Latest news with #SharadSrivastava
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- The Hindu
Near-miss incident near Kovilpatti: Madurai DRM issues fresh guidelines to ensure train safety
In the backdrop of the near-miss incident reported on Kovilpatti-Kadambur section on June 24, Divisional Railway Manager, Sharad Srivastava has issued fresh guidelines to the divisional officials on inspection of railway infrastructure to ensure safe operation of trains. Insisting on the officials to make field inspections at least once in a week, he said that the inspections carried out by Traffic Inspectors (TI) should be monitored by Divisional Operations Manager on a daily basis. Besides, their inspection notes should focus on areas essential for safety and it should bring out improvements required rather than 'routine/repetitive' inspection notes that would not help the system. 'No stereo-type inspection' The DRM advised the TIs against making stereo-type inspections. 'Instead, they should carry out periodic inspections of the stations and try to meet all station staff at least once in two months. They should look for systemic issues in train operations like shortcuts,' the guidelines said. The DRM has advised the Senior Divisional Operation Manager to scrutinise reports on all unusual situation working like issuing of line clear tickets and emergency route release at stations every fortnight. Cross-checking documents The DRM has insisted that during every failure, the timings provided in the documents by various railway employees and officials should be be cross-checked with data-logger timings by the Sectional Traffic Inspectors. 'This will be a deterrent to erring staff resorting to shortcuts,' the DRM reasoned. Though the officials could continue with random checks at stations with data-logger reports to identify and remove any shortcut methods being followed in normal working, they could also resort to ambush checks where frequent and prolonged signal failures are reported to prevent adoption of shortcuts. The DRM also stressed on Traffic Inspector or an additional Station Master rushing to the station, in case of any failure at the station/section, to assist the on-duty SM in abnormal train working duly following the laid down rules. 'This will reduce the pressure on on-duty SM and will help in ensuring safe train operations,' the guidelines said.
New Indian Express
06-06-2025
- New Indian Express
146 killed in seven years from falls off moving trains in Madurai division in Tamil Nadu
MADURAI: In the wake of the video of a woman dancing on the footboard of a speeding train in Nagercoil making its rounds on social media, the Southern Railway in its reply to an RTI query filed by TNIE has stated that 146 people died in accidental falls from moving trains in Madurai division in the last seven years. Recently, a social media influencer, Shakela Banu from Nagercoil, made a reel while dancing to a song from the footboard of a moving train. She was widely criticised for the dangerous act and a case has been registered against her. In the aftermath of the incident, TNIE filed an RTI query to the Divisional Security Commissioner of RPF Madurai. In reply stated that they did not have data from 2015 to 2018. However, they reported 26 deaths in 2019, 11 in 2020, 9 in 2021, 17 in 2022, 38 in 2023, 37 in 2024, and 8 in 2025 (till April), totalling to 146 deaths over the years due to accidents caused on moving trains. The Madurai division covers twelve districts in the state and one district in Kerala. An RPF officer said that accidental falls are avoidable deaths in trains. Notably, not all recorded accidental falls are caused by stunts. The railways have provided awareness and instructions to allow passengers to travel safely. In 2023-24, railway police have registered 21 cases for footboard travel and imposed a penalty of Rs 8,700, whereas in 2024-25, it rose to 148 cases for the same and collected Rs 56,900 as a penalty. 'Eight cases were registered in April and six cases in May 2025,' police added. Speaking to TNIE, DRM Madurai Sharad Srivastava said both RPF and ticket checking staff have been asked to do more drives against footboard travel. Action will be taken against those who are involved in photography/videography without permission, he said.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
26 Madurai division railway staff get awards
1 2 Madurai: Twenty-six outstanding railway employees from across the Madurai division were honoured with the Rail Seva Puraskar at the 69th Railway Week celebration held in Madurai on Wednesday. Madurai divisional railway manager (DRM) Sharad Srivastava presented the awards to staff from departments including electrical, mechanical, operations, medical, and security. "One of our proudest moments was the inauguration of the New Pamban Railway Bridge by the Prime Minister—a historic milestone reconnecting Rameswaram to the mainland," Srivastava said. He added that the division recorded notable achievements in train punctuality, operational speed, and passenger traffic growth, alongside significant improvements in track and infrastructure maintenance. On the financial front, the division reported revenue of ₹1,244.97 crore, reflecting strong operational performance. Srivastava also highlighted staff welfare measures, including the addition of 15 new beds each at the Running Rooms in Tuticorin and Milavittan, and improved sanitation facilities at Karaikudi. A QR code-based complaint system was also introduced in all Running Rooms to enhance staff feedback and response. He further noted that safety systems across the division had been significantly upgraded.
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Awards given to railway employees of Madurai division
The 69th Railway Week Celebrations of Madurai Division was marked by distribution of Rail Seva Puraskar to 26 railway employees from across the division on Wednesday. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Sharad Srivastava distributed them to the awardees from all departments. The DRM said that the awards represented the spirit of service and excellence. 'They represent how a difference in approach to work, in bringing unparalleled commitment by spending that extra hour and attending to that incremental detail, can impact the work culture and performance of the organisation,' he said. The DRM said that inauguration of the New Pamban Railway bridge was the proudest moment in the last fiscal. The division also attained new milestones in train punctuality and speeds and also growth in passenger traffic, thanks to the works done for maintenance of track and infrastructure. On employees' welfare front, the division had added 15 new beds at the running rooms at Thoothukudi and Milavittan. Additional Divisional Railway Manager L. Nageswara Rao was present.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Vertical lift span of New Pamban Rail Bridge operated for first time since inauguration
A huge barge from Vizag and 33 big fishing boats passed through Pamban navigational channel under the new rail bridge For the first time since it was inaugurated on April 6, the vertical lift span of the New Pamban Rail Bridge was operated on Wednesday to facilitate passing of a barge along the Pamban navigational channel under the bridge. The 72.5-metre-long vertical span was operated through electro-mechanical system at around 1 p.m. to allow the huge barge and 33 big-size fishing boats. The barge that had come from Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh was proceeding towards Karwar Port in Karnataka. 'The lifting and lowering of the vertical span went off smoothly without any hitch,' said Madurai Divisional Railway Manager Sharad Srivastava. Along with the vertical lift span of the new brige, the cantilever spans of the decommissioned old Pamban Rail Bridge were also operated to permit the barge and the fishing boats to pass under it. The vertical lift operation ran into a controversy as it got stuck in the middle when it was being lowered immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it on April 6. Since then, no bigger vessel or fishing boat has passed through the Pamban channel. Though a senior railway officer said the bridge was operated successfully on April 7, the railway officials reportedly cancelled the scheduled lifting of the vertical span on April 15. The Port Conservator of Pamban Port Office had placed a request to the railway officials for lifting the span to allow a ship to pass under it. 'However, without citing any reason, the operation was cancelled,' a port officer said. All the vessels registered under Indian Vessel Registration were permitted to proceed from the north to south and vice-versa only through the Pamban navigational channel as they were not permitted to cross the international maritime boundary line, he added.
