Plans afoot to develop Bidar’s ‘karez’

Source:The Hindu :_

Engineers taking measurements of the karez system at Naubad in Bidar.— photo: by special arrangement


The State government will take up comprehensive development of the ‘karez’ or ‘surang bavi’ system, the medieval era underground aqueduct, to transform them into an international tourist attraction.

The area above the surang in Naubad will become a no-construction zone and a boulevard will be built over it. Also, interpretation boards will be put up along the way and visitors will be able to descend into the mouth of the duct and walk up some distance.

“The Indian Heritage Cities Network (IHCN), the consulting agency, has proposed an action plan of development in four stages. The first stage is getting the go ahead,” Anurag Tewari, Deputy Commissioner, told The Hindu .

Each stage entails an expenditure of around Rs. 1 crore. The first phase will focus on purifying water that flows under the vents, strengthening the laterite rock structure for safety and security, and clearing of encroachments around the structure. Construction of new buildings and roads will not be allowed over the structure. The existing structures will be asked to follow some guidelines to make sure they don’t damage the heritage structure, Mr. Tewari said.

Illegal structures in the no-construction zone will be removed, he said.

Kishore Raykar, chief executive officer of IHCN, said strengthening the structure will be of utmost importance.

“We have requested experts from IIT-Hyderabad to examine the structure. Some of them have already had an exposure visit to Bidar. Once we have them on board, it will be a long term association. We have urged the government to let us use the services of the experts. The Deputy Commissioner has assured us that he would provide all cooperation,” Mr. Raykar said. According to him, water sampling of all the wells along the Surang Bavi will begin soon.

source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/plans-afoot-to-develop-bidars-karez/article8379071.ece




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TCAS undergoing trials

Source: TheHindu:-

Field trials of Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) providing real-time display of signalling information inside the locomotive cab to help drivers run the trains at higher speeds was tested by the South Central Railway (SCR) on Monday.

TCAS has been introduced on 250 km stretch of Lingampalli – Vikarabad – Wadi Section and on Vikarabad – Bidar section of SCR for extensive field trials.

SCR General Manager Ravindra Gupta inspected the system being tested on the Lingampalli-Vikarabad section of Secunderabad division. Mr. Gupta extensively reviewed TCAS implementation on the run and wanted field trials be completed at the earliest by addressing the teething problems.

TCAS is an indigenously developed system of Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO), Lucknow, as well as the SCR.



TCAS is an indigenously developed system of RDSO, Lucknow, as well as the SCR


Source:http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/tcas-undergoing-trials/article8383376.ece


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Train Engine Damaged in 'Sabotage'

Source:NewindianExpress :-

Fishplates left near the track by the Constructions department were put on the tracks by miscreants in a suspected sabotage attempt on the railway track near Yelahanka; The punctured tank of the engine

 The Yeshwantpur-Bidar Express with over 600 passengers on board escaped from a suspected sabotage attempt on the tracks on Saturday night, say railway officials.

As the train approached Yelahanka at 7.23 pm, the wheels of the train hit four fish plates and a rail piece found scattered on the track, said a top RPF official. The engine was damaged and the train was stopped immediately. The role of miscreants is suspected, he added.

Fishplates play a crucial role in keeping the tracks intact. Rail tracks come in pieces and are welded together to make them a single line. After the welding is done, a bar with many bolts in it is used on both sides of the track to secure the welded portion as an additional safety measure, explained Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (SDCM) Bengaluru Division, N R Sridhara Murthy.

“This figures among the rarest of rare incidents and probably takes place once or twice a year in our Division. We are suspecting it to be an act of sabotage. The Government Railway Police is now carrying out an inquiry into it,” he said.

On the danger to lives of passengers, he said, “There is always the possibility of a derailment taking place due to the obstructions and endangering passenger lives. Thankfully, only the tank of the engine was damaged in this incident.”

Another engine was brought from Yelahanka and the train was taken to the station at 8.25 pm, said an RPF official.

Elaborating on the damage to the engine, a GRP police official said the air tanks in the engine suffered holes. “If a train runs in this condition, the air pressure becomes low and the train will invariably come to a halt. So, the train was not run.”

Meanwhile, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner of RPF, M Suresh, conducted inspections along the track on Sunday night to identify suspects who could have indulged in the act.

“A group of young boys was found late at night on the tracks. We have arrested two people found drunk on charges on consumption of alcohol while on railway tracks,” he said

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/Train-Engine-Damaged-in-Sabotage/2016/03/22/article3339540.ece


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