The fiscal FY21 was affected greatly due to the global pandemic Covid-19 and Indian Railways (IR)was no exception. About four months were lost due to imposition of lockdown. However, this did not deter the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification(CORE) in achieving satisfactory progress according to Y P Singh, General Manager CORE.
Delivering his Republic Day address at CORE headquarters in Prayagraj, Singh said “During the current financial year, we have been given a challenging task of electrification of 4,056 RKM. As you all are aware that electrification work was adversely affected during the first few months of this financial year due to Covid lockdown. Despite this, satisfactory progress has been made so far.”
CORE paid special attention to the electrification of leftover missing links and last-mile connectivity sections of important rail routes. Electrification of three such sections Katni-Satna, Kanakpura- Jaipur and Jabalpur-Nainpur-Gondia was completed.
With this, it is now possible to run trains from Patna to Mumbai via Prayagraj, Delhi-Jaipur, Prayagraj-Jaipur and Jabalpur-Nainpur-Gondia on electric traction. Moreover, several southbound trains may now be re-routed via Jabalpur-Nainpur-Gondia instead of Jabalpur- Itarsi-Nagpur saving a distance of 270 km and in the process reducing cost and time.
“Highest ever mast erection and highest ever wiring shots in one day were achieved during this period. CORE has been a pioneer in adopting innovative technologies in railway electrification,” Singh observed.
For the first time in the history of Indian Railways, Chennai project started use of cylindrical foundation for route electrification (RE) works.
Achievements
During FY21 to date, 25 Traction sub-stations (TSS), 73 Sectioning and Paralleling Post (SP)/Sub-Sectioning and Paralleling Post (SP) were commissioned.
Moreover, signalling modifications works to suit RE was done at 69 stations, 29 level crossing gates and 35 new block instruments were replaced.
The engineering department of CORE constructed 49 TSS, 47 depot, 22 tower car shed, 19 foot-over-bridges three road-over-bridges and 492 staff quarters during the current financial year.
CORE also created 86264 for facilitating employment to migrant labour near-by their home district during the pandemic.
Paperless working
CORE has started using e-office resulting in paperless working. Use of e-tender/e-reverse auction will shift the entire process from tendering to issue of work order to digital mode.
CORE is also using user depot module for online indenting, Human Resource Management System (HRMS) for the issue of railway passes electronically and has established an integrated facilitation centre at its head office for this purpose.