A) 1st fully centralized AC terminal in Bengaluru
India’s first centralized AC terminal has been commissioned at Bengaluru station. The new AC terminal has been named as M Visvesvaraya Terminal Bengaluru (Byappanahal Terminal).
The new terminal will provide airport like experience to passengers along with many facilities. It will be made operational soon.
Bengaluru AC terminal Amenities
1.The centralised AC terminal has been built at a cost of Rs 314 crore.
2. The terminal is spread over an area of 4200Sq m and the capacity to cater to about 50000 passengers per day.
3. The terminal will have upper class waiting hall, VIP lounges, escalators etc.
4. The terminal has also built a high-tech parking facility and can house around 300 cars and 900 two wheelers.
B) Latest Push-Pull Locos in Mumbai Rajdhani Ex. Boon for passengers
The Rajdhani express In Mumbai-Delhi and Mumbai-Kolkata routes have been provided with latest push-pull haul locomotives.
This is to reduce the journey time of passengers on major routes like Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata by 60 to 90 minutes.
The push-pull technology has numerous advantages as the increase in safety, reduction in travel time, jerk-free travel, reduction in fuel cost etc.
C) India to export Locomotives to Mozambique
Indian Railways will export six 3000 HP Cape Gauge locomotives to Mozambique.
The 3000 HP AC-AC traction cape gauge diesel locomotive is designed and developed by Indian Railways’ Banaras Locomotive Works in a record time of 14 months.
The 3000 HP Cape Gauge locomotive has been manufactured under the Modi government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
D) India will export coaches to Sri Lanka
Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) will supply 160 coaches to Sri-Lanka Railways as a part of the India-Sri Lanka cooperation. Already 10 coaches were delivered to Sri Lankan Railways.
E) CLW creates history, produced 350th loco in 248 working days despite Covid
Indian Railways’ Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) in West Bengal has achieved landmark production performance with rolling out of its 350th locomotive of the financial year 2020-21.
The 350th locomotive of fiscal 2020-21 was rolled by CLW on 11 March 2021.
Despite the pandemic crisis, this feat has been achieved in just 248 working days, This is the best ever production by CLW till now.
F) Arunachal Pradesh to urge Indian Railways to fast-track broad gauge project
A new broad gauge line is being constructed from Murkonseleg in the state of Assam to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal CM Shri Pema Khandu has requested the Railway Ministry to fast track the project.
The railway project was stalled due to Land compensation issues for which CM has ordered an enquiry.
G) First Electric Locomotive run in Assam
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited(RVNL) which conducted the trial run wrote on Twitter,
” RVNL completed an electric loco trial between Bongaigaon-Sorupeta on 18.02.2021. This is the first electric traction in operation in Assam changing the dynamics of train operations in NE region with green energy, efficient and environment-friendly options.”