Massive water logging over the Railway tracks in some of the sections of its Chennai Division

Suresh Prabhu directs Railway administration to take best possible measures for the benefit of the stranded passengers

Southern Railway makes arrangement free Food, drinking water and medical facilities

Effective measures taken to disseminate information to the public through help line, SMS, Twitter, Facebook, Website, announcement, Press Notes, Notice Boards, Electronic Display Boards, Inquiry Counters, NTES

Southern Railway Zone (Head Quarters: Chennai) of Indian Railways geared up its machinery in full swing to handle the situation arising out of the massive water logging over the Railway tracks in some of the sections of its Chennai Division in the wake of unprecedented rains in and around Chennai. The Section of Chennai-Villupuram and Chennai-Gudur Section have been badly affected because of overflowing of water On Railway tracks due to heavy rains resulting in the disruption of train movement in the area. This has led to cancellations/diversion of many trains as per the following details.

Cancellation - 218 M/Exp. (07 passenger trains)

Diversion - 33 M/Exp.

Partially Cancellation 34M/Exp

Rescheduling - 6 M/Exp

The Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu has been personally keeping a watch on the situation and has given instructions to the Railway Administration to take best possible measures to ensure minimum inconvenience and basic facilities to the affected passengers. He has directed Southern Railway to make appropriate arrangements for water, food, security and adequate refund facilities to the stranded passengers. He has also directed that senior officials should personally camp at the station to supervise the relief and restoration efforts. Railway Board and Southern Railway are constantly monitoring the situation and General Manager (GM) and other senior officials are personally supervising the train movement in Chennai Division. Following measures have so far been taken by the Southern Railway: -

Ø For the convenience of the suburban passengers skeleton services are being run in the following sections:

Chennai Beach – Tiruvallur – Arakkonam - Tiruttani,

Ennore – Gummidipoondi and

Chennai Beach – Velacherry MRTS services

Ø Officers are deputed at major stations to oversee the arrangements made for the stranded passengers.

Ø Announcements are regularly made through PA system and regular updates about the running of trains are displayed through LED Boards for the information of the passengers.

Ø Around 20000 food packets and water packets have been distributed to stranded passengers at major stations at free of cost in association with NGOs like Jain Association and others. Another 10000 food packets are being distributed today. In addition, Food outlets are also selling food to the passengers.

Ø Supply of sufficient drinking water and food items have been ensured on the stations. Regular cholorination of water is being done.

Ø Round the clock Medical facilities have been extended in the Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Madurai and Tiruchchirappalli stations and also in trains which have been stopped enroute.

Ø Medical booths with sufficient medicines are made available at the major stations like Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Chennai Tambaram and Chengalpattu.

Ø Sanitation and cleanliness are being ensured at all major stations/platforms

Ø RPF personnel have been deputed at Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Pallavaram, Guduvancheri, Chengalpattu, Arakkonam, Tiruvallur, Katpadi and Jolarpettai to ensure the following : -

Ø Ensuring security of passengers and their properties

Ø Waist band and neck band announcement system were made for providing information and to guide passengers

Ø To regulate queues at Cancellation counters, ticket counters, information centres and foot outlets.

Ø Special RPF help booths have been set up at Chennai Central, Chennai Egmore, Arakkonam and Katpadi to supplement efforts of Commercial department.

Ø Wide publicity is being given in the Press and media about the cancellation of trains and refunds are being arranged without any restriction and sufficient cash is also being made available. This has been also tweeted and posted in the Facebook. Cancellation of trains has also been updated in the PRS system to facilitate full refund.

Ø Special trains are being run today (03.12.2015) at 13 hrs of from Chennai Beach to Mangalore and at14 hrs from Chennai Beach to Bangalore to cater to the stranded passengers. Arrangements are being made with MTC buses for taking passengers to their residence.

Ø At various affected locations, action is being taken on war-footing to attend the repair work. P.way materials and other track materials are being arranged to attend to the work and senior officers are available at site to oversee the work.

Ø The train operations are being monitored and regulated in such a way that safety of the train and passengers is ensured.

Ø Helplines have been put in place and given wide publicity in Press and media.

Ø The passengers can use following helpline nos. to know about the details of cancelled / diverted trains and other related information.

Helpline Nos.

Chennai Central	044-25330714
Chennai Egmore	044-28190216
Chennai Control	044-29015204
Chennai Control	044-29015208
Madurai	0452-2308250
Tiruchchirappalli	0431-2418992 9003864971; 9003864960
Thanjavur	9003033265 04362-230131
Villupuram	9003864959

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Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation for use of Non-potable Water released after treatment from sewage/effluent treatment plants located in Ganga and Yamuna River zones for various non-potable Railway purpose.

Indian Railways is committed to conservation of water:- Suresh Prabhu

Indian Railways and Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation are partnering for a good cause:- Uma Bharati

In the august presence of Minister of Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and Minster of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharati, A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding use of Non-potable Water released after treatment from sewage/effluent treatment plants located in Ganga and Yamuna River zones for Railway purpose was signed today i.e. 3^rd December, 2015 between Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation. The Minister of State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha was specially present on the occasion. Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A.K. Mital, Member Engineering, Shri V.K. Gupta and other Board Members, and other senior officials were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said that water is a precious natural resource and Indian Railways is one of the biggest consumers of water for its various activities. Indian Railways is committed to conservation of water. Shri Suresh Prabhu said he has announced in Railway Budget 2015-16 that Water Recycling Plants would be installed at major water consumption centers based on report of water audit. He said that installation of Water Recycling Plants has been sanctioned at 32 stations during current financial year, taking those to 66 Recycling Plants over Indian Railways. Railways have also taken up setting up of Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) system. To further Railways efforts in the direction of conservation of water, today’s MoU has been signed between Minister of Railways and Minister of Water Resources regarding use of non-potable water released after treatment from Sewage/Effluent Treatment Plants (STP/ETPs) located in Ganga and Yamuna river zones. This is a very important agreement.

While it is necessary to save water, it is also equally necessary to save money. Such MoUs will be a win win for both ecology and economy. In her speech, Minster of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation Sushri Uma Bharati said that it is a good beginning that Indian Railways and her Ministry are partnering for a good cause. She pointed out that her Ministry is working on lot of initiatives for conservation of water and cleaning of river waters and interlinking of rivers. She also said that a comprehensive action plan with a much wider scope have been formulated for these purposes and are being implemented. She said that today’s MoU will pave the way for the use of treated water for more useful purpose.

Silent Features of the MoU:-

· The MOU signed between Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenationregarding use of non-potable water released after treatment from Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) / Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) located in Ganga and Yamuna river zones for various non-potable purposes of Railways.

· Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation intends to lay the network of Sewage/Effluent treatment Plants (STP/ETPs) on both sides of Ganga and Yamuna rivers so as to check pollutants from entering into these rivers.

· The treated water released from STP/ETPs shall be used for various non-potable purposes. The treated water of laid down standards shall be provided for non-potable use at such establishments including Railway Stations falling in the area where Ganga and Yamuna rivers pass through.

· Wherever water for non potable uses at such establishments including Railway Stations are required, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation shall provide the required pipelines, pumping arrangements etc., up to the Railway Stations at its own cost Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation shall bear the initial cost and recurring maintenance cost for such pipelines, pumps etc.

· Railway shall take such treated non potable water from Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation for the Railway Stations and/or other establishments wherever its requirement exists for non potable use over and above its own sources (including its own recycled water).

· Railway shall pay for such water used by them at the rate as mutually decided between the two Ministries.

· The proposed MOU shall go a long way towards Railway’s commitment to water conservation.

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