Railway Budget 2012-13 Timing / Telecast Schedule

Railway Budget 2012-13 will be presented by Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. The timing of the Rail Budget presentation is 12 noon.


Here is the schedule of Railway Budget Telecast and Rail Budget News on Television Channels:

DD National

10.30 am: Pre railway budget analysis - LIVE

11.00 am: Question hour - LIVE

12 noon: Union Railway Budget Presentation - LIVE

DD News

11.00 am: Rail Budget

CNBC Awaaz

11.30 am: Rail Budget Special

12 noon: Rail Budget Speech

 

CNBC TV 18

11.30 am: Rail Budget Speech and Analysis
CNN IBN

12 noon: Railway Budget 2012 speech

NDTV India (Hindi)

12 noon: Railway Budget 2012 speech

There are speculations about increase in train travel fare. Well, considering that their hasn't been any significant fare hike in the recent years, there has been much development and compared to other means of transport (arguing rickshawallahs and cabwallahs, overpriced flights, etc.) train travel is much better, a small increase in rail fare should not disappoint the daily commuters.

Also, lesser number of new trains are expected this year. but you never know until the rail budget is read out. So let's hope for the best and travel safe.

Stay tuned on this site / our Facebook page for updates / highlights of Railway Budget 2012-2013.

feel free to discuss the rail budget on the Twitter page of this site (for mentions, pls use @MumbaiLocals).

Click here for all the Rail Budget posts on this site (Railway budget highlights of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

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Nerul-Thane Local Train Time Table 2012

Here's the latest Nerul-Thane time table effective from February 2012:

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Thane-Nerul Local Train Time Table 2012

Here's the latest Thane-Nerul time table effective from February 2012:

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Have you saved 9833331111 on your phone?

Holi Special:Commuting by Mumbai local trains can be sometimes difficult during Holi when miscreants throw water balloons towards passing trains. 

To help commuters, Government Railway Police (GRP) has urged people to call up on the helpline number 9833331111 and report such nuisance.

Thanking Akshay Iyer for sharing this info.

Click on this link to find all the Railway Helpline Numbers.

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The 4th Seat Rules

4th Seat might be a non-existent term in the first class gents compartments of Mumbai local trains. However, in the general and ladies compartments the fourth seat means a lot. Also, there are quite some unspoken, unofficial rules and fundas surrounding the famed fourth seat. Let me take you through the list:

1 - It is the fourth seat occupant who sits sideways / occupies the least seat space. If two places are already occupied and you and a 'competition' aim for those, there's a simple rule. You can't occupy the 4th seat completely leaving negligible bum space for the third seat occupant. Firstly, it leaves three people sitting uncomfortably. Secondly, it results in blocking the standee space between two benches.

2 - The fourth seat occupant has to struggle a lot as people walk through the gangway. The knees are brushed and the feet can be stamped with many heels. If you are wearing a saree, God bless you coz the saree pleats can be spoiled.

3 - The fourth seat occupant gets the least ventilation in a crowded train.

4 - The fourth seat occupant can be subjected to holding the cardboard boxes when vendors selling accessories carry out their business in the trains.

5 - When window seat, second / third seat commuter gets up, it's the 'right' of fourth seatwaala to slide inside leaving the fourth seat vacant.

No one's going to penalize you if you do not follow these unofficial rules, but unless you want to invite nasty looks and arguments and unnecessary kichkich, you rather treat this as a guide when you travel by a Mumbai local train.

PS Nothing's official about all these points. It's just and attempt to make your commute peaceful and jhagdaafree!

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Station discrimination or what?

Yesterday a Mumbai local train commuter posted about his lost bag in a train. He was wondering if and how he can get it back. Of course, I was unable to see the post instantly and could not guide him about the immediate steps to be taken. Incidentally, today's newspaper speaks about an abandoned tiffin box.

While the commuters' presence of mind is commendable, as they reported it to the helpline number immediately, the lack of facilities to handle such situations is a cause of concern.

The passengers alerted the RPF control room as soon as the train departed from Borivali station. However, a cop boarded the train only at Andheri! Apparently, bomb squads are deployed only at 'major' stations!

Imagine the fear among the commuters who spent 20 minutes thinking about the dreadful terror attacks that had stirred Mumbai in the past! It's a shame that still only few stations have bomb squads. At least one cop per station should be trained to handle such situations instantly, at least least the control room should be equipped to direct such calls to the concerned authorities without delay...

What bothers me also is the 'major stations' bit. I wonder how the railway authorities are deciding on which station is major and which isn't. Coz every single life, regardless of station, is a major life, isn't it?

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Mega block timings - 26th February 2012

Like most Sundays, Central Railway will operate a mega block on 26th February as well. Here are the mega block timings:

Slow trains leaving Mulund from 10.35 am to 3.37 pm will be diverted on down fast line up to Kalyan station. These trains will not halt at Kalva, Mumbra, Diva, Kopar and Thakurli stations.

Harbour line trains leaving Vashi between 10.21 am and 4.16 pm will be suspended between Vashi and Kurla stations.

Harbour line trains leaving Kurla between 10.38 am to 4.08 pm will be suspended between Kurla and Vashi stations.

Special local trains will run on CST-Kurla and Vashi-Panvel sections during the block period. Harbour line passengers are permitted to travel Via Thane-Vashi/Nerul on their valid ticket.

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One more dies crossing tracks!

Reports of people dying while crossing tracks are increasing these days. These are read by all those who read newspapers, yet, people continue to cross tracks.

On Monday, a 4-year-old girl was hit by a train (more info) since her family had to cross tracks due to unavailability of a FOB in Mumbra*. Yesterday (22nd February 2012), a 27-year-old man died while crossing tracks near Govandi station. While people and newspapers are complaining (rightfully) about unavailability of helpers, they still continue to cross tracks. Most of them are an educated lot!

Youngsters, especially college students are often spotted avoiding the FOB to reach 'faster'. They realise that it's dangerous, yet they think, "I will be able to reach the other side before any train comes, I am smart enough!" Seldom they realise that the 'other side' might not have a way back.

I offer my condolences to the family of the victim and I understand that if there was no delay in availability of helpers, the man might have been saved.

But seriously, I urge you all not to cross railway tracks. Instead of saving that one minute by avoiding FOB / subway, you can save time by leaving home a minute earlier, spending a minute less in watching the television or waking up on time without putting your alarm on snooze!

Please spread the message and encourage people against crossing tracks.

*Mumbra residents have been demanding a foot over-bridge for a long time.

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