Hello all,
From: Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai1@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Sep 22, 2011 at 2:58 PM
Subject: Fwd: - Some Low Cost High Value Suggestions For Suburban Trains
To: s.pitroda@nic.in
Cc: mohdafzal1963@gmail.com, datar.ashok@gmail.com, bordawekar.chetan@gmail.com, waman.danait@gmail.com, shenoyav@gmail.com, write2god@yahoo.com, kantakshekhar@gmail.com, abhijit@cftc.in, abhijit@globalmarkets.in, sriraman_siva@hotmail.com, jitu11in@gmail.com, harshadbhatia@gmail.com, anillaul@vsnl.com, adhiraj.joglekar@googlemail.com, suchetadalal@yahoo.com, sahasipadyatri@gmail.com, citispace@nagaralliance.org, wiaa@wiaaindia.com, rruc2010@gmail.com, meetus@savepunetraffic.org, nitinkill@gmail.com, hemooupadhyay@gmail.com, shirish@spacpl.com, sudhirbadami@gmail.com, damanig@diehardindian.com, chetankothari53@yahoo.com, rishiagg@gmail.com, mayankgandhi04@gmail.com, milind.vaze@gmail.com, jnm.movement@gmail.com, saveoursuburbs@gmail.com, dipakjg35@hotmail.com, thakeranimish@gmail.com, feedpune@gmail.com, rahul.dandekar@gmail.com, sonalikel@gmail.com, arminvey@gmail.com, matadata@rediffmail.com, bimalbhatia@gmail.com, sameer.buddha@gmail.com, ratnavivek@gmail.com, vccci@vccci.com, vccciind@vsnl.net, tusharprabhoo@gmail.com, Traffic Police <jcptraffic@trafficpolicemumbai.org>, sec transport <sec_transport@maharashtra.gov.in>, MMRDA -PRK Murthy <prkmurthy1960@yahoo.com>, Clara Lewis <clara1002@gmail.com>, addlcp.traffic@trafficpolicemumbai.org, "Sumit d. Gandhi" <sumitdg79@rediffmail.com>, dattabinnar@rediffmail.com, rahuldalal89@gmail.com, Ramana Rahaprolu <ramana_r224@yahoo.com>, Virat Singh <singh.virat@gmail.com>, Immediate Past President <ipp.nasaindia@gmail.com>, ipsa indore <ipsaindore.nasazone2@gmail.com>, President <president.nasaindia@gmail.com>, Anil Nagrath <anagrath@gmail.com>, Akhtar CHAUHAN <akhtarmchauhan@hotmail.com>, Meera Deobhakta <mmdeobhakta@yahoo.com>, Act_Sunil_Ahya_Gmail <sunilahya@gmail.com>, apurvazen <apurvazen@gmail.com>, Ajit Ranade <ajit.ranade@gmail.com>, Shantharam Shenai <vagshantharamshenai@gmail.com>, "Bina C.Balakrishnan" <binacb@gmail.com>, Sohag Desai <sohag.desai@gmail.com>, Jawahar Desai <jawsdesai@gmail.com>, utpal mehta <um1265@gmail.com>, Puneet Sachdeva <thesachshow@gmail.com>, theindipatriot@yahoo.co.in, Sujit Patwardhan <patwardhan.sujit@gmail.com>, kapilg25 <kapilg25@hotmail.com>, "Dilip Marfatia (Dilipmarfatia@Rediffmail. Com)" <dilipmarfatia@rediffmail.com>, Sunil Mehta <mehtasure@hotmail.com>, mehtasure@gmail.com, Rajesh RC <rajeshchokhani@gmail.com>, Rakesh Chokhani <touchwood55@gmail.com>, Shrini Tk <shrinitk@hotmail.com>, Dinesh Wahi <dineeshwahi@gmail.com>, Rupa Divatia <rupadivatia@yahoo.co.in>, stmtea@rediffmail.com, uday mazumdar <u.mazumdar@gmail.com>, ketan gada <libertystores.56@gmail.com>, anjana shah <anjanashah_ls@yahoo.com>, aditya mehta <adit_mehta@hotmail.com>, Janhit Manch <janhitmanch@gmail.com>, IAC - Mumbai <indiaagainstcorruptionmumbai@gmail.com>, iac.pune@gmail.com, iacngp@gmail.com, vikram.sethi@csia.gvk.com, Vijay Desai <vijayrdesai@yahoo.com>, Pankaj Desai <pr_desai@hotmail.com>, MUKESH DESAI <mukesh_desai5@yahoo.com>, Pramod Sahasrabuddhe <pramod113@gmail.com>, sterling.bkc@gmail.com, vipul vaidya <vipulvaidya@gmail.com>, pandit diamonds <pandit_diamonds@yahoo.co.in>, S Bhimani <designerstouch11@gmail.com>, "G.R.Vora Sahasi Padayatri" <grvora@gmail.com>, Kinner Nayak <kinnerarchitect@gmail.com>, Neera Punj <neerapunj@hotmail.com>, Veena Shanghvi <kshanghvi@yahoo.com>, hina_shroff@yahoo.co.uk, Punit Sethi <sethimailbox@gmail.com>, Anna Hazare Secretary Anil Sharma <bvjralegan@gmail.com>, Kiran Bedi <kiranbedi2005@yahoo.co.in>, Arvind Adarkar <archadarkar@rediffmail.com>, arvind kejriwal <pcrf@pcrf.in>, "Adv. Prashant Bhushan" <prashantbhush@gmail.com>, rekhaa_d@rediffmail.com, designtania@gmail.com, Rachana Sansad Urban Design Cell <rsudcell@gmail.com>, Ryan Sequeira <sequeira.ryan@gmail.com>, Aditya Paul <adityampaul@gmail.com>, ruben mascarenhas <ruben_mascarenhas@yahoo.com>, "gurudas.kamat" <gurudas.kamat@nic.in>, Sanjay Nirupam 9821345666 <sanjaynirupam@gmail.com>, cme@wr.railnet.gov.in, gm@cr.railnet.gov.in, gm@wr.railnet.gov.in, gm@icf.railnet.gov.in, a.chaney@nic.in, d.ayyanki@nic.in, keerthilaal.k@nic.in, rahul.n@nic.in, mitakshara.k@nic.in, subrata.kundu@nic.in, v.bagr@nic.in, s.randhawa@nic.in, kalpana.awasthi@nic.in, customercare@indianrailways.gov.in, crb@rb.railnet.gov.in, crb_rail_suggestions@rb.railnet.gov.in, dintriv@gmail.com, mr@rb.railnet.gov.in, Yourcomments <yourcomments@csia.gvk.com>, bombaylegal@hotmail.com, pareshsavla40@gmail.com, Rajendra Aklekar <rajendraa@gmail.com>, Ashoke Pandit JVPD <ashok_pandit17@rediffmail.com>, indirametal09 <indirametal09@gmail.com>, Dilip Patel-BEST <dpatel_121@yahoo.com>, Dilip Rawal <dilip_rawal@yahoo.com>, metrorailunderground@gmail.com, sherleyjsingh <sherleyjsingh@yahoo.co.in>, Saroj Devare <shdevare@yahoo.com>, Ratna Mehta <rat.mehta@gmail.com>, Ar Prakash Deshmukh <ar.psdiia@gmail.com>, its-my-right@googlegroups.com, Prashant Vikey <prashant.vikey@gmail.com>, cynthiaqueenie <cynthiaqueenie@hotmail.com>, Navin <therealnavin@gmail.com>, Ashok Iyer <ashokganapathy@hotmail.com>, "ar. ashwini pethe" <urbanist_ashwini@yahoo.com>, Areen Attari <areenattari@gmail.com>, sachinsabhlok@hotmail.com, hormazdf@gmail.com, aamir sourathia <aamirsourathia@gmail.com>
http://epapers2.mid-day.com/midday/scripts/epaper/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=9/19/2006
It's unfortunate that railways want to spend money on electro mechanical devices which lend itself to possible failure and subsequent maintenance, or lack of it.
It is obvious that ventilation is a problem in the over crowded coaches, particularly when it is raining, the windows and doors are shut.
However even otherwise, it does not seem too wise to blow air down onto the hot and sweaty passengers, remember hot air rises.
As a designer, I would much rather utilise the movement of the train to draw / force in air, from the lower portion of the coach, and let natural convection take it up, and vent it out the upper portion.
Specifically, a louvred inlet angled upwards towards the inside of the coach, with grill, in line fo the windows, approximately 450 mm * 150 mm just above the floor level as the inlet.
Even a grill / jaali floor plate below the seats which would enable air to flow inwards and upwards from under while the train is in motion and speed.
This will serve the purpose of drainage also when the coaches are washed from inside.
For venting the hot air when most windows and doors are closed, another louvred opening, also grilled, exactly above and in line of the windows, at the junction between the side wall and roof should be introduced.
These opening will be in open condition through out even when all openings are shut.
Fans should be placed at angles on the side walls, so that these direct the air towards the exhaust, rather than as at present, blowing hot air down onto our heads.
Another inappropriate design is the introduction of grills to apparently counter the possibility of objects being thrown into the coach by miscreants and anti socials.
This is nothing but cutting the nose to spite the face.
If we need to minimise this kind of activity, apart from better policing, vigilance, preventing loafers on stations and along tracks, etc., the windows should be made to open up to down, not down to up.
The fixed portion, if on the lower half, would easily prevent faces / heads / eyes of seated passengers from such objects thrown from outside.
This would obviate the need to put suffocating grills on the windows, and what is more, 'force' those who want to throw, or spit out, to literally and physically stand up in front of everyone, and 'do' the needful.
>>>CYCLIC TIME-TABLE
Introduction
Mumbai Suburban Railways carries around 69 lakh passengers on an everyday basis which constitutes half of the daily passenger capacity of Indian railways itself. Specifically, a 9 car rake, in peak hour, carries 5000+ passengers against its carrying capacity of 1700, which leads to unbearably overcrowded trains.
During the last 2-3 decades the demography of city has undergone a drastic change, Mumbai has seen 36% increases in the migrant population in last 15 years, which has laid pressure on almost every public service including suburban trains. Traditional approaches of increasing capacity by increasing the number of coaches in rakes have not resulted in significant improvement in the problem of overcrowding. The situation is further aggravated with frequent delays and uneven frequency of trains. More promising strategy of redesigning the Time table, in a cyclic pattern, and strict adherence to it promises to increase the number of services within present infrastructure.
The time table of Mumbai Suburban Railway System is an important public document which has an enormous impact on the lives of the commuters many of whom plan their lives around specific train timings. It is thus important to have more discussion around the time table and whether it can be improved leading to better system efficiency.
The basic wishes of any railway customer are fairly simple: he or she wants to travel fast and comfortably for a reasonable price. Furthermore, railway services should be transparent & reliable to provide a choice of service and comfort levels.
Framework
Cyclic Time Table (CTT)
A Cyclic Time Table (CTT) has been developed and proposed by the Mumbai Suburban Railway Passenger Association, which claims that it is a cost effective and win-win solution which can help reduce the overcrowding in the Mumbai suburban railway network trains.
"With the quadrupling of tracks between Borivali and Virar and additional new rakes received, Western Railway is today in a position to give not only safe but also speedy and comfortable rides to all its commuters from tomorrow, only if it redesigns its suburban time table as per principles of time-table construction laid down under the Indian Railways Act and its rules and in conformity with today's traffic needs" says Mr. Dipak Gandhi, Chairman of "Mumbai Suburban Railway Passenger Association".
Cyclic time table as the name suggest is a time table, which repeats itself after a fixed duration. A key feature of this time table is that commuters do not have to memorise the whole time table. All that they need to remember is the cycle time at which a train repeats itself; thus if the cycle time is 12 minutes then even if someone has missed their train they know that they have to wait a maximum of 12 minutes to catch the next train.
CTT is also known as the frequency based time table, which keeps in account different aspects like the long distance trains the peak as well as non-peak hours and the holidays while assigning time for the train services. The features and the objectives on which CTT works are explained in the following sections:
Objectives of Cyclical Time-Table
- One of the important objectives of CTT is to define fixed parameters in time tabling so that there is no space for ad-hocness in the scheduling of train services.
- To introduce dedicated services for different sectors, which are defined on the basis of passenger demand. Thus, the passenger load gets evenly distributed among different sectors, resulting in relaxing of overcrowding in the trains which has a significant share in the accident figures of the railways.
- Faster turnaround of the rakes by serving limited number of stations in every service thus increasing the number of service with present number of rakes.
- Optimum utilisation of present resources. The average rake utilisation is 13 hours a day as per Railway Board statistics, whereas EMU rakes can technically run continuously even for 22 hours a day.
- Reduction in the overcrowding in Mumbai Locals by increasing the number of services.
Below is the specimen cyclic time table developed by Mr. Gandhi and his fellow associates from the "Mumbai Suburban Railway Passenger Association":
SPECIMEN PATTERN
(2 Fast Services for VR Sector & One MX-VR Shuffle)
FAST CORRIDOR DOWN
SLOW CORRIDOR DOWN ALL TRAINS STOPPING AT ALL STATIONS
DESTINATION VR BHY BVI GMN BA ADH BVI MX – VR HOW RUN >>>> SUPER FAST
SUPER FAST
SUPER FAST
SUPER FAST SHUTTLES CHURCHGATE MARINE LINES
CHARNI ROAD
GRANT ROAD
17.00 S
S
S
17.03 S
S
S
17.06 S
S
S
17.09 S
S
S
17.00 S
S
S
17.03 S
S
S
17.06 S
S
S
MUMBAI CENTRAL MAHALAXMI
LOWER PAREL
ELEPHINSTONE
DADAR
17.10 F
F
F
17.17
17.13 F
F
F
17.20
17.16 F
F
F
17.23
17.19 F
F
F
17.26
17.10 S
S
S
17.22
17.13 S
S
S
17.25
17.16 S
S
S
17.28
17.21S
S
17.31
MATUNGA RD MAHIM JN.
BANDRA
F F
17.23
F F
17.26
F F
17.29
F F
17.32
S S
17.32
====
S S
17.33
S S
17.36
S S
17.39
KHAR ROAD SANTACRUZ
VILE PARLE
ANDHERI
F F
F
F
F F
F
F
F F
F
F
F F
F
17.40
S S
S
17.48
====
S S
S
17.49
S S
S
17.52
JOGESHWARI GOREGAON
MALAD
KANDIVALI
BORIVALI
F F
F
F
F
F F
F
F
F
F F
17.51
S
17.52
====
17.43 17.49
====
S S
S
S
18.09
====
S S
S
S
18.12
DAHISAR MIRA ROAD
BHAYANDER
NAIGAON
VASAI ROAD
NALLA SOPARA
VIRAR
F F
F
17.53
17.58
18.03
18.09
====
17.47 17.51
17.56
====
18.15 18.19
18.25
18.31
18.36
18.41
18.47
====
This time table works on four basic principles.
The first principle of CTT, as explained above, states that all the services will have to repeat in A Cyclic Pattern. In the above table in case of the fast corridor Virar service, after the first service at 17:00 the next will be at 17:12 - a gap of 12 minutes. Similarly all the other services will be repeated after the duration of every 12 mins.
The second principle is Uniform frequency: this is one of the most important principles on whichCTT is based. According to this principle if the frequency of the train services is uniform it will clearly help to segregate the demand by dividing the commuter traffic evenly in peak hours which is a basic necessity in order to reduce the level of overcrowding and thus the risk of accidents.
The third principle on which CTT works is; Dedicated Sector Wise Clearing as part of which the railway network is divided into various sectors, which are defined on the basis of passenger demand. In any sector a limited number of stations are served and not all the stations overlap or repeat in other sectors. Limited halts ensure that the rakes turn around faster leading to increased services.
Thus currently a Virar fast train starts from Churchgate and gets completely filled by the time it reaches Bandra. It then goes on to stop at Andheri and Borivili where there are already a number of people waiting to get in and only a few getting down. This leads to unbearably overcrowded situations and threat to the lives of those who are leaning outside the train. This is a daily pattern.
As per the specimen cyclical time table illustrated above the time table is designed in such a manner that a fast train in the Virar sector would not stop at Andheri and Borivali ensuring that commuters from Churchgate would reach their destinations faster. It would also ensure that the same rake is available faster for a turnaround and can transport more commuters. In this time table commuters of Andheri and Borivali have no choice but to avoid a Virar train. In between stations would be served by other fast and slow services running for other sectors.
The fourth feature of CTT is Limited Loading: a cyclical time table is made on par with section 57, of the Railway Act 1989, according to which railway administration shall fix the maximum number of passengers which may be carried in each compartment. Unlike the current overcrowded conditionsCTT emphasises on limited loading by sequencing the services in such a way that it serves few stations with every service thus distributing passenger load evenly, resulting in limited loading.
Benefits of Cyclical time table as claimed by "MSRPA"
- About 30% more services with the same number of rakes, tracks etc through super fast and sector wise services.
- 30-40% decrease in overcrowding which will lead to reduction in number of accidents.
- 20-25% saving in travel time for long distance commuters through super fast services.
- Clock-like punctuality in operating services.
- No unplanned halts. With CTT the interruption of long distance trains in the Suburban system will be eliminated.
- Implementation of CTT does not require any significant cost.
- The increase in services can be bifurcated as follows:
- Virar sector shall have totally 400 exclusive services daily as against only about 300 trains available now.
- Borivali sector shall have totally 800 exclusive services +200 shuttles.
- ADH sector shall have totally 400 exclusive services as against only about 200 now available.
- CCG sector shall have totally 1200 exclusive trains as against 900 services available now.
Efforts by Mr. Dipak Gandhi
Mr. Dipak Gandhi is the Chairman of the Mumbai Suburban Railway Passengers' Association and has been determinately following his proposal of a CTT for Mumbai for three decades now. When he started raising the issues of the commuters who are traveling in the Mumbai Suburban Railways he was a member of Juhu Junior Chambers'. J.J. Chambers' proposed the 'Rapid Rail Transit System' as a solution to the problem of overcrowding in the Mumbai suburban railway which is still a problem. In 1977, the Minister of Railways Mr.Madhu Dandavate in response to a letter by Mr. Gandhi from J J Chambers informed that the "Western Railway have already implemented this suggestion to provide uniform pattern to all fast trains in regard to stoppages, except two fast trains –one from Borivali and one from Virar for historical reasons.".
The implementation of the uniform pattern was discontinued after 1981 for reasons not known
Besides this the members of the Mumbai Suburban Railway Passengers' Association have written many letters regarding the introduction of the cyclic time table to different railway authorities and some are replied saying your request will be taken into consideration.
Case studies:
There are a number of international incidences of implementation of cyclical time tables. Cyclic time table for the railways was introduced in the Netherlands in 1931, around seventy nine years ago. Since then many European countries have adopted the concept. Nowadays, cyclic timetables are operated in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Norway, Switzerland. Since its introduction CTT has been an integral part of the railway planning process in Netherland. Moreover, many Bus and metro systems operate cyclic time tables, though often with smaller cycle times than railway systems do.
CTT was implemented in Czech Republic in the year 2004/5, which brought a 7% increase in the level of services in the year of implementation itself. And later, the data has shown, the increase in the train services has been 15% in the year 2007/08 and Czech railways at the same time has achieved stability in its services and operations after the implementation of Cyclic time table.
CTT appears to be a well tested scientific tool of time table planning which has benefitted many countries in their public transport operations.
In a verdict dated 28.06.2007 in the Writ Petition No.1092 of 1995 the Bombay High Court has while accepting the hazards faced by the suburban commuters observed that it is beyond the technical capabilities of the court to plan the railways time table and it is upto the State and the Central government or the concerned authorities in the railways to determine the method and the mode which should be adopted by them.
The advantages of CTT:
>>>
- The time table has a very concise and transparent description to customers. In the period of interest, customers travelling to and fro between locations know the frequency of services and are able to estimate their waiting/total travel time appropriately.
- The timetable permits easy quantification of waiting time related service measures for customers.
- The timetable allows for cyclic plans for rakes, crew and other resources. In particular, roistering of crew duties is much simplified.
- Techniques for construction of "good" cyclic timetables are more efficient, since the pattern (for a short duration) can be optimized based on given criteria. For timetables which requires specific timings of all services, both the optimization criteria and methods for construction are cumbersome.
- In actual operation, the time table allows easy recovery from minor disruptions to services.
- The time table allows customers to plan journeys more precisely, without necessarily having access to a complicated time table document. This leads to better spread of load on coaches and better utilization of available rolling stock
- A frequency based timetable is optimal as far as waiting times for customers is concerned. It is convenient for some operating plans, from the cost point of view
- Even for an announced timetable, with timings, a frequency basis is preferable for all or most locations.
Deadliest stretch on our tracks
Armed thieves attack commuters hanging out of trains between Bandra and Mahim
Posted On Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at 02:56:01 AM
| A two-kilometre stretch on the Western line between Bandra and Mahim is fast emerging as the most dangerous place on the Mumbai railway tracks. Over the last month, more than 20 reported incidents of robbery have been committed here by a group of thieves who stand alongside the tracks with rods in an attempt to prise out mobile phones and handbags from passengers standing near the exits of the speeding trains, often endangering their lives. Despite several pleas by passengers for more vigilance by the Railway police, and barricades such as nets and walls along the track, there has been no movement by WR.
In another such incident on Tuesday, Andheri resident Om Prakash Jain, a 42-year-old computer salesman, was standing near the train's door on his way to his office at Lamington Road when he was suddenly hit from outside the train by what he thought was a rod. Jolted, he lost his balance and was about to fall over, but managed to hang on to the pole near the exit. The cell phone he was holding, however, slipped out of his hands. "I was standing on the footboard of the train when a man hit my hand with a rod. I saw him doing it. The phone slipped away, and I was about to fall off. I'm lucky to be alive," Jain told Mumbai Mirror. As he was regaining his balance, dangling half out of the door, Jain saw the thief target another person on the speeding train. A few weeks ago, these thieves, who stand on the side of the tracks in this lonely stretch just a few minutes after the train crosses Bandra station heading towards south Mumbai, had knocked off a woman passenger while attempting to steal her handbag. She had, however, escaped with minor injuries.
Usually people don't even complain, and those who do, don't get much help from the police," Bhavesh Patel, an activist who helps railway passengers through an NGO, said. "People are scared to travel through this stretch now. We have demanded a giant strobe light in the area so that at least the thieves aren't able to strike easily at night, when passengers are most vulnerable. But nothing has happened so far." A railway police officer confirmed that such incidents were on the rise, and that the stretch was slowly gaining in notoriety. "Around 20 such cases come up before the GRP every month," said an officer from Bandra GRP. "Most of these thieves are minors from nearby slums. We have caught a few of them, but being juveniles, they are let off within a day. This location is surrounded by marshy swamps, the creek, and slums," added Senior Inspector Ashok Survegandh. In February last year, a police constable, Laxman Ahinave, was run over by a train while chasing a man who had stoten a commuter's mobile in similar fashion. While the GRP blame the Railways for not setting up enough barricades, such as fences and walls, to protect the tracks, authorities in turn call for a more vigilant performance by the GRP.
The thieves are now striking at will. Are the officials waiting for a bigger tragedy to happen?" asked Sameer Zaveri, director of Mumbai Suburban Railway Passengers Association. When contacted, the chief public relations officer of Western Railway, SS Gupta, admitted he was aware of the problem. "The permission to fence the areas around tracks has been granted. Within three months, fencing will be completed around vulnerable areas in consultation with Bandra GRP," he said. |
On Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 11:50 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai@gmail.com> wrote:Hello,Would like to suggest an idiotic suggestion to prevent passengers from falling off suburban train doors or getting knocked off after getting hit by poles which are very close to the trainshttp://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/dec/141209-Imran-Querishi-motormen-stationmaster-Sandhurst-Road.htmAt risk of being termed an idiot, we need to have jallis and grills on doorways, which would necessarily close before the train moves out from the station, like in Tokyo, and metro trains all over.Why should passengers be allowed to stand at the gates and risk themselves.The windows which are fitted with jallis and grills, on a court ruling, among other reasons, for preventing some stray balloons hurting passengers sitting at the window seats, thrown by rascal miscreants thrown once in a while, have a small target area.The doors are much larger, and statistics will reveal more accidents than windows.So why this discrimination.
Close the doors, put jallis, and grills.Or debar the windows.Jagdeep DESAISecretaryFounder TrusteeForum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs+91 98 6922 7148>>>
18-yr-old bled to death on tracks as trains went by
By: Sanjeev Devasia Date: 2009-12-14 Place: Mumbai
Imran Querishi's friends waved down 3 trains, but motormen didn't do their job of informing stationmaster about accident; he died soon after
Smarter friends and an active Railway would've ensured that Imran Querishi were alive today.
The 18-year-old was travelling from Wadala to CST when he fell off the crowded train and hit a pole just after Sandhurst Road around 10.30 am on Friday.
Some of his acquaintances on the train saw him fall and got off at Masjid station and instead of approaching police personnel at the station and informing them about Imran's accident, they ran towards the spot where he fell.
HANGING QUESTION: Imran Querishi was travelling from Wadala to CST when he fell off the crowded train and hit a pole as the train left Sandhurst Road station on Friday.
15 mins lost
Once there, they tried to stop three trains that were passing by to carry the body on board. But none of the motormen stopped. "Imran's friends waved frantically to all the three trains, but in vain.
Finally, the motorman of the fourth train stopped and Imran was taken onboard. They got off at Masjid station and shifted Imran to GT Hospital," said Saleem Chand Shaikh, Imran's uncle.
The exercise took about 25 minutes. He was declared dead some time after being admitted.
"Imran suffered head injuries and died due to excessive bleeding. Precious time was lost in shifting him to a hospital," added Shaikh.
1,800
The number of people who died on the railway tracks in the last six months. Sixty per cent of them lost their lives while trying to cross the tracks. The rest fell off the trains
20,706
The approximate number of people who died on the railway tracks in the last five years, as revealed by an RTI application
The Other Side The Railway refuse to take the blame for Imran's death. Central Railway chief public relations officer Srinivas Mudgerikar said, "Trains require some time to stop.
So if brakes are applied when the motorman saw the boys waving and the train was at a speed of 50 kmph, it would have stopped around 120 m away.
That's the distance between the accident spot and Masjid station. It's the motorman's job to inform the stationmaster about any incident and the stationmaster sends the hamals and the GRP personnel to the spot in case of an accident."
However, MiD DAY learnt that the stationmaster at Masjid was not informed by any of the three motormen. Imran's family, however, is not interested in explanations.
"He got engaged two months ago and was to be married soon. It's all over now," said Saleem Chand Shaikh.>>>On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 3:29 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,In reference to the report, And the award for idiot of the year goes to, page 2, Mid Day, 2009 DEC 03, by Sanjeev DEVASIAThe report says the ICF which manufactures the new coaches for Central and Western Railways has received a request from an 'idiot' who wants grills removed so that he can spit out more easily.The accompanying photo, shows the dirty, pan stained, spit laden side walls even with the grills on.Could the grills prevent spitting, staining, discolouring, then spending lakhs on cleaning the mess, and then crores more on giving a stain protecting coatSo any idiot can see that grills being there or not, idiots are going to spit anyway.The ICF official says the grills are for safety of the commuter to prevent injury to the passenger from being victims of stone throwing.At the risk of being termed an idiot, it is again idiotic to have huge doorways, in which passengers stand, risk there lives and limbs, which expose themselves to stone throwing, and only putting grills on the smaller windows.Why aren't there grills there.
Its idiotic.Further, if this were the issue at all, then the fixed portion of the safety glass, not polycarbonate, which clouds, scratches, discolours due to weather, should be on the lower half of the opening, the openable, moveable part, on the upper half, without any bars and grills, see highlighted portion below.Any idiot can see, we will get safety from stone throwing and chain snatching, since the fixed portion will prevent the objects and miscreants hands from reaching to the target victim's neck, etc.And better still, any idiot who wants to spit, like that idiot who wrote to ICF, will have to stand up in from of others, and then spit out, making a public idiot of himself.And those passengers standing inside will have good ventilation, good view, good breeze, all unhindered being free from bars, grills, jallis.Even then, in the event the idiot spits, in the moving train, the spit will spray onto the lower glass, from which it can be cleaned easier than on the painted portions, which will be less affected.Further, and very critical, during emergency evacuation, passengers can be removed from inside through these openings which have no bars or grills, and at worse case, the glass can be broken.At present, metal cutting saws, gas cutters neen to be brought to the accident site, and time, effort is wasted in carving out an accessible opening, precious life saving time is lost, and dangers of the saws, cut metal, and flames may even further injure the already injured passengers.Also, what grill prevents any idiot from spitting inside the compartment, as is the case when it rains and windows are shut, why are there no litter bins, waste containers.What prevents idiots from dirtying the coaches, particurly in first class compartments with human waste, prevent anyone from sitting, or maybe even entering.So, as a QED, the new trains should have no bars or grills, have the fixed glass on the lower half, and the upper portion be the moveable one.Something like what the ICF has given the coaches operated in the Northern Railways' Jammu and Kashmir trainsAnd many train in Europe and elsewhere have similar window configuration, and if you believe the undersigned, school buses in USA, Canada, etc, too, use this systemHave you heard of school children falling off school buses in USA and Canada.Does that mean there are no idiots there.All idiots, non idiots, intelligent, smart, sane people will all be satisfied.And whatever happened about installing closed circuit cameras for security, which will also record the idiots who spit and dirty trains and railway property.Thanqx.
Jagdeep DESAIArchitect
SecretaryFounder TrusteeForum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs+91 98 6922 7148>>>
And the award for idiot of the year goes to...
By: Sanjeev Devasia Date: 2009-12-03 Place: Mumbai
Mid Day Archives
Related Tags window grills, local trains,paan,MRVC The unknown man who demanded that window grills in local trains be removed so that he could spit out paan
Mumbaikars are never satisfied with whatever they're offered.
The officials of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), which manufactures the new age Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) white and purple rakes, are the worst victims of the absurd demands of the Mumbai commuter.
And the weirdest demand the ICF has received is to remove the window grill of the trains to allow commuters to easily spit out of the train.
"We are surprised at how someone can demand a facility, which will enable him to spit out paan or whatever they chew.
WHAT A BAD IDEA, SIRJI: Commuters do not want window grills to be removed.
The demand is absurd not only from the cleanliness point of view, but also because it is a safety hazard to keep the windows open without a grill when local trains are susceptible to stone throwing," said an ICF official.
According to ICF, the demand has come by way of feedback from the public who travel by the trains.
"The railway administration is struggling with the cleaning of trains, especially the paan and ghutkha stains and graffiti. And then there's this stupid demand," said another official.
Other demands
But MRVC claims to have not received any such demand. Its managing director, P C Sehgal, said, "The ICF may have received this demand from the zonal railway authorities.
That's not to say that we have not received some strange demands. One of them is about providing toilets inside the local trains!"
There have also been other impractical demands like trains with doors that shut as soon as it's in motion and also air-conditioned trains.
"Sometimes, people even demand drastic increase in services without considering the infrastructure, including the number of new rakes, and also the present working conditions in the Mumbai suburban system," said Sehgal.
'Foolish'
Commuter Rajendra More (32), who travels from Belapur to CST, is shocked to hear about this demand. "This is a foolish idea.
It'll affect the safety of commuters," he said. Added Chintan Upadhyay, who travels from Ghatkopar to Dadar every day, "It's a bad idea because the grills offer security. But people will continue to dirty trains."
Constructive Suggestions
Some of the improvements carried out in the new rakes based on commuter's suggestions are:
>> Extra grab poles at the door were removed
>> Handle added to the sliding door
>> Grab rails inside the trains were reduced from three to two rows
>> Leg space between the seats in the first class compartment was increased after complaints
>> Establishing full partition between ladies and general compartments>>>
On Tue, Aug 4, 2009 at 11:28 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,
Once again, HT, 2009 AUG 04
http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleImage.aspx?article=04_08_2009_003_007&mode=1
So many reports on the almost futile efforts of 'cleaning' trains of litter, garbage, uncontrolled spitting, etc.
The fact of the matter is that unless there is a virtual cut in the source of this litter and garbage generation, and a real intensive and sustained effort on a war footing, to clean the tracks, track sides, platforms, coaches, and not only to catch the offenders, but nmake them clean up what they 'spat' or littered, its not going to work.
Fines and punishments are only temporary and get only those who are 'caught'.
Most get away with it.
So a better option is to cut as much as posible of the source.
Ban sale of all packaged commodities, especially single use packets of pan masala, gutkha, sweets, lozenges, biscuits, etc. from platform stalls.
Those who are addicted to consuming this, will buy from outside anyway.
But IR, WR, CR, should not aid and abet this.
Besides, strict check of tickets on entry to platforms and stations, rather than on exit, will reduce the hangers on, riff raff, and other unauthorised persons on, leading to less crowding, so less garbage and litter.
Security will be that much better, less crowds, little better control.
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2009/07/18&PageLabel=7&EntityId=Ar00702&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rly-employees-union-protests-against-filthy-tracks/487542/
Thanqx.+91 98 6922 7148
Jagdeep DESAI
Architect
Secretary
Founder Trustee
Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs
>>>
>>>On Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 7:25 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,So many reports on the almost futile efforts of 'cleaning' trains of litter, garbage, uncontrolled spitting, etc.
The fact of the matter is that unless there is a virtual cut in the source of this litter and garbage generation, and a real intensive and sustained effort on a war footing, to clean the tracks, track sides, platforms, coaches, and not only to catch the offenders, but nmake them clean up what they 'spat' or littered, its not going to work.
Fines and punishments are only temporary and get only those who are 'caught'.
Most get away with it.
So a better option is to cut as much as posible of the source.
Ban sale of all packaged commodities, especially single use packets of pan masala, gutkha, sweets, lozenges, biscuits, etc. from platform stalls.
Those who are addicted to consuming this, will buy from outside anyway.
But IR, WR, CR, should not aid and abet this.
Besides, strict check of tickets on entry to platforms and stations, rather than on exit, will reduce the hangers on, riff raff, and other unauthorised persons on, leading to less crowding, so less garbage and litter.
Security will be that much better, less crowds, little better control.
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIM/2009/07/18&PageLabel=7&EntityId=Ar00702&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rly-employees-union-protests-against-filthy-tracks/487542/
Thanqx.+91 98 6922 7148
Jagdeep DESAI
Architect
Secretary
Founder Trustee
Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs
>>>>>>Clean up act: WR to fine, jail litterbugs
Roana Maria Costa I TNN
Mumbai: The next time you decide to conveniently push a wrapper out of the narrow grille of a suburban train, splatter chewed paan aimlessly on a platform, or drop leftovers on the train floor, stop. Western Railway (WR) has decided to start a cleanliness drive where you can be fined, jailed or both, for any of the above offences.
Besides allowing the RPF to take action against offenders (after they are produced before a court), WR is is working towards empowering its staff—ticket checkers (TCs) and stations masters (SMs)—to get rid of filthy, smelly stations and locals.
The move comes close on the heels of a similar campaign launched by the Central Railway (CR). Long overdue, this comes after countless commuters SMSed their anguish over filthy stations and demanded that paan and gutka be banned on trains and station areas get cleaner.
After sending people to jail for trespassing on the tracks under Article 156 of the Indian Railways Act, officials said that they won't hesitate to do the same to litterbugs under Article 145(b). Under the Act, a commuter can be imprisoned for one month, fined Rs 250 or both if caught creating nuisance at railway stations.
"More than 500 text messages have come in from commuters complaining against dirty trains and stations. We will start with awareness drives and do not rule out arresting offenders as a last resort," said chief public relations officer, WR, S S Gupta.
At present, each train is washed internally and externally once in 10 days and swept every day. But the effect is lost in a few trips. Officials hope that since commuters themselves have expressed a desire for cleaner stations, the drive won't face resistance.
WR has also written to the BMC to authorise its staff under the cleanliness and sanitation by-laws to fine offenders. Gupta said the civic body has shown a positive approach. "If a commuter is caught littering, he can be fined anything between Rs 100-200 on the spot," said Gupta.
BIN THE TRASH
WR is also studying a new vacuum technology to clean up the trains. A transparent Rotofreescand dustbin was introduced at Churchgate station on Friday on an experimental basis. These bins will be installed at all stations based on commuter feedback. WR will also allow the BMC to use station space to advertise its antipolythene drive. TNN
>>>Railway looks at plastic gel to keep its new rakes stain-free
After the Western Railway rolled out its new violet-silver coloured rakes in November 2007, the officials are having a tough time maintaining them. The rakes now bear unwanted graffiti and stains.
However, officials can now breathe a sigh of relief after a recent report by the Railway Board suggested a gel to keep its rakes stain-free. The report stated that all suburban trains, including Seimens rakes, will be painted with stain-proof clear coat plastic gel so that the stains on them can be easily wiped off.
A demonstration by electrical department on June 17 to general manager, WR, RN Verma, showed encouraging results. A coach of a train was painted with the stain-proof gel that helped them to get rid of graffiti and stains in no time. "After the gel was applied to the coach, the stains were removed easily," said a senior WR official. He added, "These graffiti and stains remain even after the trains are cleaned using chemicals."
Ads by GoogleCheapest land in Mumbai For 2.97 lakhs, near to Railway Station & Highways, with securityedenplots.comSilica Gel Manufacturer Silica Gel Blue, Orange & White In Beads & Granular Types. ISO 9000www.SorbeadIndia.comGel Labels - Resin Doming Domed labels Doming Kits & Machines Labels & Nameplates, Quick leadtimewww.mockridge.com
"Since the new colours are light, stains on these rakes will make them look ugly. Also, these are not easy to remove. Such a colour combination can only work abroad since people there have more civic sense," said another WR official. At present, Seimen's new trains are painted with polyurethane to protect rakes from getting corroded.
Shyam Sunder Gupta, chief public relations officer, Western Railway, said, "WR did a trial on one of the coaches and the report has been submitted to the Railway Board in New Delhi, which will take a final decision."
>>>
Rly employees' union protests against filthy tracks
Kalpana VermaTags : mumbai, Rly employees' union protestsPosted: Friday , Jul 10, 2009 at 0216 hrsMumbai:
A railway employee was injured on Tuesday while cleaning an outstation train on platform no 3 of Bandra Terminus. Manish Parmar suffered injuries on his head after he slipped and fell on the tracks on Tuesday afternoon. He was rushed to the Jagjeevan Ram Hospital. His condition is said to be stable now.
This is not the first case when a helper has been injured while cleaning and maintaining trains. In the last six months, 20 helpers, fitters and supervisors have received injuries. They blame it on the tracks that are full of filth, mud and garbage. The open drains along the tracks are also clogged and overflowing, causing the area to become slippery. Also, concrete sleepers have been stacked between platforms, obstructing smooth functioning. Moreover, with rains here, the situation has got worse.
"In addition, overhead lighting arrangements are not available at all platforms. If a person has to work between two stationary trains at platforms 1 and 2, he is bound to work without enough light and only with a torch in hand. The area is uneven and slippery, full of dirt and muck," said an agitated staff member, who was recently injured.
Most of the outstation trains are maintained in Bandra yard but those trains which terminate here and start after a few hours are maintained on platforms 1, 2 and 3. These trains include Jaipur-Bandra Express, Bikaner-Ranakpur Express, Sayajee Nagri-Surya Nagri Express and Udaipur Express.
In spite of several complaints, the commercial and engineering departments of Mumbai division did not pay any heed. On June 20, members of the Mumbai division branch of the Western Railway Mazdoor Sangh staged an agitation by halting trains for 20 minutes.
After the agitation, the Station Superintendent said, "As discussed with the union representatives, the garbage will be removed within three days, using 18 labourers."
"To remove the garbage and muck, a contract has been given. As per the contract, the contractor is supposed to depute around 44 workers but has deputed only 15," said a mechanical department staff.
According to Ajay Singh, Divisional Secretary, WRMS, "Only 20 per cent work has been done. Parmar's accident is a live example of the situation."
He added, "I have sent a letter to CP Sharma, Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai Division, WR, on Wednesday. On many occasions, I have brought this problem to the notice of the administration. WRMS will not hesitate to resort to agitation, if work is not completed within seven days."
When contacted, CP Sharma said, "I have received the letter and have spoken to the union representatives. Concerned departments have deputed people for cleaning the tracks and drains."
On Tue, Apr 15, 2008 at 5:47 PM, Jagdeep DESAI <jagdeep.desai@gmail.com> wrote:
Hello,Related reports on the Clean Up! campaign, and the new suburban trains for Mumbai.This picture shows a passenger spitting out from a window, on what is evidently one of the new trains, at least from the grill and seat colours, etc.See the highlighted portions.Also, apart from the other faetures, trains have to have litter bins / waste boxes, and simultaneously, station platform stall must stop selling pacakaged single use consumable items like pan masala / gutkha / sweets / lozenge / biscuit packets altogether to minimise generation of waste.After all, those who need to purchase these non critical items can do so outside the stations.There is also a possibility of FM being broadcast on boardThe system should be made to broadcast public service Clean Up! messages equally frequently in all languages.Such arrangements can be the tipping point.Jagdeep DESAIArchitectSecretaryFounder TrusteeForum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai / SuburbsForum for IQOLMS+91 98 6922 7148PSThere is another report that seat colours on suburban trains would be changed from blue to brown, to 'hide' stains and dirt!Truly illogical!Instead of 'hiding' these things, efforts must be made to 'Clean Up!' the trains.The brown colour itself is less attractive in the first place, less bright, and generally dull, and drab, dark, dingy, and gloomy, and so on.This was the colour earlier, in the second and third class compartments, with dark brown seats, dark yellow craem side walls, yellow lighting.The bright colourts are blue, green, grey, violet, etc.>>>This is also in reference to the report on forced ventilation for suburban railway coaches
http://epapers2.mid-day.com/midday/scripts/epaper/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=9/19/2006
It's unfortunate that railways want to spend money on electro mechanical devices which lend itself to possible failure and subsequent maintenance, or lack of it.
It is obvious that ventilation is a problem in the over crowded coaches, particularly when it is raining, the windows and doors are shut.
However even otherwise, it does not seem too wise to blow air down onto the hot and sweaty passengers, remember hot air rises.
As a designer, I would much rather utilise the movement of the train to draw / force in air, from the lower portion of the coach, and let natural convection take it up, and vent it out the upper portion.
Specifically, a louvred inlet angled upwards towards the inside of the coach, with grill, in line fo the windows, approximately 450 mm * 150 mm just above the floor level as the inlet.
Even a grill / jaali floor plate below the seats which would enable air to flow inwards and upwards from under while the train is in motion and speed.
This will serve the purpose of drainage also when the coaches are washed from inside.
For venting the hot air when most windows and doors are closed, another louvred opening, also grilled, exactly above and in line of the windows, at the junction between the side wall and roof should be introduced.
These opening will be in open condition through out even when all openings are shut.
Fans should be placed at angles on the side walls, so that these direct the air towards the exhaust, rather than as at present, blowing hot air down onto our heads.
Another inappropriate design is the introduction of grills to apparently counter the possibility of objects being thrown into the coach by miscreants and anti socials.
This is nothing but cutting the nose to spite the face.
If we need to minimise this kind of activity, apart from better policing, vigilance, preventing loafers on stations and along tracks, etc., the windows should be made to open up to down, not down to up.
The fixed portion, if on the lower half, would easily prevent faces / heads / eyes of seated passengers from such objects thrown from outside.
This would obviate the need to put suffocating grills on the windows, and what is more, 'force' those who want to throw, or spit out, to literally and physically stand up in front of everyone, and 'do' the needful.
>>>New local trains for city still long way off
Devraj Dasgupta | TNN
Mumbai: Mumbaikars who had hoped that the new suburban trains being procured under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) would ease their commute will be disappointed to know that the project is on the slow track. Instead of the projected supply of four trains every month, Mumbai will be lucky to get just one per month at least until September, sources in the railways told TOI.
The delivery schedule of the new trains has been badly hit due to inadequate assembly lines, shortage of wheels and trained manpower at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai. A team from the World Bank, the lead financers of the MUTP project, conveyed their disappointment with the slow production schedule during a visit to ICF, Chennai, last week.
Hubert Nove Josserand, the World Bank official in charge of the MUTP project, confirmed to TOI that his team was "not very happy'' with the manufacturing pace at ICF. "They had promised four trains per month once the prototypes were over. But things are definitely not going as per schedule—ICF is not ready for four rakes a month,'' said Josserand on Monday.
However, he was quick to add that the railways could still catch up with their promise by expediting the assembly process. "We leave it to them on how to deliver four trains per month. Although things are not out of control, we are concerned,'' he added.
With four new trains, Mumbai could have got 70 to 80 additional services every month. With just one train expected every month, this will now be limited to 18 to 20 services in a month on either WR or CR.
Sources in the railways said that ICF had a limited capacity for manufacturing the high-end suburban coaches being made under MUTP. "They have only two assembly lines as of now,'' said an official. However, the bigger problem is that ICF does not have wheels for the coaches. Moreover, the fact that the new age trains involve a much higher level of electrical and electronic equipment only adds to the slow pace of assembly at ICF.ON THE SLOW TRACK: Production problems at Chennai's Integral Coach Factory mean there's no way they can deliver four new rakes a month to Mumbai as promised
No comments:
Post a Comment