May 05, 2006 07:06 PM
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(Updated May 05, 2006 07:12 PM)
History of Indian Railway
History of Indian Railway began on 22 Dec 1851 when a goods train started. First passenger train started on 16 Apr 1953 between Mumbai and Thane. Thus for more than 150 years Indian Railway is serving us nicely. Since then Indian Railway had grown slowly and steadily. In 1952 Zonal system had been introduced in Railway with total Six Zones. With the development, it has reached to total 17 zones.
Current Status
In 17 zones, Indian railway is having more than 8700 passenger trains. It is covering all states except Sikkim. Indian Railway provides many suburban railway services in major cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi & Hyderabad. Railway is one of the most preferred transportation medium. A normal passenger train consists of eighteen coaches where 9 coaches are sleeper class; 3-5 are air-conditioned coaches. A normal passenger sleeper coach accommodates 60 to 72 passengers. Indian Railways makes 70% of its revenues and most of its profits from the freight sector. Indian Railways operates with 7,500 + Engines; 37,800 + passenger coaches and 222000 + wagons. There are 6,850 + stations and 700 + repair shops. Indian
Railway maintains total workforce of 15,40,000 largest employer in the world.
Railway - Lalu Prasad & Their achievements
Indian railway was running in losses since years. It had been taken as granted that this PSU can never be a profit making undertaking for Indian government. But Lalu Prasad Yadav has proven this wrong. He has presented figures where Indian Railway has made profit for year 2004-05. He has also presented 2006 budget with Rs 56,000 cr income and Rs 7000 Cr profit. Look at his amazing initiatives for Indian Railway
# e-ticketing and SMS booking of tickets
# Any holder of a wait-listed ticket can be allotted accommodation in a higher class with no extra charges.
# Tatkal tickets can be booked three days in advance and higher tatkal charges.
# Commercial use of Railway land for food, entertainment and other purpose.
# Surprise checking at railway stations for staff attendance, weights of consignments and etc.
# Name and number of Vigilance officers published in News papers for any complaints.
Believe me Lalu Prasad Yadav is a smart man and having capacity of working like a CEO of a company. It is the cast politics of Bihar which forced him to behave like a villager. This fact is acknowledged by IIM - A professor and students. They have noticed the turned around happened with Indian Railway. They visited Lalu Prasad and discussed the topic. They are going to add a case study on Indian Railway in their syllabus.
Challenge in front of Railway
I like to mention this in few lines only that’s why I am giving main points only - Crime, Accidents, Ticket less Traveling, Underweight Fares of goods, Overcrowding at one place and empty railway at other place. Let’s see how Lalu prasad yadav resolves this issues.
Trivia :
With 150 + years of history and 8700 + trains Indian Railway is full of Trivia. I collects few for you :
# Mumbai's suburban railway is the densest route in the world. It is attending 65 lakh passengers daily. The density of passengers in peak hours is 15 people per sq meter.
# The Fairy Queen is the oldest running locomotive in the world today.
# The shortest named station is Ib and the longest is Sri Venkatanarasimharajuvariapeta.
# Kharagpur railway station is the world's longest railway platform at 1072 m.
# The Himsagar Express (between Kanyakumari and Jammu Tawi) has the longest run 3745 km.
# The Bhopal Shatabdi Express is the fastest train in India a maximum speed of 140 km/h
# The Busiest railway Stations are as following with trains per day. Delhi + New Delhi 120, Lucknow 65, Ahmedabad 60
# Would you believe there is an official website of fans of Indian Railway : https://irfca.org
Indian Railway on World Map :
# Indian railway has 3 World Heritage Site - The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, The Nilgiri Mountain Railway & the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway.
# ''The Palace on Wheels'' is world famous tourism train of Rajasthan which is loved by people across the globe.
# The Samjhauta Express & Thar Express running from India to Pakistan is also cherished by world.
# May 1974 Indian Railway Strike (appx 15 lakh people joined the strike) for 20 days is one of the worlds biggest strike till date. (Imagine a railway strike today like SBI strike, India may get chock up.)
