Rly board member visits IRITM
He emphasized the importance of operational efficiency and the growing focus on business development within railways.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Rs 2,450cr revamp of Mumbai's iconic railway station hits piling hurdle
Mumbai: The ambitious Rs 2,450-crore redevelopment of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) — Central Railway's showpiece station — is facing early engineering hurdles, with piling work progressing at a sluggish pace, drawing ire. Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, Satish Kumar, recently reviewed the status of the project, which was tendered by the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA). The redevelopment is being executed by Ahluwalia Contracts Limited, with the plan approved by Central Railway on Dec 19, 2022. Railway officials have expressed dissatisfaction over the delay, attributing it to the inability of contractors to deploy heavy piling rigs due to physical constraints at the site. Sources said that only 15 percent progress was achieved on the project as against the expected 50 percent. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Narrow platform widths and the presence of overhead electrical (OHE) wires are preventing the entry of large-sized piling rigs that could have expedited the foundation work. As a result, smaller machines are being used, but these are significantly slower. "Each pile up to 20 metres deep is taking nearly 4 to 5 days. That's much longer than what was estimated during the planning stage," said a senior railway official. According to officials, around 30 piles need to be laid, with each pile spaced at least 15 metres apart for a platform of roughly 600 metres in length. The original plan estimated four to five hours per pile with high-powered machines, but space constraints have stretched that to three to four days for each pile. Work on platforms 12 and 13 is complete, while piling on platforms 10 and 11 is currently in progress. The piling work is essential to lay the foundation for columns of the revamped station building and deck. Work is being carried out mostly during non-peak hours to avoid disruption to suburban and long-distance train services, but this restricted window is further slowing progress. The current pace of work has raised concern within the Railway Board as well. "We are reviewing the timeline and work methodology with the contractor. If the current situation persists, a revision of key milestones cannot be ruled out," said an official familiar with the matter. A senior railway officer also pointed out that both RLDA and Ahluwalia Contracts should have anticipated these engineering and site-specific constraints during the bidding process. "These are not unforeseen issues. The platform dimensions and OHE restrictions were known factors. It was expected that the bid would account for such practical challenges," the officer said. The redevelopment covers an expansive area of 4,61,534 square metres, including 2,79,507 square metres of new construction, 1,30,912 square metres for renovation, 37,703 square metres of open area adjacent to the terminus, and an additional 13,412 square metres for various constructions. Once complete, the revamped CSMT will feature multiple access points, facilitating seamless connectivity between suburban railways, the harbour line, long-distance trains, and commercial zones. These enhancements aim to decongest the station while preserving and elevating its heritage appeal. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
The Print
8 hours ago
- The Print
Railways launches festive round-trip scheme with 20% rebate on return tickets
New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways has announced an experimental 'Round Trip Package for Festival Rush' scheme aimed at easing passenger congestion and ensuring smoother travel during the upcoming festive season. According to a Railway Board circular issued on August 8, 2025, the scheme offers a 20 per cent rebate on the base fare of the return journey for passengers booking confirmed tickets for both onward and return travel for the same set of passengers, class, and origin-destination pair. The initiative aims to redistribute crowding, facilitate hassle-free bookings, and enhance the utilisation of train services, including special trains, in both directions. Under the scheme, bookings will open on August 14, 2025, for onward journeys scheduled between October 13 and October 26, 2025. The corresponding return journey must be booked using the connecting journey feature for travel between November 17 and December 1, 2025. Advance reservation period norms will not apply to the return journey booking. The scheme will be valid across all classes and trains, except those operating with flexi-fare pricing, and will only apply to confirmed tickets.
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Indian Railways launches round trip package scheme with 20% discount on return fares
The Indian Railways has announced a trial scheme called "Round Trip Package for Festival Rush" to help reduce passenger crowding and improve travel during the coming festive season. The scheme is open to all classes and trains, except those with flexi-fare pricing, and only applies to confirmed tickets.(Pexel) A circular from the Railway Board, issued on August 8, states that the scheme gives a 20 per cent discount on the base fare of the return journey. This applies only if passengers book confirmed tickets for both onward and return trips, for the same passengers, class, and origin-destination route. The goal is to manage crowding better, make bookings easier, and improve use of train services, including special trains, in both directions. Bookings under this scheme will start on August 14, 2025. The onward journey must take place between October 13 and October 26, 2025. The return journey must be booked using the connecting journey option for travel between November 17 and December 1, 2025. Advance reservation rules will not apply to the return trip booking. Also Read: Maharashtra's sole Vande Bharat depot to come up at Jogeshwari The scheme is open to all classes and trains, except those with flexi-fare pricing, and only applies to confirmed tickets. Both onward and return tickets must be booked in the same way, either online or at the counter. If there is any extra fare at the time of charting, it will not be charged. No refunds or concessions under this scheme In a statement, the railays said tickets booked under the Round Trip Package scheme will not be eligible for any fare refund. 'No discount, Rail travel coupons, Voucher based booking, Passes or PTOs etc, shall be admissible during return journey booking on concessional fare,' it said. Changes, extra concessions, and the use of travel coupons, vouchers, passes, or PTOs are not allowed under this offer. The Railway Board has asked all zonal railways to widely inform passengers about this scheme through press, media, and announcements at stations, according to ANI.
