Indian Economy-News & Updates

[Nilgiri]

Wow, I had seen a few days ago that this was being proposed but had seen that many in the bureaucracy opposed it so had written it off as a "nice to do but won't happen for another 10 years" and now it is actually going to happen.......wow.


Decsions being made on a purely merit basis at this speed, this can't be India!


+ another feather in the honourable Mr Prabhu's hat, what a true revolutionary- if only more ministers were of this stature.

I like that competent leaders are being nurtured by this current administration.

I hope to see them as PMs (people like Goyal etc) down the road sometime.

 

[Ankit Kumar 002]

I like that competent leaders are being nurtured by this current administration.

I hope to see them as PMs (people like Goyal etc) down the road sometime.

Yes the trio of Piyush Goyal, Suresh Prabhu and Nitin Gadkari are indeed standing out among the rest with their work.

 

[Nilgiri]

Can somebody please explain to me how this is NOT mere gimmicks? What purpose would a few solar panels slapped on a few moving trains serve?

How is this more important than putting focus/resources on electrifying routes? If "going green" was indeed the goal, why not put few million solar panels on all unused/disused/misused rooftops of platforms/stations scattered across the country?

I thought the RM understood that what IR needs is a disciplined, focused approach with clearly defined priorities and budgets - not ad-hoc GIMMICKS for which we neither have resources nor time.

Not to forget - given our craftsmanship and notorious monsoons, the last thing we want is leaky roofs on those retrofitted coaches.

@anant_s @Nilgiri

Its not a gimmick as ankit has explained....the lower the burden placed on genset trailers (EOG) the better for the system overall....for non-electrified routes.

 

[Śakra]

Yes the trio of Piyush Goyal, Suresh Prabhu and Nitin Gadkari are indeed standing out among the rest with their work.

And Sushma!

 

[raj76]

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण,कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे
हरे राम हरे राम, राम राम हरे हरे
13-08-2016

‪#‎Economy‬:India's industrial growth edged up to 2.1% in June, an eight-month high, riding a pick up in electricity generation and showing some signs of acceleration ahead and Led by a 27.5% increase in prices of pulses, India's retail inflation surged to its two year high of 6.07% in July.

‪#‎Finance‬:Nearly a dozen listed liquor co's in India have lost almost $4 billion of their market capitalisation, over the past year as their shares fell following a consistent decline in sales growth, prohibition in few states and exclusion of the segment from the GST ambit.

‪#‎With‬ the Govt setting inflation target at 4%, the Reserve Bank is unlikely to make much shift in its stance going forward and may go for a 25 bps cut in the second half of the fiscal.

‪#‎India‬'s gold imports fell sharply by 76% to 60 tonnes in the April-July period this fiscal on high import duty and other taxes.

‪#‎Mera‬ Bharat Mahaan:Indo-Japan ties have reached a new level, railway minister has said that Japan has committed to invest $25 billion in India and the country will benefit immensely from the investment.

भारत माता की जय

 

[Star Wars]

 

[Shravan#22580]

Hello Everyone, I'am new to this wonderful community.
When will the 9,000 HP locomotive arrive India. I'am eagerly waiting for those Heavy-Haulers.

Electric Passenger WAP Series​

Electric Mixed WAM Series.​

Hope you like my Presentation


​

 

[Nilgiri]

 

[Nilgiri]

 

[raj76]

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण,कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे
हरे राम हरे राम, राम राम हरे हरे
14-08-2016

‪#‎Economy‬:Govt has notified the revised tax treaty with Mauritius under which India will impose capital gains tax on investments routed through the island nation from April 1 next year in a bid to curb tax evasion.

‪#‎Finance‬:FDI limit increase in insurance sector to 49% from 26% has led to flow of Rs 16,000 crore into the sector.

‪#‎Govt‬ to give subsidy to boost small food processing units. On adding food processing service to the cold chain 50% subsidy will be provided and setting up cold chain for storage and use cold chain vehicles to transport materials to food processing units 35% subsidy will be provided.

‪#‎Mera‬ Bharat Mahaan: Govt launched 'Smart Ganga City' programme in 10 cities located along Ganga to set up Sewage Treatment Plants and improve drainage network there on hybrid annuity mode on public private partnership basis. In the hybrid annuity model, a part of capital investment (up to 40%) will be paid by Govt through construction linked milestones and the balance amount through an annuity over the contract duration up to 20 years to ensure longevity.

भारत माता की जय

 

[Local_Legend]

Railway Ministry likely to lose sheen with merger

New Delhi: The 92-year-old practice of presenting a separate Rail Budget to come to an end from the next fiscal, with the Finance Ministry accepting Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu's proposal to merge it with the General Budget.According to railways, The Finance Ministry has now constituted a five-member committee comprising senior officials of the Ministry and the national transporter to work out the modalities for the merger. The committee has been asked to submit its report by August 31."I had written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for merger of the Rail Budget with General Budget. This will be in the Railway's interest and also in the nation's interest. We are working out the modalities," Prabhu told PTI.The public sector behemoth has to bear an additional burden of about Rs 40,000 crore on account of implementation of the 7th Pay Commission awards, besides an annual outgo of Rs 32,000 crore on subsidies.Besides, the delay in completion of projects resulted in cost overrun of Rs 1.07 lakh crore and huge throw-forward of Rs 1.86 lakh crore in respect of 442 ongoing rail projects. If the merger happens, Indian Railway will get rid of the annual dividend it has to pay for gross budgetary support from the government every year.

According to a senior Railway official, the move to discard the age-old practice of a separate Rail Budget is part of the Modi government's reform agenda. With the merger, the issue of raising passenger fares, an unpopular decision, will be the Finance Minister's call.Prabhu had also told Rajya Sabha on August 9 that he has asked the Finance Minister to merge the Railway Budget with General Budget in the long-term interest of national transporter as well as the country's economy.All-India Railwaymen's Federation General Secretary Gopal Mishra said Railway Ministry's autonomy will be lost in the merger. "But we have to see in what form the merger will happen," he said.The merger move is significant as it is expected to have political implications. It has been seen that almost every Railway Minister, particularly in coalition governments, has addressed his constituencies by doling out favours by way of new trains and projects.The keenly sought after Railway Ministry is likely to lose much of its sheen if merger happens.

http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/i...istry-likely-to-lose-sheen-with-merger/248482



Indian Railways says train operation in Kashmir is 'expensive and loss making' as it has annual expenditure of Rs 80 crore

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahom...ss-making-annual-expenditure-Rs-80-crore.html


The big fat indian wedding on wheels is raring to go

NEW DELHI: Marriages are no longer made in heaven. Young couples with stars in their eyes and coin in their pockets are finding outre new ways to wed—suspended from ropes or diving into the ocean to say “I do”. Tagging on to this trend, the Indian Railways is working to offer an unique marriage experience with Wedding on Wheels, a customised package with five-star fine dining, decor and ceremonies in a luxury or semi-luxury train while chugging to beaches or snow-capped mountains.

The idea is similar to destination weddings or booking cruises for wedding parties. The plan is the idea of Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a subsidiary of the Indian Railways. According to IRCTC, there is a vast potential for the concept as it offers a completely off-track experience.



IRCTC runs one of the most luxurious trains in the world, Maharajas’ Express. Indian Railways, along with state tourism boards, also operates luxury trains such as Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, Golden Chariot and Royal Rajasthan on Wheels. The entire wedding package can be customised according to needs, such as choosing luxury or semi-luxury coaches, travel circuits, food, number of guests and decoration. If someone is really up for opulence and indulgence, there will be spas and saunas worth sinning for on board the trains.

“It’s similar to offering everything one could expect during a wedding held in a hotel, resort or farmhouse. There will be the best of everything, managed by experts to make it one of the most memorable events for the bride, groom and their families,” a railways official said.

Circuits can be designed in South Indian, Christian or Portugese styles also. Cost will depend on facilities availed. IRCTC hopes to attract NRIs and foreigners, who fancy getting married in palaces and resorts.

“We are finalising the finer details and will launch these packages on demand. We are hoping it’s a huge success,” the official added.


http://www.newindianexpress.com/the...is-raring-to-go/2016/08/14/article3578324.ece

 

[Ankit Kumar 002]

President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Services for RPF/RPSF Personnel

On the occasion of Independence Day, 2016 the Hon’ble President of India has awarded President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Services and Police Medal for Meritorious Services to the following RPF/RPSF personnel-

President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service :

Shri G.V.Sanjeeva Rayudu, Inspector/RPF/SCR

Police Medal for Meritorious Services:

1. Shri Ajoy Sadany, DIG-cum-Addl. CSC/NWR

2. Shri Vijay Kumar Khatarkar, DIG-cum-Addl. CSC/NER

3. Shri R.P.Tomar, ASC/NCR

4. Shri Farid Ahmed, Inspector/RPF/ER

5. Shri Vishwambhar Nath Dwivedi, Inspector/RPF/NCR

6. Shri Bonoda Bihari Samantara, SI(M)/10BN/RPSF

7. Shri R.Suresh, SI(M)/7 BN/ RPSF

8. Shri Satyanarayana Vadiyala, SI/RPF/SCR

9. Shri Madan Lal, SI/RPF/NWR

10. Shri Subhasis Gupta, ASI/RPF/ER

11. Shri Rajaram, ASI/RPF/NER

12. Shri Balmik Prasad Patel, ASI/RPF/WCR

13. Shri Jayanta Kolay, Head Constable/RPF/ER

14. Shri Suresh Mahto, CT(SW)/6BN/RPSF

****


AKS/AJ/AKA
(Release ID :148908)

 

[Shravan#22580]

Can somebody tell me how this karma system or rating( -1 / +1) works.

 

[Local_Legend]

Can somebody tell me how this karma system or rating( -1 / +1) works.

It's called rating. Positive as well as negative. The members who has proven their metal ( Think Tanks ) and mods have the authority to rate it regarding the quality of the post . Hang around a bit more . U will get the idea. This forum will give u vibrant levels of experiences. But please don't end up as a troll account.

All the best .

 

[Local_Legend]

From steam to magnetic levitation: Indian Railways’ quest for traction

Among the many monikers earned by Indian Railways over the years, ‘people’s carrier’ describes it the best. In order to carry passengers on its network, the railways has constantly been on a lookout for better ‘traction’ or power since it made its grand entry in India.

A railway locomotive, or an engine, is the most integral part of a rake that provides motive power. The construction of Indian Railways started in 1840. It today has electric, diesel and in some cases compressed natural gas traction, and is now looking at magnetic levitation for increasing speed to ease congestion and attracting traffic to increase its freight and passenger revenue.

At the heart of this playbook are locomotives which drive the economy. Railways transport around 36% of India’s freight. The country’s gross domestic product expanded 7.9% in the January-March quarter, and is projected between 7% and 7.75% for the current financial year.

In the beginning, it was the steam engine

In August 2008, Mark Allatt, board chairman of the UK-based A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, said steam locomotive “is the nearest thing man has ever created to a living thing”. The occasion was completion of building the LNER Peppercorn Cass A1 no. 60163 ‘Tornado’ locomotive to commemorate steam locomotives from a bygone era.

The Bengal Sappers, now a regiment of the Corps of Engineers in the Indian Army, was the first to run a steam locomotive, named Thomson, in the year 1851.The steam locomotive led to the revolution of rail travel in the country. At the time of Independence, the Indian Railways experienced an acute shortage of locomotives as a majority of them remained in Pakistan.

The WP 7200 was the first WP class of engine that was handed over to the Indian Railways in the US on 15 August 1947, the day of India’s Independence. Though the engine physically arrived in October 1947. The locomotive which was previously named after Mughal emperor Shahjahan was later re-christened as Azaad (liberated).

The Indian locomotive class WP was introduced after the Second World War, designed especially for high-ash Indian coal. ‘W’ marked the classification code for broad gauge locomotives. The locomotives had a distinct cone-shaped bulging nose with (usually) a silver star painted on it.

According to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, steam locomotive WP 7161 became the standard passenger locomotive for the Indian Railways post 1947. The locomotives were capable of running up to the speed of 110km per hour (kmph). Contrast this with the railways current plan to upgrade its network and focus on indigenous production of semi high-speed trains running between 160 kmph and 200 kmph.

The setting up of the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) in West Bengal—on 26 January 1950, the day India declared itself a Republic—soon scripted a new era in the railways with the factory producing steam locomotives in collaboration with the North British Locomotive Company. The factory, which would later go on to become one of the largest locomotive manufacturers in the world, produced its first WG class steam locomotive on 1 November 1950 which was named after freedom fighter Deshbandu Chittaranjan Das, after whom the factory was also named.

CLW produced broad gauge and metre gauge steam locomotives till 1972. Production of steam locomotives was discontinued in 1972. Today, CLW is the largest maker of electric locomotives in the world.

These locomotives though ‘lost steam’ soon. The last meter gauge steam locomotive, Antim Sitara (The Last Star), was rolled out in 1972. The number of steam locomotives fell from around 2,300 in the early 1990s to around 200 by 1995. On 6 December 1995, WL 15005 named Sher-e-Punjab, the last broad gauge locomotive from Ferozepur to Jalandhar in Punjab ceased to run. By the year 2000, all steam locomotives had stopped running in the country. Though some are still in service on tourist and heritage lines, the sun had set on steam locomotives.

The biggest impact of the phasing out the steam locomotives was on haulage capacity.

“The biggest impact of phasing out the steam locomotives, and building diesel and electric traction, was on the haulage capacity. Both in terms of tonnage per train, the number of loaded wagons with good capacity and horsepower—a diesel or an electric engine can carry which was not possible by a steam engine,” said former Indian Railways’ Accounts Service Officer Akhileshwar Sahay.

There were four distinct advantages of phasing out the steam locos—greater haulage, larger ballroom per train, high speeds, and less pollution. Ballroom refers to tonnage and the number of wagons.

According to transport economist G. Raghuram, the phasing out of steam locomotives helped in increasing the average speeds of the trains as they had a constant requirement of water and coal.

“They could not usually do a long run with the same locomotive and they had to change it every 8-10 hours which meant more locomotive sheds. Because of the change of locomotives, their utilisation was much lower as more locomotives were required and infrastructure to maintain and take care of the locomotives. Another implication was pollution. Because coal was burnt directly, there was a lot of coal dust which affected passengers, the environment and the stations,” said Raghuram, who is also a professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

As of 2015, the Indian railways haul 85% of freight and passenger traffic with electric locomotives. In the suburban railways of Mumbai, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Bangalore, all trains use electric locomotives.

Around the late 1950s, the Indian Railways began favouring diesel and electric traction over steam, and in 1963 CLW began production of electric locomotives. Though electric locomotives began functioning even before independence—the Mumbai-Pune route was electrified as early as 1925 on 1.5 KV DC—the decision to electrify prominent routes in India came by the late 1950s. The first electric train ran between Victoria Terminus and Kurla along the Harbour Line of Central Railways in Mumbai on 3 February 1925.

The French connection

As overhead DC traction had reached its saturation level, the Indian Railways decided to adopt 25 kV 50 Hz AC traction based on the French Railway (SNCF) technology in 1957.

Introduced in 1959, the WAM-1s were among the first AC locomotives to run in India. Manufactured by Kraus-Maffei, Krupp, SFAC and La Brugeoise and Nivelle (50cycles European group), they were mostly deployed by the Eastern Railways in the Howrah-Asansol-Dhanbad-Mughalsarai section.

The Indian Railways’ first fully indigenously designed and built electric locomotive, WAM-4 model, was produced by CLW in 1970-71 and were hailed as the country’s most successful electric locomotives.

Post-1968 CLW began manufacturing diesel-hydraulic locomotives as the production of steam and diesel locomotives were discontinued in 1973 and 1994, respectively, at CLW. It has since been manufacturing only electric engines. It is now the only government electric locomotive producing factory in India.

The other locomotive unit set up in the country was dedicated to diesel traction. The Diesel Locomotive Works (DLF) in Varanasi, set up in 1961, rolled out its first diesel locomotive on 3 January 1964.

As the conversion of Indian Railways’ mainline from steam to diesel in the early 1960s began, the national carrier turned to General Motors Electro-Motive Division and the American Locomotive Co. (ALCO) to seek designs for new diesel locomotives. Following which, both companies submitted their prototypes based on which the Indian Railways began production of its first set of diesel locomotives.

Among the first diesel locomotives which began operating in the country were imported from ALCO in 1962. After the inception of the DLF, all WDM-2 units have been manufactured in the factory.

During the early 1980s, the number of diesel locomotives stood at 1,866, a figure which nearly tripled by 2000-01 to 3,881 diesel locomotives. In comparison, the meter gauge steam locomotives numbers fell from 2,763 during 1980-81 to 33 by 2001-01.

As on 2015, there were 5,375 broad gauge diesel locomotives compared with 5,016 electric locomotives. Also there were only 30 and 203-meter gauge steam and diesel engines respectively, according to the Indian Railways Statistical Publications 2014-15.

According to Sahay, there is a need for faster electrification of railway lines for economic reasons.

The need for speed

Currently, the Indian Railways, which is desperately hoping to meet international standards to make leaps in technology, is experimenting with various modes to modernise its rolling stock. However, it took 163 years to put a toilet in an engine room.

The national carrier has been experimenting with push-pull locomotive which allows the train to be driven from both ends as it has locomotives attached to the front as well as the rear of the train in an effort to boost its speed. The Antayodaya Express, which was announced in the railway budget this year, may be the first train to be hauled by push-pull locomotive.

Apart from the Shinkansen Bullet Train project between train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai which is proposed to be operational by 2023, the national carrier has also expressed interest to explore Maglev train technology which uses magnetic levitation to suspend and propel vehicles with magnets without touching the ground. Maglev trains are said to be the fastest trains in the world.

Railway engines have evolved over the years—from steam, the fire-spiting demons, to technologically advanced electric locomotives and continue to drive the Indian economy.

http://www.vccircle.com/infracircle/steam-magnetic-levitation-indian-railways-quest-traction/

Chennai-Howrah Mail chugs on, 116 years after hitting the tracks this day

CHENNAI: As the country celebrates 70 years of Independence on Monday, the day marks another glorious chapter in the history of the Indian Railways. One of its legendary trains, the Chennai-Howrah Mail, completes, on this day, 116 years of ceaseless operations.

Introduced in 1900 between Madras (Chennai) and Calcutta (then the national capital), it continues to serve as a crucial link for millions of travellers. It has, in fact, become a brand with rail enthusiasts recalling the interesting stories woven round it from its glorious days. Through rain and shine, it has transported in its weather-beaten coaches literally everyone -from casual travellers, holidayers and migrant workers.

Through its more than a century run, the train has a number of firsts, according to members of IRFCA, a forum for railfans.

After being hauled by steam engines for decades, it became in the 1960s the first passenger train to be hauled by a diesel locomotive. "Initially , it was on diesel traction between Howrah and Bhadrak [in Odisha]. Soon after, the entire run was on diesel traction; that cut more than four hours from the journey time," says Kamal, an IRFCA member recalling his experiences.It also had the maximum stoppages en route, ensuring that people in the smallest of places had a rail link.

When the Telugu film industry thrived in Madras, multitudes of its members, especially those hailing from coastal Andhra relied on it. Senior railfan Vijayaraghavan recalls seeing in the 1950s film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi hurrying into the first coach. Over the years, many trains on the Chennai-Howrah route have been withdrawn, but the Mail continues.

A senior railfan and IRFCA member Vijayaraghavan recalls seeing in the 1950s famous film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi hurrying into the first coach.




The Mail was also popular among people in northeastern Andhra Pradesh."It was very convenient because of the timing. It would start from Chennai late at night, and travel throughout Andhra Pradesh for most parts of the day ," recalls a resident of Lakkam Diddi, a tiny village in Srikakulam district.There are several stories about locals pulling the chain as the train neared their villages and getting off there. "The checks were not stringent then," he adds.




This ties in with S Venkatraman's recounting of how it took a long time to reach its destination. The 93year-old former railway employee and railfan who has written books on the history of trains in the country remembers it as being the only train from Chennai to Howrah for more than 30 years. "It had eight wooden coaches in the olden days.Travelling used to be tough.There were bed bugs... There was no catering, no food at the wayside stations.It took more than 36 hours to reach the destination," says Venkatraman, speaking of the numerous journeys he made in it.




In the late 1970s, the railways introduced Coromandel Express on the same route with limited stops to cut down on travelling time between the two cities, forc ing the Mail to play second fiddle. But, the old warhorse has shrugged aside the challenge of its brash, young competitor and soldiers on. It remains THE train on the route for the countless who have travelled by it. Its various features, particularly the evergreen mail van (railway mail service), continuing to embellish their memories.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-the-tracks-this-day/articleshow/53703462.cms