Indian Economy-News & Updates

[anant_s]

GE Evolution Series Locomotives for Indian Railways, dedicated Freight Corridor

ES 58ACi (6000 HP)

ES 43ACmi (4500 HP) (Specifications for ES 44 ACi, which is same as ES 43 ACi, but for Broad Gauge)

 

[Śakra]

GE Evolution Series Locomotives for Indian Railways, dedicated Freight Corridor
View attachment 357169

View attachment 357171 View attachment 357175

ES 58ACi (6000 HP)
View attachment 357176

ES 43ACmi (4500 HP) (Specifications for ES 44 ACi, which is same as ES 43 ACi, but for Broad Gauge)
View attachment 357179

Wow those trains look so ugly.

 

[anant_s]

those trains look so ugly.

Evolution locos have taken their cab and car body design from earlier US DE locos and use well established short hood drive cab and rear radiator design. May be it doesn't look good, but it sure is pretty ergonomic and aerodynamic design.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Railways
02-December, 2016 16:53 IST
Rail Connectivity of Ports

Presently, 12 major ports (six on Western and six on Eastern Coasts) are already connected with Indian Railway network. Capacity augmentation of the lines linking the ports to hinterland is taken up on a need-based manner.

Rail connectivity to some of non-major ports namely Mundra, Dahej, Pipavav, Dhamra and Krishnapatnam etc have been provided under Public Private Partnership. A participative policy for rail connectivity has been issued in December, 2012 to facilitate rail connectivity to upcoming ports and mines through Public Private Participation. Several ports projects which have been granted approval/in-principle approval under the participative policy for rail connectivity are Jaigarh, Dighi, Riwas, Astaranga, Chhara, Nargol and Hazira.

This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on 2 December 2016 (Friday).

******

 

[Śakra]

Evolution locos have taken their cab and car body design from earlier US DE locos and use well established short hood drive cab and rear radiator design. May be it doesn't look good, but it sure is pretty ergonomic and aerodynamic design.

View attachment 357255 View attachment 357256 View attachment 357257

Wish they would have used European train body designs

 

[AndrewJin]

Wow those trains look so ugly.

I don't think so....
They look masculine....

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/business/Su...-per-cent-in-2016-17-ISMA/article14477993.ece
Sugar production in India, the world’s second largest sugar producer after Brazil, is estimated to have fallen to 25.1 million tonnes in the current 2015-16 marketing year ending September from 28.3 million tonnes in the previous year.

Releasing the preliminary estimate, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said sugar output was pegged at 23.26 million tonnes in 2016-17. “This is about 1.8-1.9 million tonnes less than the current 2015-16 production of around 25.1 million tonnes.”

Drought

This is in line with the government’s estimate of 23-23.5 million tonnes for the next year. ISMA attributed the likely fall in sugar output to 5.5 per cent decline in sugarcane acreage to 4.99 million hectare in 2016-17 as against 5.28 million hectare in the previous year.

This would result in lower cane output.

According to ISMA data, sugar production in Maharasthra — the biggest producing State — is estimated to decline to around 6.15 million tonnes in 2016-17 from 8.40 million tonnes in the current year.

“Maharashtra’s cane area has declined in 2016-17, which is mainly due to drought-like situation last year, poor rainfall and lesser water availability for irrigation,” ISMA said in a statement.

The cane area in the state is down at 7,80,000 hectare as against of 1.05 million hectare in 2015-16, it added.

Sugar production in Uttar Pradesh — the second largest sugar producing state — is estimated to rise to 7.54 million tonnes in 2016-17 marketing year from 6.82 million tonnes in the current year.

 

[Hindustani78]

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)07-December, 2016 19:48 IST
Cabinet approves Nutrient Based Subsidy rates for Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizers for the year 2016-17

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the proposal of half yearly review of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers for the year 2016-17.


Accordingly, in the interest of farmers, it has been decided to roll over the existing subsidy rates as given below for another six months till the end of the financial year 2016-17.


It has also been decided to ensure that any fall in the international prices should be reflected by the fertilizers companies with subsequent reduction in MRPs.


(Per Kg subsidy rates in Rs.)


Period ---------------------------------------------------------- N(Nitrogen)- P (Phosphorus)-K(Potash)-S(Sulphur)

2nd half of FY 2016-17 (from October’16 to March’17)--------15.854--------------13.241------15.470------2.044



With fall in international prices, the MRP of P&K fertilizers was reduced in July 2016. The fertilizer companies reduced the 50 Kg. bag prices of Muriate of Potash (MOP) by Rs. 250, Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) by Rs. 125 and Complex fertilizers by Rs. 50.


This is expected to result in increase in consumption of P&K fertilizers which will result in balanced fertilization. As a result the yield from the crops will increase resulting in enhanced income to the farmers.


*****

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Railways
07-December, 2016 16:56 IST
Utilisation of Renewable Energy

Vision 2020 document of the Indian Railways envisages to utilize at least 10% of its energy requirement from renewable sources.

Indian Railways (IR) has planned to source about 1000 Mega Watt (MW) Solar Power as part of its Solar Mission. Further, Indian Railways also plans to harness about 200 MW of wind power in next five years based on techno commercial assessment. Out of this, about 50 MW (14 MW solar and 36 MW wind power) renewable power has already been set up.

Energy audit on IR is an ongoing process and in the last year, about 200 energy audits were done. To improve energy efficiency, it has been decided to use LED lights in all Railway installations progressively and till date, about 200 Stations have been provided with LED lighting.

This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 07.12.2016 (Wednesday).

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Ministry of Railways
07-December, 2016 16:55 IST
CCTVs In Suburban Trains

Sanction for provision of CCTV cameras in 500 coaches has been obtained under the Rolling Stock Programme 2015-16. Work has already been completed in about 25 passenger coaches and 32 suburban coaches that have been commissioned in service.

Feedback from train passengers has not been sought since it is a provision for improving the Passenger security.

This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 07.12.2016 (Wednesday).

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Ministry of Railways07-December, 2016 16:54 IST
Diesel Engines and Electric Engines in Railways

Zone-wise number of diesel and electric engines in operation as on 01.11.2016 is given below: -

Zonal Railway-Nos. of Diesel Locos- Nos. of Electric Locos - Total

Central Railway-314-622-936
Eastern Railway-327-257-584
East Central Railway-322-403-725
East Coast Railway-267-344-611
Northern Railway-540-410-950
North Central Railway-130-421-551
North Eastern Railway-256- - - 256
Northeast Frontier Railway-411- - 411
North Western Railway-271- - - - 271
Southern Railway- 304-449-753
South Central Railway-599-591-1190
South Eastern Railway-293-605-898
South East Central Railway-154-222-376
South Western Railway-347- - - 347
Western Railway-428-399-827
West Central Railway-393-604-997

Total nos. of Diesel and Electric locos on Indian Railways – 10683



This Press Release is based on the information given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on 07.12.2016 (Wednesday).


****

 

[Hindustani78]

The two additional coaches for Cancer and Family Health Services on the Lifeline Express, the World’s First Hospital Train being inaugurated by the Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu along with the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J.P. Nadda, at New Delhi Railway Station on December 08, 2016.

The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu along with the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J.P. Nadda addressing the media after inaugurating the two additional coaches for Cancer and Family Health Services on the Lifeline Express, the World’s First Hospital Train, at New Delhi Railway Station on December 08, 2016.

The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu along with the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J.P. Nadda inaugurating the two additional coaches for Cancer and Family Health Services on the Lifeline Express, the World’s First Hospital Train, at New Delhi Railway Station on December 08, 2016.

The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu along with the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Shri J.P. Nadda being briefed after inaugurating the two additional coaches for Cancer and Family Health Services on the Lifeline Express, the World’s First Hospital Train, at New Delhi Railway Station on December 08, 2016.

The Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and the Union Minister for Steel, Shri Chaudhary Birender Singh flagging off the daily Hazrat Nizamuddin - Visakhapatnam, Samta Express, now renamed as Vizag Steel Samta Express, at Nizamuddin Railway Station, in New Delhi on December 08, 2016. The Minister of State for Steel, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, the Secretary, Steel, Dr. Aruna Sharma, the Chairman SAIL, Shri P.K. Singh and the CMD RINL, Shri P. Madhusudan are also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
09-December, 2016 18:21 IST
Availability of Cold Storages

The Government has got a study done on “Assessment of Quantitative Harvest and Post-Harvest Losses of Major Crops and Commodities in India” by ICAR - Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana. The study was commissioned in 2012 and the final report submitted on 31.03.2015. The study has estimated that annual value of harvest and post-harvest losses of major agricultural produces at national level was of the order of Rs. 92,651 crore calculated using production data of 2012-13 at 2014 wholesale prices.

The CIPHET study has assessed the losses at each stage of supply chain viz harvesting, collection, thrashing, grading/sorting, winnowing/cleaning, drying, packaging, transportation and storage depending upon the commodity.

It may further be mentioned that National Center for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare had commissioned a study on “All India Cold Chain Infrastructure Capacity (Assessment of Status & Gap)” conducted by NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd.(NABCONS). As per the gap study, the cold chain requirement in the country stands at 35 million tonnes of cold storage vis-a vis available capacity of 32 million tonnes. This study however, excluded the requirement for milk, meat, marine and processed products.

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare under Component of Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension (SAME) provide support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms. This Programme isunder implementation in 652 rural districts of 29 States & 3 UTs across the country and provides training, information and extension support to farmers through trainings, exposure visits, demonstrations, study tours, farm schools etc. Through above interactions, farmers are educated on aspects of agriculture including improved methods of storage. This Scheme has recently been revised to include manpower support; roping in the farmers’ feed back in to planning by setting up Farmer Advisory Committees (FACs) at Block/ District & State Level and providing farmer-to-farmer learning and extension support through Farmer Friend. The Modified Scheme has dedicated Specialists & Functionary Support at State (2 per state), District (5 per district) & Block level (4 per Block). Various activities supported under this initiative for educating and creating awareness amongst farmers include trainings, exposure visits, demonstration, study tours of farm schools etc. Since inception, 4 crore farmers have been benefited through various farmer oriented activities which includes trainings in modern and affordable methods to farmers for prevention of wastages.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

*****

Ministry of Food Processing Industries
09-December, 2016 18:22 IST
Lack of Cold Storages

The Government has got a study done on “Assessment of Quantitative Harvest and Post-Harvest Losses of Major Crops and Commodities in India” by ICAR - Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET), Ludhiana. The study was commissioned in 2012 and the final report submitted on 31.03.2015. The study has estimated that annual value of harvest and post-harvest losses of major agricultural produces at national level was of the order of Rs. 92,651 crore calculated using production data of 2012-13 at 2014 wholesale prices.


Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare underComponent of Sub-Mission on Agricultural Extension (SAME) provide support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms. This Programme isunder implementation in 652 rural districts of 29 States & 3 UTs across the country and provides training, information and extension support to farmers through trainings, exposure visits, demonstrations, study tours, farm schools etc. Through above interactions, farmers are educated on aspects of agriculture including improved methods of storage. This Scheme has recently been revised to include manpower support; roping in the farmers’ feed back in to planning by setting up Farmer Advisory Committees (FACs) at Block/ District & State Level and providing farmer-to-farmer learning and extension support through Farmer Friend. The Modified Scheme has dedicated Specialists & Functionary Support at State (2 per State), District (5 per district) & Block level (4 per Block).



National Horticulture Board(NHB) under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has got conducted an “All India Cold Storage Capacity & Technology - Baseline Survey” through M/s Hansa Research Group Pvt. Ltd. Mumbai. The report contains data for cold storages which were constructed up to March, 2013 (i.e. up to 2012-13). As per this report, 5367 cold storages were in operation in the country. Details of cold storages in the country including Maharashtra are enclosed at Annexure.



In order to arrest post-harvest losses of horticulture & non-horticulture produce and to provide integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities from the farm gate to the consumer or from the production site to the market,Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing the Central Sector Scheme of Cold Chain, Value Addition and Preservation Infrastructure Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided in the form of grant-in-aid of maximum Rs10 Crore per project for setting up of integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure facilities. The Integrated cold chain and preservation infrastructure can be set up by individuals, groups of entrepreneurs, cooperative societies, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), NGOs, Central/State PSUs, etc. The scheme is primarily private sector driven and proposals under this scheme are invited through Expression of Interest (EOI).



In addition, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture(MIDH) and National Horticulture Board (NHB), under Department of Agriculture, Cooperation& Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture& Farmers Welfare are also providing assistance for setting up cold storages under their respective schemes., the proposals under MIDH scheme are accepted round the year. These schemes are demand driven from entrepreneurs, private companies, co-operatives, farmers groups, self-help groups, etc for which assistance in the form of grant-in-aid/subsidy is provided by the Government.



This information was given by the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

*********

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Railways
09-December, 2016 16:37 IST
Minister of Railways inspects the rake of Humsafar Express

Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inspected the rake of Humsafar Express today i.e. 9 December 2016 at Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station. In his Budget Speech of 2016-17, he had announced the introduction of Humsafar Express, as a fully air-conditioned third AC service with an optional service for meals.

Accordingly, the first Humsafar rake comprising of LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) AC – 3 Tier coaches and Power cars has been turned out from Modern Coach Factory, Raebareli on 12th November 2016. The Humsafar coaches offer better facilities / amenities for the passengers, some of which are listed below:


1. Aesthetically pleasing colour scheme with anti-graffiti coating and distinctive 3D numbering on the exterior.

2. Pleasing interiors with attractive and colourfully co-ordinated seats, berths, partitions, curtains, improved/hygienic toilets, film type mirrors, etc.

3. Deodorizer, Dustbins, Sleek bottle holders in the cabins

4. Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) surveillance of the common areas of the coaches.

5. Integrated Braille displays for the visually impaired.

6. Hygienic lavatories with odour flushing system

7. Global Positioning System (GPS) based Passenger information system

8. Passenger announcement system

9. Fire and Smoke detection system in the coaches.

10. Fire detection and suppression system in the Power cars

11. Equipped with Auto Vending Machine and Mini Pantry with Oven/Fridge

A total of 10 Humsafar trains have been announced by the Ministry of Railways in the new time table. Of these, Train No. 12595 Gorakhpur-Anand Vihar (T) Humsafar Express, with a composition of 16 AC 3 Tier coaches and 2 Power cars, shall be the first Humsafar train that is going to be inaugurated soon.

It is planned to manufacture 10 Humsafar rakes during the current financial year at Modern Coach Factory, Raebareli and Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala. The cost of a Humsafar AC 3 Tier coach Rs.2.58 crores, as compared to Rs.2.39 crores for a normal LHB AC 3 Tier coach.

******

The Humsafar Train being inspected by the Union Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, in New Delhi on December 09, 2016.

 

[Rangila]

 

[Hindustani78]

http://indianexpress.com/article/in...uty-on-cloth-from-china-smriti-irani-4421640/
Govt may impose ‘dumping duty’ on cloth from China: Smriti Irani

Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani visits powerlooms, reassures workers

Written by Srinath Rao | Mumbai | Updated: December 11, 2016 2:02 pm

Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani speaks to a worker at a powerloom in Bhiwandi on Saturday. (Source: Express photo by Deepak Joshi)

THE Union government is considering imposing a “dumping duty” on cloth imported from China, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said on Saturday. Irani visited several powerlooms in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra and spoke to workers on Saturday afternoon, promising to revive the once booming industry.

“I know you want more people to source cloth directly from you. Out of Rs 6,000 crore in the current garment policy, Rs 2,000 crore will be allotted to the made-ups sector,” she said at a meeting of powerloom owners.

She added that the government was working on a policy to stem the flow of cheap cloth into India. “I cannot make any announcements about it here but I will move the policy in Parliament. As the Parliament is currently in session, I cannot talk in detail about it,” she said.

However, Irani added that she had planned meetings with the textile councils next week, and promised to also meet industry representatives from the textile towns Bhiwandi, Malegaon, Icchalkaranji and Coimbatore.

BJP MP from Bhiwandi, Kapil Patil, who was part of Irani’s delegation on Saturday added, “The government is working on changing the existing policy where cloth is imported from China and instead impose a dumping duty on imports.”

Powerloom owner Sharadram Sejpal claimed that Irani was the first union textile minister to visit Bhiwandi.

“I showed her around my plant and she inspected machines that have remained shut for the past nine months. We want her to boost exports and stop Chinese cloth,” he said.

He added that Irani also promised to resolve the hike in electricity prices. “I hope she can do something to make electricity affordable to us. Once the bills start coming in, there will be trouble in Bhiwandi,” he said.

Irani also spoke to several employees at the looms. “They told me that they do not have bank accounts. The government plans to open 40,000 bank accounts. Already, forms of 2,000 workers have been submitted to banks. I will speak to the district magistrate and chiefs of all banks to quickly open accounts,” she said. Irani added that once the accounts were opened, the workers would be taught to operate banking services using their phones.

Of the nearly 13 lakh powerlooms in the state, 7 lakh are located in Bhiwandi. An estimated 60 per cent of these are currently lying shut due to demonetisation, according to Purushottam Vanga, Vice Chairman, Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council.”

“80 per cent of our workforce of 5 lakh comprises migrants and half of them have gone back home because we are unable to pay them. We pay them in cash twice a month, but have not been able to do so last month,” he said. Vanga added that Irani also promised to resolve the crisis of a large quantity of readymade cloth lying unsold in markets due to demonetisation.

 

[Rangila]

Shakuntala Railways: India's only private railway line

Indian Railways has been undergoing tremendous progress in terms of service and new trains. It also boasts of operating one of the largest railway networks in the world.

However, there is one little known railway line in Maharashtra that is not owned by the government but a private company in Britain.

Shakuntala Railways, built during the British Raj is a 190 km long narrow gauge railway line between Yavatmal and Murtijapur. During the colonial era, trains on this track were run by Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIPR) which operated across Central India.

Strangely, when the railways was nationalied in 1952, this line was neglected. The tracks are still owned by the firm that laid them in the nineteenth century.

Shakuntala Railways still use narrow gauge lines and makes just one return journey every day. At present, the train takes around 20 hours to cover the 190km distance between Yavatmal and Achalpur in Amravati district. The train is lifeline to poor people who travel between these two villages in Maharashtra.