Maharashtra: Maintaining rail tracks, Over head equipment vital

The Central Railway (CR) is struggling to maintain its rail network and assets especially on Kalyan-Karjat/Kasara belt. In two consecutive days, there have been cases of disruption due to technical failures. On July 18, a long distance train derailed near Kasara before it entered the suburban corridor, while on July 17 the OHE (over head equipment) cable that supplies electricity to trains suffered failure between Kalyan and Ambernath stations.

On July 18, a trolley of second coach from rear of 12598 CSMT-Gorakhpur Antyodaya Express derailed between Kasara and Igatpuri ghat at about 3.50 am. This however caused no effect on middle and UP line for rail traffic. Sunil Udasi, chief PRO, Central Railway said, "All passengers were shifted in relief train that departed towards destination via Igatpuri."

On July 17 there was another incident trains running towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) were shut for nearly 3.5 hours between Ambernath and Kalyan. Senior officials from CR said that there is hardly any mega blocks that are carried on these two stretches thus comprising maintenance of assets to an extent. This includes working on maintaining rail tracks, OHE cables, signals etc which is vital for smooth train operations. "The train movement between Kalyan-Karjat and Kalyan-Kasara is continuous as the two rail lines are used by both suburban and long distance trains. This leaves little scope for carrying detailed maintenance works and mega blocks which otherwise is possible further south (Kalyan-CSMT section) where are four or more rail lines," explained a senior CR official.