Electronic Interlocking is progressively installed at Railway stations over Southern Railway. Electronic Interlocking creates a synergic relationship between signals and points improving the safety and punctuality of trains.
- Under the guidance and mentorship of Shri. R.Baskaran, Principal Chief Signal & Telecommunications Engineer, Southern Railway, self reliance on Electronic Interlocking (EI) in Medha make EI was achieved in Madurai Division by successfully performing and testing circuit alteration at Ayyalur station.
- In order to carry out the EI alteration, a model Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) set-up was commissioned at the Office of Sr Section Engineer/Signal at Dindigul.
- This set up comprises of one Personal Computer (PC) for operating the station yard, another PC for simulation tool (FSP) and both are connected through RS232 cable working in unison.
- FAT set-up at Dindigul is a pioneer work which will be used as a training module for Railway Engineers to perform circuit alteration and FAT testing thereby enriching their knowledge and capacity and also it will be a model architecture for carrying out further alterations in Electronic Interlocking at various stations leading Southern Railway towards achieving Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.
Recent Progress:
On 06-11-2020, Sh. John Thomas, General Manager, Southern Railway conducted a virtual review meeting with the Business Development Units (BDUs) of Headquarters and the six divisions and impressed upon them to focus on increasing freight business and take measures to smoothen the process of doing business with Railways for its freight and parcel customers. The virtual meeting was attended by Additional General Manager, Principal Chief Operations Manager, Principal Chief Commercial Manager, Divisional Railway Managers of six divisions and all the members of the BDU units at Zonal and Divisional level.
- A detailed review of the marketing efforts taken by the divisions in capturing new traffic by Rail was made and discussions were held on various new proposals under consideration for increasing the freight and parcel business of Southern Railway.
- With the pro-active marketing initiatives of BDUs, Southern Railway has captured various new streams of traffic during the last three months.
- This includes limestone, Clinker, Gypsum, MOP, Harvester machines, Mosquito nets, automobiles, etc.
- A time-tabled Parcel Cargo Express train (PCET) service has commenced between Coimbatore and Patel Nagar near Delhi to facilitate timely delivery of parcels to customers.
- In the review meeting, various proposals for running some more new Parcel cargo express trains were discussed.
- After a detailed review, General Manager, Southern Railway advised all the members of the BDUs to work in close association with rail freight and parcel customers toward increasing Railway’s Freight and parcel business and adopt measures that will help in bringing about ease of doing business with Railways for its customers.
- As a part of pan-India marketing strategy, Southern Railway had formed Business Development Units (BDUs), in the month of July, at Zonal level and divisional level comprising of officers from Operating, Commercial, Accounts and Mechanical wings.
- The primary focus of these units is to bring Railways closer to Industry and Trade and as well as increase the Railway’s share in the transportation of goods in various sectors including non-bulk goods traffic.
- Besides, the BDUs will share with its Freight customers and the representatives of Industry and trade various freight incentives and schemes introduced by the Railway board and facilitate in expediting their proposals come to fruition.
Indian Railway has rolled out Freight Business Development Portal (https://www.fois.indianrail.gov.in/RailSAHAY/index.jsp) to enable the freight customers access to all the required information. Help line 139 is also enabled to cater to the suggestions and complaints of both freight and parcel customers.
Source: Southern Railway-Press Release | Image Credit (representational): South Central Railway
