Latest news with #P&T
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Construction work begins to build suburban terminal at Hardinge Park
Patna: The railways have finalised preparations to begin construction of a state-of-the-art suburban terminal at Hardinge Park, with an estimated cost of Rs 95 crore, following the foundation laying ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 30. Danapur divisional railway manager (DRM) Jayant Kumar Choudhary said the suburban terminal will come up on a sprawling 4.8-acre land at the Hardinge Park area which will help decongest the huge traffic load from Patna Junction. According to Choudhary, the new suburban terminal is envisioned as a modern transportation hub, featuring airport-like facilities. It will have five platforms, each initially 400 metres in length. "However, efforts are underway to acquire an additional 2.5 acres of land from the Posts and Telegraph (P&T) department to extend the platform lengths to 600 metres. This extension will enable the terminal to accommodate and handle mail and express trains with LHB coaches," he said. The suburban terminal is strategically significant due to its location on the Kiul-Patna-DDU route, which is currently undergoing capacity augmentation with the addition of third and fourth lines in the days to come. "Once operational, the terminal will serve as a dedicated hub for passenger trains, including MEMUs," the DRM said. The railways has worked out a plan to make at least 80 passenger trains operational daily from Hardinge Park suburban terminal, connecting passengers to all four cardinal directions — north, south, east and west. "The new terminal will primarily serve as a launch point for intercity and regional trains, offering punctuality and better services," Choudhary said, adding that the terminal will boast a range of modern facilities like a 2,000-seat waiting hall equipped with modern amenities. In addition, 15 general ticket-booking counters will be there to streamline ticketing and reduce waiting time. A parking facility, with a capacity of 1,000 vehicles, will be developed around the suburban terminal area. Direct connectivity to the newly built multimedia hub and the upcoming Patna Metro Rail service will be provided to allow seamless intermodal travel for passengers.
Irish Examiner
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Examiner
East Cork: Swimming group brings good tidings to Youghal
Like many coastal communities around the country, Youghal has embraced the thrills and chills of year round sea swimming. The Youghal Swimmers' Group, however, has become a community within the community, boasting a large membership and a proclivity for making waves with fundraising exploits for local charities. They have also raised funds through a collection of personal commentaries on year-round bathing. 'It started in June 2020 with about six of us regularly swimming', says mum of two Linda Donoghue. 'Then we started a WhatsApp group to share tide times, sea conditions and so on. That attracted more people and others joined after seeing us still swimming after summer.' There are now over 230 people registered on the group's WhatsApp platform, including the original six swimmers. Ranging in age from 20s to mid-80s, they swim in various numbers at a spot between Youghal's front strand and Claycastle beach. Some wade in at dawn, but most prefer around 9am. On the joys of a warm human body suddenly encountering a very cold body of water, Linda explains: 'You get to experience the comfortable and the uncomfortable. I find that a great stress reliever.' Reiki practitioner Sally O'Connor, advises, 'get in and get down quickly', adding that 'It is just beautiful being in the water'. Females outnumber males by about 4 to 1, but the men are no less up to their necks in euphoria when it comes to being wet and shivering. Retired P&T worker Eugene Fox finds the cold water 'gives a bit of a buzz' and has even dived in while it was snowing. He also credits the swims with alleviating back pain. Pat Burke, a Kerrygold sales worker, has found it 'bitterly cold in February and March', but delights in the 'brilliant adrenaline rush'. Of course, nobody hails the experience better than Dutchman Wim Hof, a man never known for throwing logs on a fire. Wim is famous for promoting extremely cold temperatures as a health benefit. He reportedly once went temporarily blind and nearly died during a 57-metre swim under ice. He also ran a half-marathon in the Arctic barefoot. Wim would probably find Youghal beach in January a bit too hot. 'Proper exposure to the cold,' Wim has explained, 'builds up brown adipose tissue, leading to fat loss and reduced inflammation. This facilitates a fortified immune system, balanced hormone levels, improved sleep quality, and the production of endorphins that naturally elevate your mood.' Besides fortifying the immune system and balancing hormones, the Youghal sea swimmers revel in the social aspect to their pastime. 'Most of us bring hot drinks and snacks for a chat after a swim', says Christine Ryan, one of the original members. 'It's a very sociable way to start the day'. The social spectrum has included beachside tin whistle lessons and day trips to other resorts. They are presently taking French language lessons in Youghal library, inspired by an exchange visit to Youghal's French twin, L'Amor Plage. They resisted the urge to swim rather than fly there. Then there is the greenway cycle group they recently formed. In 2021, Linda suggested that the members scribble down a few sentiments on what cold water swimming means to them by way of producing a small pamphlet and fostering camaraderie. It culminated in over 200 pages of prose, poems, pictures and memoirs. The cover of Saltwater Souls, by local artist Andrea Cashell, won Best Cover at the prestigious national Carousel Aware Prize (CAP) awards in Dublin. Bringing sometimes very personal tones to the surface, the impetus and motivations, the release and empowerment of those morning dips caught the minds of swimmers and non-swimmers alike. 'To cycle or to walk? Walking means a 99 on the way out, cycling means a 99 on the ponders Tara McCarthy in her poetic memoir, The Splash. 'At one stage we formed an underwater rock band...,' writes Michael Hussey of swimming in his youth. The Youghal Swimmers Group, whose frequent dips are proving a very popular way to kickstart the day. Saltwater Souls sold over 1,600 copies and most importantly of all, they will tell you, raised €10,000 for Youghal's RNLI. The book was an extension of philanthropist leanings that began within a year of the group's formation. 'That was for the Simon Community in Cork,' recalls Christine. 'We raised nearly €3,000 through just a swim, breakfast and a raffle.' Holding about three fundraisers a year, a lengthy list of charities have benefited from their manual and digital bucket-rattling endeavours, with the total raised now surpassing €30,000. 'We raise funds for Daffodil Day annually and the rest are random causes', Christine informs. 'Mostly its local charities but also not exclusively and we are always open to approaches.' The group is presently raising funds for a solar-driven defibrillator, along with cold water shower, at their swimming spot. 'It is badly needed,' Christine explains, 'for ourselves and as it's such a favoured beach by families. Every beach in other countries seems to have them and we need them just as much.' It's said that the tide, like time, waits for nobody. You get the impression it may make an exception in Youghal.
