Latest news with #Railways


Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Delay in RUB work causes traffic bottlenecks in city
1 2 Mangaluru: The long delay in opening the twin railway underbridges (RUB) at Mahakalipadpu in the city is causing severe traffic snarls on the Pumpwell bypass road, the main entry point to Mangaluru city. The Palakkad division of the Southern Railway has already completed the pushing of all the four concrete boxes. However, the Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) could not complete the concrete roads on either side of the RUBs. The MSCL authorities say that the work can be started only if the Railways complete the laying of the pipeline to clear the water at the site. A series of protests were held seeking the authorities to complete the RUB work at Mahakalipadpu ever since the road from Jeppu to Jappinamogaru was closed to facilitate the RUB work. The Rs 50 crore 4-lane RUB project was initiated on March 29, 2021, by the then MP of Dakshina Kannada Nalin Kumar Kateel and Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath. Currently, all vehicles from Kerala, Ullal, Konaje, Mudipu, and other places enter Mangaluru city via Pumpwell bypass road, leading to traffic snarls during peak hours. Once the RUB at Mahakalipadpu is commissioned, the traffic density on the Pumpwell bypass stretch will reduce considerably. DYFI Dakshina Kannada district secretary Santhosh Bajal said that a lack of willpower among elected representatives is a major hindrance that leads to delays in development works. He said an action committee formed to demand completion of the RUB at Mahakalipadpu has held several protests and submitted memorandums to the authorities. "We will hold a dharna in front of the office of MSCL or Railways if the work gets delayed further," he added. Tulunada Rakshana Vedike founder president Yogish Shetty Jeppu, who has been at the forefront of protests for the cause, called upon the public to, "Join hands and seek authorities concerned to expedite the work." MSCL general manager (technical) Arun Prabha KS said that water accumulates at the RUB site, making it difficult to take up the development of the road. "Railways will have to lay a 300m pipeline, but they have laid only about 120m so far. We have been working at the site and will expedite the work once the pipeline laying work is completed," he added.


Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
PM inaugurates ‘Pak Business Express' train
LAHORE: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed his government's commitment to transforming Pakistan Railways into a modern, reliable, and affordable transport system for all citizens, not just the elite. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Pak Business Express and the newly-upgraded passenger facilitation centre at the Lahore Railway Station, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the station's recent improvements during his visit after a long gap. 'From a warm welcome to well-mannered receptionists, renovated CIP lounges, upgraded passenger waiting rooms, and a fully refurbished train with modern European-style dining and sleeper berths, the change is truly gratifying,' he said. He lauded the digitization of the ticketing system, the availability of Wi-Fi facilities, and the outsourcing of services to improve professionalism and efficiency. 'These services are for the common masses, not just a privileged class. This is a step towards turning railways into a best-in-class transportation system for both passengers and cargo freight,' PM Shehbaz remarked. The Prime Minister commended Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, Secretary and Chairman Railways, and the team for their contributions, also acknowledging former minister Khawaja Muhammad Saad Rafique's '16 months of dedicated service to the railways department.' Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to ensure punctuality and transparent outsourcing of railway assets to make them profitable. He emphasized expanding the transformation across the national network, 'from Peshawar to Karachi, Rohri, and Quetta,' aiming to match global standards. He further said, 'The Almighty guides and supports every sincere effort. This is just the first step; we must struggle with dedication and transparency to serve the people of Pakistan.' The newly-launched Pak Business Express will run between Lahore and Karachi in 18 hours and 30 minutes, with economy-class fares set at Rs 5,100. In his address, PM Shehbaz also paid tribute to Pakistan's Armed Forces for their role in the recent four-day war with India, calling it 'short but highly dangerous.' He praised the military's conventional capabilities, including the Air Force's innovations, the Army's use of Al Fatah missiles, and the Navy's readiness. 'India believed Pakistan could only rely on nuclear deterrence, but conventional warfare supremacy has shattered that myth,' he said. Concluding the ceremony, the Prime Minister reiterated his pledge to make Pakistan Railways a modern, transparent, and people-focused institution. 'Together we can make railways a true engine of progress for Pakistan,' he said. Minister Hanif Abbasi thanked the Prime Minister for his leadership, crediting him with backing railways' digitization, service outsourcing, and the introduction of a cashless payment system. He noted the department had earned Rs 93 billion, installed escalators for differently-abled passengers, and improved cleanliness and punctuality. Abbasi also praised the Prime Minister's role during the recent conflict with India, saying his 'direct calls and strong foreign policy' pushed India onto the defensive while rallying international support for Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Express Tribune
7 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Trump's remarks on stopping Pakistan-India war 'reopen old wounds' for Modi: PM Shehbaz
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that every time US President Donald Trump talks about stopping the Pakistan-India war, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'wounds are reopened'. "US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that we stopped the war. When the US president says that we stopped the Pakistan-India war, Modi's wounds are reopened," he said while inaugrating Pak Business Express and newly upgraded passenger facilities at the Lahore Railway Station. During his address, PM Shehbaz also paid tribute to Pakistan's Armed Forces for their resilience in the four-day conflict with India, which he described as 'short but highly dangerous.' He praised the military's technical superiority, the Air Force's internal innovations, and the Army's use of Al Fatah missiles. 'India believed Pakistan could only rely on nuclear deterrence, but conventional warfare supremacy has shattered that myth,' he said, reaffirming his commitment to the nation's security. He added that our nuclear assets are guarantors of national security, and the enemy does not dare to look at us with an evil eye. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses the inaugural ceremony of Pak Business Express at Lahore Railway Station. — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 29, 2025 Speaking during the ceremony, PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction with the station's visible transformation. 'From a warm welcome to well-mannered receptionists, renovated CIP lounges, upgraded passenger waiting rooms, and a fully refurbished train with modern European-style dining and sleeper berths, the change is truly gratifying,' he said. The PM hailed the digitisation of the ticketing system, the introduction of Wi-Fi facilities, and the outsourcing of services to improve efficiency and professionalism. "These services are for the common masses, not just a privileged class. This is a step towards turning railways into a best-in-class transportation system for both passengers and cargo freight," he added. PM Shehbaz commended the Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, the Railways secretary, and chairman for their efforts, while also acknowledging the previous contributions of former minister Saad Rafique, highlighting his "16 months of dedicated service" to the Railways department. He further stressed the need for punctuality and transparent outsourcing of railway land and services, aiming to turn these assets into profitable ventures for the nation. He also underscored the importance of continuing the transformation of Pakistan Railways across the country, from Peshawar to Karachi, Rohri, and Quetta. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visiting different sections of Pak-Business Express, newly inaugurated CIP Lounge, waiting halls and other facilities at Lahore Railway Station. — Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 29, 2025 'The Almighty guides and supports every sincere effort. This is just the first step; we must struggle with dedication and transparency to serve the people of Pakistan,' PM Shehbaz remarked. The PM concluded the ceremony with a pledge to transform Pakistan Railways into a modern, transparent, and people-centric institution. "Together we can make Railways a true engine of progress for Pakistan," he stated. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi thanked the PM for his vision and leadership. He credited him for supporting the digitisation, outsourcing of services, and the introduction of a cashless payment system at railway stations. He also revealed that the Railways had earned Rs93 billion, installed escalators for differently-abled passengers, and improved cleanliness and punctuality across stations. The newly launched Pak Business Express will travel between Lahore and Karachi in 18 hours and 30 minutes, with an economy-class fare of Rs 5,100.


The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Sabari rail project: Railway Board holds meet with Chief Secretary
A team from the Railway Board held discussions with Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday to explore ways to take the Sabari Rail project forward. Official sources said the delegation, which included Additional Railway Board Member Rajesh Agarwal, Chief Administrative Officer Om Prakash, and Kerala Rail Development Corporation (KRDC) Managing Director Ajith Kumar, held deliberations on cost-sharing arrangements and land acquisition for the project. Another round of meeting to deliberate in detail on these aspects will be held soon While the State government has expressed only conditional willingness to share project costs, the Railways continue to insist on a 50:50 cost-sharing model. It has also asked the State to bear a portion of the expenditure already incurred. In addition, the State is expected to complete land acquisition up to Erumely. The Railways have agreed to begin construction once this is achieved. The 110-km Angamaly–Erumely route was first announced in the Railway Budget for 1997–98. So far, land has been acquired for an 8-km stretch and construction has been completed on a 7-km section between Angamaly and Kalady.


News24
11 hours ago
- Politics
- News24
Russia kills 20 in Ukraine, destroys 74 drones in fresh advance
At least 20 people were killed Russia strikes on Ukraine. Russia destroyed 74 Ukrainian drones. A stationary freight train caught fire in Russia. At least 20 people were killed and more than 40 wounded in overnight Russian strikes on Ukraine, regional officials said on Tuesday. Russia carried out eight strikes on the Zaporizhzhia region, hitting a prison, according to Ivan Fedorov, the head of the military administration. '16 people were killed, 35 were wounded,' he said on Telegram, adding that the premises were destroyed and that nearby houses were damaged. People were also killed and more wounded in attacks on the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to regional government officials. A missile strike on the city of Kamyanske killed two people, wounded five and damaged a hospital, Sergiy Lysak, head of the regional military administration said on Telegram. Another person was killed and several wounded in an attack on the region's Synelnykivsky district, he said. In a separate attack on Velykomykhaylivska, on Monday night, a '75-year-old woman was killed. A 68-year-old man was wounded. A private house was damaged,' he posted on Telegram. In southern Russia, a Ukrainian drone attack killed one person, the region's acting governor said on Tuesday. 'A car was damaged on Ostrovsky Street. Unfortunately, the driver who was in it died,' Yuri Slyusar, acting governor of the Rostov region, said in a post on Telegram. Kyiv has been trying to repel Russia's summer offensive, which has made fresh advances into areas largely spared since the start of the offensive in 2022. Over the weekend, the Russian army said its forces had 'liberated the settlement of Maliyevka' in Dnipropetrovsk, weeks after it seized the first village in the region. US President Donald Trump on Monday issued Moscow a deadline of 'about 10 or 12 days' to end the conflict in Ukraine, or face tough sanctions. Reuters reported that multiple Ukrainian drone attacks across Russia's southern Rostov region have left one person dead, sparked a fire and suspended train traffic at a railway station, Russian authorities said on Tuesday. Russia's defence ministry, which reports only how many drones were destroyed, not how many Ukraine launched, said its defence units downed a total of 74 drones overnight, including 22 over the Rostov region. A stationary freight train caught fire and power was disrupted at the train station in Salsk, forcing the suspension of train traffic, Russia's Railways said on Telegram. Reuters could not independently verify the report. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine, which has often said that its attacks inside Russia are in response to Moscow's relentless strikes on Ukraine.