Ring rail may get on track, rlys moves to appoint consultant
As per the proposal, the consultant would charge ₹1.74 crore for the job. The terms of references include study on type of commercial development on agreed railway land parcels...
The ‘ailing’ ring rail could soon see the light of day as the Delhi division of northern railway has sent a proposal to the railway board to appoint a consultant to prepare a blueprint for its uplift.
Officials said RITES was asked for consultancy regarding commercial development of the ring rail system. RITES submitted its terms of reference and budgetary quote, which have been referred to the railway board for clearance.
Officials said the proposal was likely to be cleared soon and a detailed project report (DPR) could be expected by the yearend.
“As per the proposal, the consultant would charge ₹1.74 crore for the job. The terms of references include study on type of commercial development on agreed railway land parcels and assessment of likely revenue generation, accessibility and connectivity of stations, besides suggesting way forward for revival of ring railway in the middle term and long term,” said Arun Arora, DRM, Delhi division.
In his railway budget speech, railway minister Suresh Prabhu had said his ministry would revive Delhi’s ailing ring railway system in association with the state government.
The ring railway is 35 km long and consists of 21 stations and is running at 130% capacity utilization because of high number of goods train and five pairs of passenger trains, officials said. Some of the major issues plaguing the ring rail is encroachment of approach roads and railway land along the tracks.
“During his stint as Delhi minister he misused his position to convert this agricultural land into residential type,” a source said on condition of anonymity.
The matter was referred to the CBI by income tax department under the new Benami Transactions Prohibitions Act, a law brought in to fight black money. The I-T department has been probing Jain since June 2014, official documents with HT show.
Tax authorities submitted their findings to the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which tracks money-laundering and investigates foreign exchange violations.
A preliminary enquiry is not a formal investigation but a move to ascertain if the accusations merit a probe.
Jain was in the news recently after a three-member committee that examined various decisions taken by the Kejriwal government red-flagged his daughter’s appointment to the Delhi state health mission.
Soumya Jain, who is an architect by training, didn’t have the qualification for the job, the Shunglu committee said in its report.
The Congress made the report’s findings public after obtaining information through RTI.
Jain dismissed the report as “mud-slinging” and said no irregularity was committed by the AAP government. He also rejected as “all lies” the allegations surrounding his daughter’s appointment”. region to assess the American role in Afghanistan and whether more troops are required in the near future,” a senior official said.
While McMaster, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, will also discuss the expanding Chinese footprint in the Af-Pak region, Islamabad watchers suspect that Pakistan’s award of the death sentence to alleged spy Kulbhushan Jadhav was meant to provoke India and create tension on the eve of the US NSA’s visit.
The visit will revisit India-US defence ties, with the bilateral defence technology and trade initiative (DTTI) not having taken off so far. The DTTI was launched by the previous UPA government with the Barack Obama administration. All projects under it such as the Javelin shoulder-fired missile, C-130 J roll-on roll-off, small UAV pathfinder and even a working group on hot engine technology are still in nascent stages of development. During McMaster’s visit, it is expected that both countries will identify new products under the “Make in India” programme.
”The driver was not drunk,” an officer said.
Many schools in Delhi and satellite cities hire private buses to ferry children. The buses make headlines for fatal accidents and abusive behaviour of drivers and helpers towards kids, as laws and rules governing these vehicles are seldom implemented strictly and often broken.
Parents complain after each incident, but are forced to go back to the faulty system in absence of alternatives.
The van involved in Monday’s accident did not have rear-view mirrors on either side. The girl was standing behind and the driver reversed the van without giving a hoot if someone or something was at the rear.
The driver was arrested. But most of them get bail while the maximum punishment for charges they face — rash and negligent driving causing death — is just two years in prison.