Railways by far is the most less polluting mode of transport – GM Northern Railway
New Delhi: Shobhan Choudhury, General Manager, Northern Railway addressed a press conference at the Head Office of Northern Railway at Baroda House, New Delhi. Media persons and reporters from leading news channels and newspapers participated in the conference. During this, the Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway and other officers were also present.
Addressing his first press conference after taking over as General Manager of Northern Railway in April, 2023, he presented the achievements of Northern Railway during the last financial year. He also shared the future plans of Northern Railway in the coming year in terms of safety, punctuality, increasing the share of freight carried by Railways and building infrastructure.
He also stressed on the issue of energy efficiency, shifting from diesel to electric system in rail operations and environment, including use of solar power, water recycling and rain water harvesting.
Talking about the status of the USBRL project to connect Kashmir with Kanyakumari, he said that the two tunnels have a length of 200 m. Most of the work on the project has been completed except what Minister of Railways announced during his visit to Chenab Bridge where he talked of the completion of the project in February, 2024.
On the subject of increasing the speed of trains, the General Manager said that on the parts of the railway where trains are to be operated at high speed, boundary walls will be arranged, so that cattle and humans can be prevented from crossing the tracks.
To facilitate smooth movement of rail and road traffic, ROB/RUB is being arranged in place of manned level crossings. Railways is also going to run a hydrogen train in the heritage Kalka-Shimla section. This will reduce pollution in the delicate Himalayan ecosystem.
He called upon media persons to help popularize Railways as a preferred mode of freight transport. He said that Railways is the least polluting mode, can carry goods in bulk, is also the safest mode of transport with assured and timely delivery.
