Only a week ago, The Better India reported an incident where a man tweeted to the Union Railway Minister requesting the authorities to arrange for pain relief tablets and sanitary pads for his friend and the speedy response they received.

It was indeed a wonderful surprise to find the authorities quickly acknowledge and meet the health requirements.

While the incident reflected several positives like the power of social media and the changing attitudes of people towards menstruation, it also highlighted the growing efficiency and sensitivity of the employees of such a public institution.

However, owing to a reader’s response, we soon realised that this was not an incident in isolation.

A time much before the advent of social media, especially Twitter, a reader, Santanu Dasgupta shared a story of how his mother’s life was saved due to the quick response by the authorities of the Indian Railways.

Here’s what happened

In May 1993, while travelling from Trivandrum to Nagpur on Kerala Express, Santanu and his mother, who was 78-years-old then, encountered a sudden medical emergency.

Somewhere near Andhra Pradesh, he shared that his mother was taken suddenly ill and began to vomit. Irked by the situation, he rushed to the Train Ticket Examiner (TTE) and the Superintendent to seek help, who assured it at the next junction.

This was at a time when a mobile phone was a rare luxury, making long-distance communication on the train, quite impossible.

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However, much to his surprise, the superintendent who had some medical background, asked Santanu to write down all the necessary details like his mother’s age, symptoms, seat and coach number on a piece of paper, which he wrapped around a large onion from the pantry.

After adding a little more mass of newspapers to the ball, the superintendent called out a linesman, waving a flag at the speeding train.

He then flung the paper-onion ball towards him and assured Santanu that his mother would be treated in Vijayawada in half an hour.

An ISRO scientist, Santanu was then clouded by doubt, unsure how an onion would fetch medical help, but to his surprise, it did.

The onion ball, picked up by the linesman, was taken to the nearest station, from where the message for urgent medical assistance went around.

By the time they reached, Santanu had shared that his mother was in bad shape but had managed to recover after the doctor treated her.

“We could not thank him enough. Indian Railways had done a wonderful job. My mother recovered and lived up to nearly 100 years!” Santanu told The Better India.

If you have similar stories to share, please write to us at editorial@thebetterindia.com with ‘Railway Heroes’ in the subject line.

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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Walk into any railway station around the country, and you are sure to find garbage strewn all around the premises.

As the second biggest railway network in Asia with 4500 stations, which cater to over 30 million commuters every day besides transporting 2.8 million tonnes of freight, it’s no surprise that waste management remains a serious concern for the Indian Railways.

However, the New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) is showing the way forward when it comes to waste management.

Working alongside the Safai Sena, it has adopted simple waste management strategies of composting, recycling and garbage reduction strategies.

For the uninitiated, the Safai Sena is a registered association of waste pickers, doorstep waste collectors, itinerant and other small buyers, small junk dealers, and other types of recyclers.

They have also teamed up with Chintan, a non-profit aiming to minimise the waste that ends up giant landfills in and around the city.

“The project started in 2010 as a public-private partnership between Northern Railways and waste pickers from the informal sector. It’s a win-win scenario for the NDLS since waste pickers collect all the waste from trains that have catering, and from dustbins,” says Chitra Mukherjee, Head, Advocacy and Policy at Chintan, in a conversation with The Better India.

Once a train arrives at a platform and parks for a few minutes, waste pickers from the Safai Sena are expected to collect all the trash, clean and empty the dustbins of platforms before they begin to overflow and line them up with a garbage bags at all times. Waste is taken to a material recovery facility at the station where it is segregated into different categories and sent for recycling.

Here are five things other railway stations can learn from the NDLS:

1) Train and incentivise waste pickers to distinguish between wet and dry waste.

For every material that is successfully recycled or sold, workers at the Safai Sena earn a share of the revenue. This model incentivises them to segregate all the waste they gather.

According to the Secretary of the Safai Sena, Jai Prakash Choudhary the association collects revenue running into lakhs every month from all four railway stations in the national capital (Anand Vihar, Nizamuddin and Old Delhi). Revenue earned from this venture goes into paying wastepickers and also buying necessary protective gear for them.

2) Establish a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) equipped to handle both dry and wet waste.

In New Delhi, the MRF is run by the Safai Sena with assistance from Chintan, which set it up and now ensures quality control and monitoring. Here the waste is segregated into 12 different categories before it is sent for recycling purposes.

“The uneaten rotis, 10-12 kgs/day, are fed to cows. Feeding is undertaken as a priority over composting, as it is better utilised. Only waste that cannot be treated, such as chicken gravy or plastic bags containing filthy items are taken away to the landfills,” says the book ‘State of Waste in India: Eighteen Years after the First National Rules’ published by the Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group.

3) Compost wet waste using Organic Waste Composter and aerobic pit compositing.

Compost is a rich source of organic matter, which plays an important role in sustaining soil fertility. Wet food waste is also composted in situ, and over 500 kgs/month of compost is given free to the railways.

4) Recycle other waste material like Tetra-packs, tissue paper. There is also a directive to ensure that these items are dismantled to prevent reuse and protect passenger health.

5) Collect data, maintain it under close scrutiny and submit quarterly reports. This step allows the Safai Sena and Chintan to keep track of all their activities.

“As a result, the Railways have been able to ensure that out of the four tons of total waste collected per day at the NDLS, over 3.25 tons of waste is recycled; 2.5 tons is dry waste, and 0.75 tons is wet waste which is composted in situ,” says the book.

Also Read: Bengaluru NGO Turns Old Plastic Into Anti-Slippery & Recyclable Tiles You Can Walk On!

“Over four tonnes of waste are diverted every day from landfills through dry waste recycling and wet waste composting. It’s a non-financial transaction between Safai Sena and NDRS. Further it is self-sustainable, provides safe, secure and stable livelihoods to over 100 informal waste pickers. It also proves that the NDLS can take care of its waste in a sustainable manner which is scalable and replicable,” says Chitra Mukherjee, speaking to The Better India.

Yes, the NDLS isn’t the cleanest railway station, but thanks to the intervention of the Safai Sena and non-profits like Chintan, the situation on the ground has not merely witnessed discernible progress but also ensured that all the waste generated isn’t thrown away.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Are you someone who loves to curl up with a magazine during a train journey?

Well, there’s some excellent news for you!

Indian Railways has tied up with Magzter, a leading digital newsstand, to provide its customers access to over 5,000 bestselling magazines and handpicked newspapers from across the world.

“These magazines spread across more than 40 categories including automotive, business, comics, education, entertainment, fashion, fitness, lifestyle, news, politics, science, technology, and travel, thereby engaging everyone in the family from 6 to 60+ years of age,” the national transporter said in a statement.

With unlimited access to content from countries including India, the US, the UK, Singapore, Australia, Canada, and South Africa, IRCTC users can access this exclusive provision through their phones and tablets.

This attempt to facilitate literary engagement comes at a heavily discounted price.

In addition to the exclusive seven-day free trial package, the service comes with customised packages, that are quite affordable. Their price ranges from Rs 24 for a day, to Rs 589 for a year.

“More importantly, once the magazines are downloaded on the device they can be accessed even without an internet connection. This will come in handy when the users are travelling,” the statement added.

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With more than 11,500 magazines from over 4,000 publishers, Magzter claims to be the world’s largest and fastest growing digital magazine store and newsstand that has over 50 million consumers.

Besides prominent Indian English magazines, it has consolidated publications in regional languages including Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati and Urdu.

The facility is now functional on the IRCTC portal, and you can access it through your registered account.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Featured Image Source: Facebook.

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Laxman Singh, a 48-year-old, is a motorman with the Central Railway, and for him, ferrying passengers without delay takes precedence over everything else.

On 16 February, a few miscreants threw chilli powder into his eyes just after the CST-Titwala train he was piloting left the Kalwa station at 3.35 pm. However Singh powered through and drove on for 18 km in extreme physical pain, reports Mumbai Mirror.

He did not even apply the emergency brakes or leave the steering handle to stop the train since it was hurtling towards its next stop (Mumbra) at a speed of 95 kmph.

On reaching Mumbra, Singh was informed that a replacement was unavailable, so he carried on. During the remainder of the journey, he stopped at five stations and had the option to get someone to replace him, but decided to carry on as waiting for a replacement would have resulted in a delay of 30 minutes or more for the passengers.

His only focus was to ferry passengers on time, while in other parts of the city protesters had stopped trains demonstrating against the recent Pulwama terror attack.

The railway authorities finally found a replacement for him at the Kalyan station and rushed him to the hospital.

“I reached Kalyan at 4.12 pm and was rushed to the railway hospital where doctors confirmed [that] chilli powder had entered my eyes. The powder was thrown inside the motorman’s cabin between Kalwa and Mumbra and for a few seconds, I couldn’t open my eyes. But my training ensured that I was back at the controls,” said Singh to the Mumbai-based publication.

Also Read: New Delhi Railway Station Has Gone Waste-Free & Here’s How It Achieved This!

During the stretch from Mumbra to Kalyan, senior officials of the Central Railway supervised Singh, considering the perilous state of his eyes.

In fact, one doctor told the publication that Singh was fortunate to have escaped without any serious damage to his eyes and that he would only resume duty after he is fully fit.

Acknowledging Singh’s commitment to work, Sanjay Jain, the Central Railway DRM (Divisional Railway Manager) awarded him a cash prize of Rs 1000, and an appreciation certificate.

Thousands who had boarded that train may have no clue about Laxman Singh, but thanks to the motorman, they reached their destinations safe and sound, and on time.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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We have all carried home-cooked meals during train journeys at some point in our lives. And who wouldn’t, given the questionable quality of food served in the Indian Railways? Sadly, there are also those of us who have had to trust the train pantries.

So how would you like to see the food as it is being prepared in the train kitchens? Will it help in making pantry food more palatable to you?

To put an end to all speculations about hygiene and quality of food in the railway kitchens, Indian Railways is planning to install a transparent system which will allow passengers to access live feed online directly from the kitchens on how their food is being cooked and packed!

On Monday, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal launched a website, Rail Drishti Dashboard, reported NDTV.

“The portal will give out information about various trains, stations, and tickets sold. It will enable the public to watch live feed from IRCTC kitchens across the country,” Goyal said at a press conference at New Delhi’s Rail Bhavan.

Also Read: Here’s How ISRO Will Help The Railways Run Trains Efficiently, And On Time

The railway minister added that to ensure easy accountability, passengers can log in to the user-friendly website and closely observe the condition of every facility, and in case of any discrepancy, also lodge a complaint at the portal.

“Grievances of people will be taken care of and people can closely watch the 41 developments in the railways on the dashboard,” he told NDTV.

The dashboard offers information about services under 15 different categories including a 360-degree virtual tour of train routes, tracking of trains, freight earnings, expenditure incurred by the railways, etc. It will also display the entire income generated per day, week, month and year, in addition to the various achievements of the railways, Goyal informed.

“We are accountable to the needs and aspirations of the public. This platform brings us closer to the dream of a digital railway, which encourages transparency by bringing all the information in the public domain,” he told NDTV.

In addition to this, the Railways are also planning to roll out a new fully air-conditioned and smoke-free LHB pantry car to ensure hygiene.

It has been built with stainless steel interiors to ensure dust free and hygienic food is cooked and packed in the pantries. These pantries will also be equipped with electric hobs instead of gas for safety, along with water heaters, RO filters, deep freezers and chimneys.

Indian Railways have launched the portal to not only make people aware of the various ongoing projects undertaken by the railways.

A promising advancement indeed!

You can reach the portal at www.raildrishti.cris.org.in.

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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On Sunday evening, Jagbir Singh Rana, a 51-year-old constable of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) went beyond the call of duty to save the lives of a couple and three children.

Facts As Known

At around 9:00 pm, Constable Rana was patrolling the tracks between Adarsh Nagar and Aazadpur railway stations in New Delhi when he saw a couple arguing on a parallel track. At the same time, he noticed the Hoshiarpur Express approaching the couple, who were oblivious to the situation.

Constable Rana rushed towards the couple and succeeded in pushing them away from the approaching train. He also managed to step away just in time.

In the meantime, three children, who had come to dump garbage, were standing on another parallel track. Just as he became aware of their presence, he saw the Kalka Shatabdi approaching.

He shouted at the kids to move to safety, and they complied and stepped off the tracks. Unfortunately, he was unable to do so himself and was hit by the train.

Speaking to the Hindustan Times, an unnamed RPF officer said, “As told by witnesses and residents, when he reached signal number seven, he saw a couple arguing on the tracks. Rana spotted a Hoshiarpur Express train approaching the couple. Those who witnessed the incident said Rana ran towards the couple and alerted them. He pushed the man and the woman out of the train’s way and also stepped away from the track.

Meanwhile, three children from the neighbourhood, who had come to dump garbage near the tracks, were standing on another parallel track and were watching the couple fight. Suddenly, Rana heard a train blow its horn and realised that another train was approaching him and the kids. He shouted at the kids to move away. They managed to step off the tracks but Rana, even as he jumped away, was hit by the train.”

Rana is survived by his wife and two sons. While his family is understandably in shock, they have chosen to donate his eyes before taking the body to their village for the last rites.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Rana’s son Rohit, said, “My father worked day and night patrolling the railway tracks. The RPF and Northern Railways officials gave him utmost respect during his funeral. We donated his eyes as [they] will help another person.”

Rana’s service history

Rana had joined RPF in July 1989 and won the meritorious services award twice (2008,2009) in his 29 years of service. “His name will be sent to the President for the bravery award (posthumously),” said Director General RPF Arun Kumar to Hindustan Times.

We, at The Better India, salute this brave officer.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Is changing the boarding point on your IRCTC ticket always a pain? Well, we’ve got some good news for you!

According to a Times of India report, the railways have tweaked their rules regarding change of train’s boarding point.

Passengers will now be able to change their boarding point four hours before the departure time of the train, i.e., before the first chart is made.

How do you do that?

Passengers who are carrying a hard copy of their ticket can change their boarding station by writing a request to the originating station of the train.

Those who have e-tickets can change their boarding station via the IRCTC website before the first chart is prepared.

Passengers can even dial 139, which is the Railway Inquiry Number, and request the change before the preparation of the chart.

The report further adds that, as per a railway board directive to IRCTC circulated on March 15, 2019, the new rules imply that even after the boarding station is changed, the passenger will be allowed to travel from the old boarding station without having to pay an additional fare.

Please note, this is only in case the berth is vacant or the seat has not been given to another passenger.

Also, passengers will be allowed to change their boarding point only once.

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How is the rule different from existing rules you may ask?

Here’s a list of existing rules about the change of boarding point from the IRCTC website:

1) The boarding point change is allowed only once.

2) The boarding station can be changed before 24 hours of the scheduled departure of the train.

3) The change is not allowed if the ticket has been seized, or for PNRs with the VIKALP option.

4) The change is also not allowed for I-Tickets and current booking tickets.

The IRCTC website also says this:

“Passengers who have booked e-tickets can change [their] boarding station online before 24 hours of the scheduled departure of the train w.e.f. 28-Jan-2016. In case a passenger has changed the boarding point he will lose all the rights to board the train from the original boarding point. If found travelling without any proper authority to travel, the passenger will have to pay the fare with penalty between original boarding point to the changed boarding point.”

In light of the current rules, the revised rules will undoubtedly help passengers heave a sigh of relief. What do you think? Tell us in the comments section.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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With the installation of inverted umbrellas that harness solar energy and rainwater at the Guntakal railway station in Andhra Pradesh, the South Central Railway (SCR) has yet again shown its commitment towards providing a clean and green experience to its passengers.

These inverted umbrella canopies are also known as ‘Ulta Chaatas,’ and the railway station has six of these structures in its premises.

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Speaking to The Better India, Rakesh, the Chief Public Relations Officer at SCR says,

SCR has always been at the forefront of taking green initiatives. This step (of inverted umbrellas) is another unique initiative taken by SCR, which not only strengthens our ongoing water conservation efforts but also further enhances the aesthetics of our stations.

He adds that the primary intention of these canopies is to utilise the sustainable space and harness solar, renewable energy apart from other utilizations like mobile charging, laptop charging and seating arrangements.

The SCR has spent around 14 lakhs on this project. Each structure weighs about 120 kilos, and the umbrellas have been installed in the circulating area.

40-watt efficient LED lamps have been installed on each of the square-shaped canopies, which also comprise a lithium-ion battery, automated sensor controls and a monocrystalline flexible panel.

The lightweight panel can charge solar-compatible batteries which can be used in emergencies and to power devices and appliances. All units come with in-built inverters.

As for the water conservation part, each canopy can store 60,000 litres of water. The canopies will recharge the groundwater and also transport some of it to a tank.

“The water stored in tank will be used for non-potable purposes like washing, cleaning and gardening,” says Rakesh.

The inverted umbrella is an invention of a green technology startup ‘ThinkPhi’ founded by Samit Choksi and his wife, Priya Vakil Choksi.

As per the SCR, the Guntakal is the first railway station in India to have installed this unique combination of collecting water during monsoons and producing electricity from solar panels in the dry seasons.

Other Green Measures Taken By South Central Railway

Under the ‘Swachh Rail, Swachh Bharat’, Indian Railways is taking numerous steps, from banning plastic, installing plastic bottle crushers, converting wet waste into manure to introducing vertical gardens.

The SCR is actively trying to introduce sustainable measures in all its six divisions including Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Guntakal, Guntur and Nanded.

Secunderabad Railway Station has been Awarded Platinum Rating
by Indian Green Building Council – Confederation of Indian Industry (IGBC – CII) pic.twitter.com/jcQgsmqk3a

— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) May 23, 2018

For instance, in 2017, Secunderabad railway station was tagged as India’s first ‘Green Railway Station’ by the Indian Green Building Council – Confederation of Industry (IGBC-CII). The station uses organic fertilisers to grow 408 species of plants and trees in its premises.

It also has a solar plant that produces 2,500 units of power daily, meeting 37 per cent of the station’s energy needs. Other green initiatives include plastic bottle crushing machines, bio-toilets, rainwater harvesting pits and a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). Read more about the station here.

Kacheguda Railway station under the Hyderabad division has a de-compost and disposable water bottle crushing machine. While the compost machine processes 125 kilos of wet waste per day, the crushing machine recycles 2-3 kilos of waste plastic bottles daily.

Similar bottle crushers are also installed at Secunderabad and Nizamabad (Vijayawada division) stations.

With lakhs of passengers commuting every day across more than 8,000 railway stations, the waste generated, power consumption and water used, to maintain the platforms and tracks clean, is massive.

Accordingly, there is a dire need for all railway stations to establish an infrastructure that uses less natural resources and lightens the pressure on the environment.

In this regard, the other railways can certainly take lessons from the South Central Railway.

Also Read: New Move by Railways: Soon Watch Movies, Soap Operas for Free on Mumbai Locals!

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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I recently travelled by the Tejas express from Chennai to Trichy, and one of the highlights of this service is the amount of food that the passengers are given.

It’s honestly not possible to finish it all, and there is almost always wastage.

This cool device easily fits on to your tap to save a significant amount of water. Save on your water bill, and help conserve the most precious resource on the planet.

In a bid to address this particular issue, Railway Minister, Piyush Goyal, recently installed a public refrigerator at the Hubballi railway station in Karnataka.

The fridge stands tall at six-feet and has four racks in it–the first two racks will have cooked food, while the other two will store vegetables and fruits.

Now, instead of disposing of surplus food, passengers and staff can leave it in this fridge, and any needy person has access to it.

While this is a great move and will benefit many, here are five tips to ensure a zero-waste train journey.

1. Carry your own water bottle

Nowadays, most trains give their passengers a bottle of water when they board. However, it is also true that everything depends on demand and supply. If we all start saying no to the plastic bottle that they give us, there will come a time when they do away with it completely.

The market now is filled with alternate options – steel, clay, or even glass. So look for one that suits your need the best and carry it during your travels. You will always find points to refill the bottle.

Here are some eco-friendly water bottle options.

2. E-tickets

There’s no denying that one feels most comfortable and at ease carrying a printout of a ticket. However, just downloading it onto your phone will go a long way in preserving the environment. Not just the tickets but also your itinerary and other important travel documents can all be saved on your phone or hand-held device for both convenience and to save paper. Given that all these printed tickets eventually end up in the bin, refraining from using them will help a great deal.

3. Say NO to disposable plastic

Just saying no to using disposable plastic is perhaps the only way we can stop our dependence on it. If during your travel you are handed over a plastic spoon or a straw, refuse to accept it. When you are going to be travelling by either train or flight, why not carry your own cutlery – a spoon, a steel straw, if you absolutely need one.

You could consider looking at some options right here.

4. Carry your own snack

Travelling is synonymous with snacking. While the market is flooded with unhealthy snacking options that are all usually packaged in plastic, we must consciously try and stay away from them. Even if you do opt to buy snacks during your travel, ensure that you responsibly dispose of the plastic wrapper.

In case you wish to purchase some healthy snacks, click here for a wide range of options.

5. Say NO to environmentally harmful products

The ease of reaching out for a wet wipe is not just convenient but has become almost second nature to us. Carrying these wipes while travelling further adds to the convenience. Given that these wipes are plastic in origin, they are non-biodegradable and thus add to the pollution, creating irreversible environmental issues.

According to this report, the polyester found in baby wipes account for around 35 per cent of plastic pollution, and many environmental agencies have even come forward to stop its usage.

So what’s the alternative? Well, opt for environment-friendly wipes instead. Find some wonderful options, here.

These are just a few tips that if followed, can go a long way in helping the environment last longer.

Also read: OTP Frauds on the Rise: If You Rely on Digital Payments, Here’s How to Protect Yourself!

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Harvesting 1,000 litres of drinking water per day from thin air? Yes, you heard that right.

The South Central Railway division of the Indian Railways has installed an ‘atmospheric water generator’ kiosk at the Secunderabad Railway Station in Telangana.

Worried about the lack of clean drinking water while you are on the go? Fret not, here’s a portable water filter that will give you clean drinking water, anywhere, anytime!

Called the ‘Meghdoot,’ this atmospheric water generator (AWG), has been developed and manufactured in India by Hyderabad-based startup Maithri Aquatech.

For M Ramakrishna, the MD of the company, the inspiration for the Meghdoot came from watching people suffer around him because of the unavailability of potable water.

The solution, he believed, would be one which is self-sustaining, eco-friendly and low cost. In the process, he discovered that the answer was staring right at him—air.

“Air is sucked into the system through an electrostatic filter. Subsequently, cooled coils located in the path of air provide a temperature differential between the air and the coil surface resulting in condensation. Water is then passed through various filters to remove solids and to remove any odour and any bacterial content. The water produced is pure and free of any biological/chemical contamination,” says Ramakrishna, speaking to Economic Times.

What’s the principle of AWG?

“An AWG or atmospheric water harvester is a device that uses [the] dehumidification principle to generate drinking water out of moisture present in the air. The Atmospheric water generator captures the humidity in the air and condenses by cooling the humid ambient air below its dew point, along with pressurizing the air or exposing the air to desiccants to make water. The AWG channels water vapour towards an evaporation system in a confined sanitary environment before it exposed to pollution” reads the company website.

Also Read: 45-YO Kerala Farmer Conserves 6 Crore Litres of Water/Year, Revives 35 Wells!

“The Meghdoot portable atmospheric water generator is the premium-quality drinking water equipment that generates water by condensing vapour with the help of high-efficiency filters. The moisture is drawn through the double-layered anti-bacterial air filters and ionized before converting into pure water. The collected water is then subjected to pre and post charcoal filtration process to make water free from all-set of impurities,” it goes onto add.

The water produced is further treated with Ozone. The startup goes onto claim that there is no water wastage, unlike RO devices and desalination systems. The machine contains two filters of 1 micron and 12 microns to filter suspended particles floating in the air unseen by the naked eye. Meanwhile, to produce 1 litre of water, only 0.3 units of energy is required.

What do passengers have to pay for this water?

Anywhere between Rs 2 to Rs 8, according to recent media reports. If you carry your bottle, you pay Rs 5. But if you need a bottle as well, it will cost you Rs 8. Meanwhile, for a glass measuring 300 ML, it would cost passengers Rs 3 and Rs 2 depending on whether the passenger carries their own glass. Similarly, for a 500 ML glass, it would cost Rs 5 or Rs 3 depending on whether you’re carrying your own glass.

For commuters passing through the Secunderabad Railway Station, this could prove to be a boon and offers them alternative choices to the bottled water sold in the station.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Early last year, Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer Sanjay Kumar was at the Jhansi station in Madhya Pradesh, when he saw a small boy wrapped under his mother’s shawl.

“He was coughing loudly. The mother was desperately trying to wrap herself and her child with that one shawl. It was a heartbreaking scene, and somehow stayed with me,” says Sanjay, to The Better India.

Thus, when the harsh winters hit North India this time, Sanjay decided to do something for the economically disadvantaged rail passengers who can’t afford warm clothes.

“Passengers travelling in air-conditioned compartments barely face any issues during the winters. They receive adequate linen, and the temperature is generally maintained in their compartments. But for those travelling in sleeper class, particularly the general compartment where windows are left open, it gets really cold when the train picks up speed,” says the officer posted as assistant traffic manager overseeing the Tundla sub-division in Uttar Pradesh.

This sub-division comes under the Allahabad Division of North Central Railway Zone and covers a route extending from Ghaziabad to one station before Kanpur. There are 59 stations on this route.

Two weeks ago, Sanjay started an initiative by setting up a stall at prominent spots on the platform of most stations called ‘Neki Ki Deewar’ (Wall of Good) where you can donate warm clothing like jackets, scarves, sweaters and shawls.

Those in the general compartment in need of warm clothing can pick up whatever they want from these stalls. An important detail is that the anonymity of those donating or taking these clothes is maintained.

“These stalls have been put up at prominent spots across most stations on this route. We put more emphasis on shawls because anyone can use them since sweaters or jackets may not fit. We are encouraging people to hang at least one shawl there,” he says.

Sanjay mentions that in addition to his staff, who wholeheartedly participated in this initiative and even collected clothes from outside, passengers have also been extremely generous.

“Generally when it comes to donating, people often give away surplus clothes or the ones they do not need. But there was one particular passenger who donated a very costly jacket. I don’t know his or her motives for giving away the jacket, but I saw this as respecting the dignity of those who can’t afford warm clothes instead of giving away some old or ragged item. The mindset must be of helping someone else instead of simply giving away something useless,” adds Sanjay.

It’s an initiative other railway officials, particularly those posted in very cold climes where migrant labourers from UP and Bihar undergo long journeys to Rajasthan, Gujarat or Mumbai in search of work, should take up if possible.

“Watching this initiative coming to fruition has given me the feeling that working in the railways isn’t merely about transporting people or goods from one place to another. It’s a social organization as well. Instead of measuring the performance of railways solely in terms of how much income or profit they generated, we must also consider how we perform while taking care of people, particularly the vulnerable, whom we are responsible for. As a service, we’re not merely helping them move, but helping them move comfortably,” argues Sanjay.

Sanjay mentions that the initiative has reminded him about why he joined civil services and plans on running this programme for another month. More interestingly, he will look to run this initiative again before the winter sets in next year as well.

Kudos to him!

Also Read: 11 Years, 40,000 Trees & a ‘Crazy’ Hero: Meet Chitrakoot’s Tree Man

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Every year, the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) issues a notification about the vacancies across India. In this article, we bring you information about the Western Central Railway (WCR), Bhopal, and its 200 vacancies.

What does an Apprentice do?

The Indian Railway Establishment Manual defines as ‘apprentice’ as a person deputed for training in a trade or business with for employment in Government service, who draws a monthly stipend from the government during such training but is not employed in or against a substantive vacancy in the cadre of a department.

The key takeaways from this definition:

• This is a temporary training position
• The candidate will be drawing a stipend and not a salary
• This training could translate into a permanent position at a later stage

Qualifications

• The candidate must have cleared class 10/12 examinations
• Or a valid degree from Industrial Training Institute (ITI) institutions recognised by the National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT)/ State Council of Vocational Training (SCVT)
• Or have a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC) granted by the NCVT in any given trade
• As of 21-01-2020, eligibility as per age is from 15-24 years
• The merit list will consider the average percentage of marks obtained by the candidates in their class 10 examination

Important dates

• Candidates can apply online from 27 January 2020
• The last date of registration is 26 February 2020, which is also the last day for submission of fee
• The exam date and the date on which the admit card will be issued will be notified soon.

Things to know

• Fill out correct and accurate information in the application form
• You will also have to upload a photograph, your signature, and ID proof along with the form
• Before you submit the form, do go through it to make sure that there are no errors
• You will also have to pay the application fee to complete the submission
• Do take a print out of the final form for future reference

Important links

1. If you wish to apply online, click here
2. You can make an online payment for the application form here
3. The official notification can be downloaded here
4. The official Western Central Railway website can be accessed here

Positions available

• Electrician: 60 (General: 27, Other Backward Class (OBC): 16, Scheduled Caste (SC): 08, Scheduled Tribe (ST): 04, Economically Weaker Section (EWS): 05
• Computer Operator and Programming Assistant (COPA): 10 (General: 06, OBC: 02, SC: 01, ST: 00, EWS: 01)
• Secretarial Assistant: 05 (General: 04, OBC: 01)
• Painter: 30 (General: 14, OBC: 08, SC: 04, ST: 02, EWS: 02)
• Fitter: 50 (General: 22, OBC: 13, SC: 07, ST: 03, EWS: 05)
• Mechanic Repair and Maintenance of Vehicle: 10 (General: 06, OBC: 02, SC: 01, ST: 00, EWS: 01)
• Welder (Gas and Electric): 20 (General: 10, OBC: 05, SC: 03, ST: 01, EWS: 01)
• Driver cum Mechanic: 05 (General: 04, OBC: 01)
• Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Programmer cum Operator: 10 (General: 06, OBC: 02, SC: 01, ST: 00, EWS: 01)

Also Read: New Move by Railways: Soon Watch Movies, Soap Operas for Free on Mumbai Locals!

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The Central Railway has invited applications for the post of Junior Technical Associate. If you are interested in applying for this job, please read on.

Important Dates:

There are 37 vacant posts and the last date to apply is 6 March 2020. 

The job will be on a contractual basis that will last till 11 November 2020. 

Age & Education Criteria

Aspirants should have a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a combination of any sub- stream of basic streams of Civil Engineering from a recognised university. 

OR

A 3-year Diploma in Civil Engineering or BSc in Civil Engineering Or a combination of any sub- stream of basic streams of Civil Engineering from a recognised university.

As for the age limit, the candidate should not be more than 33 years. Age relaxation is possible for candidates applying through reservation quota. 

Selection Criteria

The candidate will be marked based on educational qualifications (55 marks), work experience (30 marks) and personality/intelligence test (15 marks).

The personality test will assess the candidate’s technical knowledge, project management, communication skills, and so on. 

How to Apply

• Open the ‘registration’ link on the official website of CR-Construction Department.
• Enter your registration details like name, date of birth, Aadhaar number, contact, and so on. 
• The email ID you use for registration must be yours.
• Once you submit the application, a unique registration number and Security Code will be generated. 
• Using that ID and number, log in for the online application here. 
• Fill in the necessary details like educational qualification, work experience, residence address and so on
• For the payment of fees, only Demand Draft-offline mode is available (Rs 500 for general category and Rs 250 for the non-general category).
• Upload a colour passport size photo (taken against a white/light colour background with the following dimensions: 35 mm x 45 mm or 320 x 240 pixels) in a JPG/JPEG format.
• Upload scanned signature (50 mm x 20 mm size in JPG/JPEG format).
• Upload relevant documents.
• Submit the form and download it or take a copy for future record.
• Send the Demand Draft with your registration number on the address mentioned in the notification before 13 March along with the downloaded application form. 

Click here to know more about the process. 

To know more about job-specific details, click here.

Also Read: Technicians, Technical Assistants & More Job Vacancies at ISRO: Here’s How to Apply

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES), under the Ministry of Railways, has invited applications on their website for 35 civil engineer posts.

Interested candidates can apply on a two-year contractual basis before 23 March 2020.

The candidate should be B.E/B. Tech/B. Sc in Civil engineering with a minimum of 60 per cent to be eligible.

They should also have a minimum experience of two years in Earthwork/ Bridge/ Pre-stressed Concrete Casting yard/ Track work/ Safety / Quality etc of Railway/ Metro/ National Highway/ State Highway

As for age criteria, the candidate should not be more than 40.

The shortlisted candidates will be invited for a written exam (in Hindi or English), interview and a medical test.

The application fee is Rs 600 for applicants in the general category and Rs 300 for a person under the reserved category.

How to Apply

• Click on ‘online registration’ under the career section or

• Click here for the direct link

• Fill the necessary details

• Pay the fees and submit the form

• Download or print the form for future reference

The approximate annual CTC for the post of Engineer is Rs 8 lakhs.

Please Note: Remuneration mentioned above is only indicative. Actual remuneration shall depend upon the place of posting and other terms & conditions of appointment.

Click here to read the full notification

Featured image source: Piyush Goyal/Twitter

Also Read: Indian Railways Jobs: Check Out Vacancies, Eligibility, How to Apply & Dates

Edited by Saiqua Sultan

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It’s been a long lockdown period for us in India—51 days, to be precise. While some state governments have started allowing industries and other non-essential services to resume, life has not gone back to normalcy yet. There are several debates on what the ‘new normal’ will look like, post this lockdown.

On Sunday, 10 May, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal who announced via a tweet that the Indian Railways would gradually resume passenger train operations from 12 May. Initially, there will be 15 pairs of trains (30 return journeys) plying every day.

Railways plans to gradually restart passenger train operations from 12th May, 2020, initially with 15 pairs of special trains connecting New Delhi with major stations across India. Booking in these trains will start at 4 pm on 11th May.https://t.co/DW9I1sPRx6

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) May 10, 2020

What does this mean?

• There are 15 pairs (30 trips) of special trains that will function from New Delhi Station connecting Dibrugarh, Agartala, Howrah, Patna, Bilaspur, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Secunderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Madgaon, Mumbai Central, Ahmedabad and Jammu Tawi.

How to book a ticket?

• Those who wish to travel can do so by booking their ticket from 4 pm on 11 May 2020 on the official IRCTC website only.
• Trains, schedules and all other details will be released soon.
• Indian Railways shall soon start more special services on new routes, based on the availability of coaches.

How much will a ticket cost?

• Do note that there will be no concession that will be made to the cost of the tickets.
• The fares of these trains will be equivalent to that of Rajdhani trains.
• All these trains will be air-conditioned and will be available at a premium fare.
• In case a booked ticket needs to be cancelled, the same can be done only via the IRCTC website. Passengers need not go to the station or approach any agent for the same.

Things to know:

• The ticket booking counters at stations will remain closed and no counter tickets, including platform tickets, will be issued.
• Only those passengers with valid confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter the railway stations.
• It will be mandatory for all passengers to wear a face cover at all times, during the journey as well as when they are in the station.
• All passengers will have to undergo screening at the station, and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to travel.
• Passengers travelling in these trains will not be given linen and blankets to curtail the spread of the virus.
• The air conditioning within the compartments will be maintained at a slightly higher temperature.

This move has most certainly brought in a lot of respite and relief to all those who are away from their homes at this period.

Do follow only the official government channels for any further announcement on this matter.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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After a gap of over two months due to the countrywide lockdown, passenger train services have partially resumed from today, 1 June 2020.

200 trains are set to operate with AC and Non AC coaches. According to a tweet by the Ministry of Railways, more than 1.45 lakh passengers will travel on the first day.

These special trains are in addition to the Shramik trains, which are being used to transport stranded migrant labourers.

Tickets can be booked online through the IRCTC website or mobile app. They can also be booked through reservation counters, Common Service Centres, and IRCTC ticketing agents.

Indian Railways has also issued fresh guidelines for rail passengers, take a look:

Passenger Guidelines:

• Passengers must arrive at the station 90 minutes in advance. They will be compulsorily screened and only those found to be asymptomatic will be allowed to travel.
• If during screening, a passenger is found to have a high temperature or symptoms of COVID-19, he/she will not be allowed to travel. In such cases, a full refund will be provided if:
  – PNR has a single passenger.
  – On a party ticket, if one person is found unfit to travel and other passengers on the same PNR do not wish to travel. If other passengers on the same PNR want to travel, a full refund shall be granted only to the passenger who was not allowed to board.
• Face covers/mask and practise of social distancing is mandatory at all times.
• Use of the Arogya Setu App is a must

Boarding Guidelines

• Along with fully confirmed and RAC passengers, partially waitlisted ticket holders (if in single PNR there are both confirmed and WL passengers) will be allowed.
• Waitlisted passengers will not be allowed.
• The first chart will be prepared at least four hours before the scheduled departure and the second chart will be prepared at least two hours before scheduled departure.
• No Unreserved Tickets (UTS) will be issued and no tickets will be issued on board. There will be no unreserved coach on the train.

Catering and Other services:

• Passengers are encouraged to carry adequate food and water. However, limited food items and packaged drinking water will be available on payment basis. This is available only in certain trains with attached pantry cars.
• Provision for pre-paid meal booking and e-catering shall be disabled.
• Linen and blankets will not be provided on trains.
• At the railway station, food plazas may offer takeaway service.
• Stand-alone shops and vending units at railway stations will remain open.

Other important announcements from Indian Railways:

• For the first time in Indian Railways’ history, TTEs will be on duty without their customary black coats and ties. Instead, they will wear masks, gloves, PPEs and check tickets using a magnifying glass.
• The advance reservation period has been extended from 30 days to 120 days.
• People with comorbidities, pregnant women, children below age 10 and adults above 65 years are requested to avoid travel.

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

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Indian Railways made history on 16 April 1853 by launching its first-ever passenger train on a 34-kilometre journey from Mumbai to Thane, carrying 400 people.

Cut to 2020, 167 years later, India has the world’s third-largest railways network operated on a total length of 127,760 km. It has 7,000 stations, 1.3 million employees, and a carrying capacity of 24 million on an everyday basis.

A by-product of the British Raj, railways were established when traders from the UK came to India in search of the cotton crop. Since the rich crop was produced in various parts of undivided India, traders found it difficult to transport them to ports that would eventually take it to England through ships.

In 1843, Lord Dalhousie proposed to establish a link between ports of Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras by rail.

On his direction, George T Clarke, an engineer, started studying the hinterland routes. A few years later, the Great Indian Peninsula Railway was formed. The GIPR, a predecessor of the Central Railway, signed a formal contract with the East India Company to construct and operate a railway line connecting Khandesh in the Bombay presidency and Berar in Hyderabad.

Under the leadership of James John Berkeley, the Chief Resident Engineer, India’s first passenger train was started.

This gave birth to what would be called ‘India’s lifeline’–the railways.

While India’s first passenger ran in 1853, the electric train was not far behind. In 1925, an electric train with four cars was flagged off by then Bombay Governor Sir Leslie Orme Wilson. It ran from Bombay VT (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai) to Coorla (now Kurla) on harbour line.

Over the years, the staggering network became the pride of our country.

But did you know what India’s first locomotive engine looked like? Or how Mumbai’s Churchgate station looked without the millions of people travelling every day?

We, at The Better India, have collated some of the finest pictures of Indian railway’s glorious past:

(Edited by Shruti Singhal)

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Amitabh Banerjee, chairman and managing director, Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) recently said that the IRFC Initial Public Offering (IPO) of around ₹4,600 crores will hit the markets by the end of December.

The IRFC IPO will see a sale of 178.21 crore equity shares, comprising a fresh issue of 118.80 crore equity shares, and an offer for sale of 59.4 crore equity shares by the Government of India, as per the draft prospectus. 

IRFC is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) owned by the Government of India through the Ministry of Railways. The company is registered with the Reserve Bank of India under the category of an “Infrastructure Finance Company”.

The market listing of IRFC is historic as it will be the first IPO by a non-banking financial company (NBFC) in the public sector.

“In all probability, it will be by the third week but, if the market is not okay then we can go to the first or second week of January also….We are the first NBFC in the PSU sector that is going public for the first time and we shall be paving the way for others,” Amitabh told PressTrust of India. 

Here are five facts to know: 

• How to apply? 

Just like every other IPO, one can apply via the Applications Supported by Blocked Amount (ASBA) available in your bank. Other options include IPO forms. 

The company shares are likely to be listed on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India. 

• Is IRFC IPO risk-free? 

Amitabh told Business Today that the IRFC IPO is a risk-free business model, as all the lease rentals were integrated into the Union Budget.  

“How much lease rentals are to be paid to IRFC are earmarked in the Budget, so these lease rentals make for assured revenues for us. It is more than the government guarantees. We don’t even have to invoke the guarantee because any default in the repayment of rentals will tantamount to sovereign default, which is unlikely,” he said.

• Role of anchor investors 

The concept of anchor investors was launched in 2009 by the Securities Boards and Exchange. These are institutional investors who are invited to invest before the IPO is listed for the public. Anchors purchase shares at a fixed rate to ensure steady demand for the shares and also instil confidence in the public. 

The IRFC will also have anchor investors in place who will get the desired portion of issuance without bidding. 

“They will be able to get the amount that they want to invest in IRFC without going for the bidding route. Also, it will give a lot of confidence to other investors in the market who are sitting on the fence,” Amitabh said.

• Role of book running lead managers

IRFC collaborated with lead managers (merchant bankers or syndicate members) to decide the price or price band of an IPO on the basis of extensive market research and roadshows. 

The lead managers also draft and design offer documents, prospectus, statutory advertisements and memorandum of the IPO. 

The book running lead managers of IRFC are DAM Capital Advisors, HSBC Securities and Capital Markets, ICICI Securities and SBI Capital Markets.

• How does IRFC benefit railways? 

Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) was set up on 12 December 1986 as the dedicated financing arm of the Indian Railways for mobilising funds from domestic as well as overseas Capital Markets.

It is important to note here that even though the funds are raised for the railways, it cannot go directly to them. It means the acquired assets will be kept in IRFC’s books. The depreciation benefit on such assets will be leased to Indian Railways for a certain period. In return, the IRFC  will get lease rentals on an annual basis. 

The funds are also utilised to purchase rolling stock assets like locomotives, coaches, wagons, trucks, flats, electric multiple units, containers and so on. 

To increase its net worth, 10 per cent of the IPO proceeds will go to IRFC’s balance sheet. This will help the firm raise more money from the market. 

Amitabh adds that the IPO will further enhance the company’s value and bring in better corporate governance norms, “That will bring in more transparency in the working of the company,” he said. 

Edited by Yoshita Rao 

The Northern Railway Recruitment Board (NRRB) on 21 January released a notification regarding walk-in-interviews for Senior Resident posts. The NRRB has invited 32 applications for the post. Those candidates who get shortlisted will be getting a salary based on the Matrix Level 11, which has been revised pay as per 7th CPC (Central Pay Commission) at entry-level.

Things to know:

• There is one post each available for Microbiology, Ophthalmology, Oncology, Orthopaedics and Paediatrics fields.
• Two posts each available for the following specialisations — Anaesthesia, ENT, OBS and Gynae, Pathology and Radiology.
• Five posts in General Surgery are vacant and 12 posts for General Medicine.

Eligibility:

• Those wishing to apply should have a post-graduation degree or a post-graduate diploma in the concerned speciality.
• The degree should be completed from a recognised institution or college by the Medical Council of India (MCI) or by the National Board of Examinations (NBE).

Age limit

• Age as on the date of the notification dated 15 January 2021 should be under 37 years (General/UR), 40 years (OBC) and 42 years (SC/ST).
• According to government norms, age relation will be given for reserved category candidates.

Payscale:

• The candidates will get a pay scale of Rs 67,700 to 2,08,700, depending on their speciality.

How to apply:

The eligible candidates can appear for walk-in-interviews which will be held on 28 January and 29 January at Auditorium, Central Hospital between 8.30am and 11.00am.

Candidates should carry their relevant documents for the interview. To view the official notification and download application form, click here.

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)

Millions of travellers use the Indian Railways every day. Traversing tunnels, bridges and some truly stunning terrains, its numerous routes span the length and breadth of India. But perhaps no part of the system is more impressive than the tracks that brought rail service to isolated communities in the rugged Himalayas.

Did you know that the narrow-gauge Kalka-Shimla Railway has the steepest incline or that it delves through 102 tunnels, the largest of which is over 1,000 metres long? The UNESCO heritage toy train also crosses 864 bridges and viaducts while chugging through forests of maple, deodar and pine.

And yet few Indians know about the man who is believed to have played a pivotal role in building this outstanding feat of engineering. We are talking about Bhalku Ram, a shepherd whose guidance helped the British lay the Kalka-Shimla railway track.

The Baba Bhalku Rail Museum set up by the Northern Railways in Shimla is named after him.

Statue of Baba Bhalku at the Shimla Railway Station
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

The light at the end of the tunnel

Bhalku Ram’s story begins in 1903 when the Shimla-Kalka railway track was being laid under the supervision of Colonel S Barog, a British engineer. To create the longest tunnel on the route, Barog got his team to begin digging from both ends only to find that he had made a gross error in calculating the alignment.

His mistake attracted a sharp reprimand and a fine of Re 1 from the British government for wasting their time and resources. Col. Barog felt so humiliated that he committed suicide.

Locals believe that the engineer was buried somewhere near the incomplete tunnel, which can still be seen about a kilometre away from the completed one.
Col Barog and his team
Photo Source: Mysterious Himachal

His successor, Chief Engineer HS Harrington, faced the same problem. That’s when Bhalku Ram, a humble shepherd from Jhajha village near Chail, offered to help Harrington build the tunnel.

There are no records available on whether Harrington found Bhalku first or vice versa. But what is well-known is that Bhalku joined the British team of engineers and soon became the most important man in it.

Legend has it that ‘Baba Bhalku’—as he was called by locals, respectfully—would tap the walls of the mountain with his solid wooden staff. Listening to the sounds produced, he would then mark out points for Harrington’s team to dig.

Under his guidance, the British finally managed to complete the 1143.61-metre-long tunnel which is today known as the Barog tunnel (no 33). Needless to say, Bhalku and his extraordinary skills were then employed to build the rest of the tunnels on this route.

Tunnel No 33 at the Barog Railway Station
Photo Source: Mysterious Himachal

For his efforts, the British Viceroy presented Bhalku Ram with a medal and turban that are still treasured by his family. It is also said that after the completion of the Kalka-Shimla track in 1903, Bhalku went on a pilgrimage, from which he never returned.

Interestingly, there are several plaques in Shimla’s Baba Bhalku Rail Museum, in which glowing testimonials have been poured on ‘Balkoo’ by British officers.

Here’s one by Lieutenant Colonel H Moore, dated October 17, 1875:

“All I can say is that I have known Balkoo for the last 14 years; that he is not only an excellent public servant but a highly esteemed and excellent man, whose charity and benevolence is known throughout the hills to all.”

Another testimonial issued by Major RM Lang in 1875 says, “He has an instinctive aptitude for selecting the best line for a road across the precipitous country.” While Deputy Commissioner of Hill States, WM Hay, wrote, “I should be sorry to leave the Simla hills without giving my friend Balkoo a few lines testifying to his values as a government servant. A most indefatigably industrious, single-minded, and honest man.”

So, the next time you visit Shimla, drop in at the Baba Bhalku Rail Museum and pay your respects to the forgotten shepherd who helped build one of India’s most challenging railway projects.

Read More: Konkan Railway: An Incredible yet Little Known Indian Success Story

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)