RPF rededicates itself to passenger safety

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) celebrated its 59th Raising Day at the Railway Stadium on Wednesday. Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Ashok Kumar was the chief guest at the event.

Speaking on the occasion, SR Gandhi, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner of RPF, Vijayawada, said the force with a total strength of 70,000 personnel is committed to safeguard the railway properties and ensuring the safety of passengers.

“The RPF has strengthened security at the railway stations which come under the purview of Vijayawada Division, by installing CCTV cameras. The RPF with a strength of 800 personnel has also stepped up surveillance in the division to ensure the safety of passengers.

A constant vigil is being maintained to keep the railway stations free from anti-social elements. It has registered 38 cases this year against touts for selling railway tickets illegally,” he said.

Speaking after inspecting the RPF parade, DRM Ashok Kumar commended the key role played by the force during Godavari Pushkarams in regulating the pilgrim rush at railway stations in the division. “The RPF is also playing a vital role in checking pilferage and other anomalies during freight movement.

We operate about 30 goods trains per day from Vijayawada. About 15 to 20 rakes are loaded with different goods a day. With the sanctioning of the third rail line for Vijayawada - Gudur and Vijayawada - Duvvada sections, the freight movement is expected to rise further fetching more revenue for the division, which set a loading target of 40 million tonnes for the current fiscal.

The RPF needs to be more vigilant to ensure smooth operation of goods trains,” he said. Additional Divisional Railway Manager NSR Prasad and other officials also participated in the celebrations.

8 trains between Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam & Dharmavaram In order to clear extra rush of passengers, SCR will run eight special trains between Vijayawada- Visakhapatnam and Visakhapatnam- Dharmavaram.

Train No. 07271 Vijayawada- Visakhapatnam special train will depart Vijayawada at 23:00 hrs on September 3 and September 10 and arrive at Visakhapatnam at 06:50 hrs on the next day.

In the return direction, Train No. 07272 Visakhapatnam- Vijayawada Special Train will depart Visakhapatnam at 22:55 hrs on 6th and 13th September, 2015 and arrive Vijayawada at 05:10 hrs on the next day.

Enroute both these special trains will stop at Eluru, Tadepalligudem, Nidadavolu, Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Annavaram, Tuni, Anakapalli and Duvvada stations. Visakhapatnam – Dharmavaram- Visakhapatnam Special Train (4 services)

Train No. 07273 Visakhapatnam- Dharmavaram Special Train will depart Visakhapatnam at 16:45 hrs on 4th and 11th September, 2015 and arrive Dharmavaram at 12:40 hrs on the next day.

In the return direction, Train No. 07274 Dharmavaram- Visakhapatnam Special Train will depart Dharmavaram at 14:30 hrs on 5th and 12th September, 2015 and arrive Visakhapatnam at 10:25 hrs on the next day.

Enroute both these special trains will stop at Duvvada, Anakapalli, Tuni, Annavaram, Samalkot, Rajahmundry , Tadepalligudem, Eluru, Vijayawada, Guntur, Narsaraopet, Vinukonda, Donakonda, Markapur Road, Cumbum, Giddalur, Nandyal, Betamcherla, Dhone, Gooty, and Anantapur stations.

All these above special trains will have 16 coaches viz, one AC II Tier, one AC III Tier, seven Sleeper Class, five General Second Class and two Luggage cum Brake Van Coaches.