalls, in addition to dairy cooperative
federations/members of NCDFI bodies/agencies registered/certified by FSSAI for
sale of milk and milk products have been made eligible to participate at all
category of stations.
●
Provision of perpetual renewal has been done away with. Now
it has been envisaged that tenure of all static units (except kitchen units and
Food Plaza) shall be 5 years only.
●
For smooth implementation of renewal, ceiling limit on
holding of minor units including milk stalls, computation of units has been
defined.
●
33% sub quota for women in allotment of each category of
minor catering units at all category of stations has been provided.
****
Partnership
in Parcel Business with Department of Post
1.
In order to provide end to end parcel services to the
customers by effective partnership between Indian Railways and Department of
Post, certain sectors have been identified in which the parcel traffic offered
by DOP can be transported by IR.
2.
Department of Post has identified following trains for
allotment of parcel space in the assistant guard compartment of front SLR :
○
15959 Howrah-Guwahati- Dibrugarh Kamrup
Express.(Howrah-Guwahati)
○
18646 Hyderabad-Howrah East Coast Express.(Hyderabad-Howrah)
○
12322 Mumbai-Howrah Mail.( Mumbai-Howrah)
○
12721 Hyderabad-Nizamuddin Dakshin Express.(
Hyderabad-Delhi)
○
17230 Hyderabad-Tiruvananthapuram- Sabari Express.
(Hyderabad-Cochin).
3.
Out of the above 5 trains, AGC space was made available for
use of Department of Posts on RMS rates in two trains (i) 15959
Howrah-Guwahati-Dibrugarh Kamrup Express between Howrah and Guwahati at Rs 7115
per trip and (ii) 12721 Hyderabad-Nizamuddin Deccan Express between
Hyderabad and Nizamuddin at Rs 10020 per trip on pilot basis for six months.
4.
The permission could not be granted in remaining trains due
to reversal of engine enroute.
5.
DoP has commenced operations on the 12721
Hyderabad-Nizamuddin from 01.02.2017 and on 15959 Howrah-Guwahati from
20.02.2017.
6.
Now DOP has been permitted to use AGC of train 12322 from
27.02.2017 as engine reversal enroute is not involved anymore. The per
trip earning from the service will be Rs 12,954/- and the assured transit time
from Mumbai to Howrah is 38 hrs.
*******
AKS/MKV/AK