[VOLUME 5 I ISSUE 2 I APRIL – JUNE 2018] e ISSN 2348 –1269, Print ISSN 2349-5138 http://ijrar.com/ Cosmos Impact Factor 4.236 Interrupted Services Regarding Local Trains Movement at South- Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal Dr. Priyanka Kundu Assistant Teacher in Geography Ratnali Adarsha Balika Vidyalaya Received: April 10, 2018 Accepted: May 09, 2018 ABSTRACT Railway transport is the major backbone behind development of any nation. South-eastern railway is a part of commuter suburban railway system. Therefore, the services related to flow of the trains are very much significant. It is observed that maximum flow of the local trains are circulated surrounding some major stations like Santragachi, Kharagpur etc. Similarly the area of influence under local trains have maximum potential value within Santragachi railway station.The commuters flow pattern is manageable and controllable. However, the most important aspect is the problems faced by the commuters regarding unsatisfactory railway services like absence of punctuality in the scheduled movement of trains, signalling problems, absence of alternate tracks for Express trains, cancellation of the scheduled trains, degradation of the utility of railway assets etc. Therefore, the commuters have to opt for alternative routes through the timely bus services. Focus must be given to these problems in order to have uninterrupted railway services. Keywords: Commuter suburban railway system, area of influence, flow of passengers, unsatisfactory railway services. 1. Introduction: Railway is an important mode of transportation for the development of any country. The network along with the services related to transportation are very much significant for betterment of the socio-economic development. The most important aspect of railway network in West Bengalis Kolkata suburban railway system or the commuter railway system. The frequency and punctuality of the services related to local trains movement are important conditions related to the uninterrupted services of the railway network. However, the commuter railway system in the south-eastern railway zone suffers from various difficulties like irregularity, non-punctuality, mismanagement in local trains movement. As a result, the commuters face obstacles. They have to opt for other alternatives to reach their destination on time. This has been a major problem in the railway movement in West Bengal on the present context. The intensity of railway networks can not justify the level of services. The facts related to these interrupted services, major problems, related measures are going to be the issues of discussion in this context. 2. Objectives: The present endeavour aims: To illustrate the exact scenario of local trains movement within south-eastern railway zone. To highlight the major problems faced by the passengers regarding interrupted services of the local trains movement at south-eastern railway zone. To focus on the possible impacts of these interrupted train services and To give some suggestions regarding betterment of the services and removing the problems. 3. Database and Methodology: The overall study is supported by very strong database. All the records and information related to movement of the local trains, area of influence under local trains movement, frequency and flow pattern of the passengers are available from the Railway Board of the Government of India. Besides, the perception study was conducted on the passengers and commuters based on questionnaire survey. After acquiring the data, these were computed and processed based on some quantitative and cartographic tools and techniques. The records on the local trains movement are represented through the flow diagrams. These follow the rules that “Higher the widths, higher is the number of local trains”. Area of influence under local trains movement and maximum potential zones are derived through gravity potential model after Stewart (1948). It is formulated as: Iij= K (PiPj/dij) Where, Iij is the interaction between two places I and j, Pi and Pj are the population of two places and dij is the distance between two places. The level of interaction between two places is positively related to the number of local trains and is inversely related to the distance between two places. The data and information are processed and represented through maps in order to have proper and appropriate interpretation. Research Paper IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews 741 [ VOLUME 5 I ISSUE 2 I APRIL – JUNE 2018] E ISSN 2348 –1269, PRINT ISSN 2349-5138 4. Railway Network within South-Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal: Railways constitute the strongest communication system in the realm of infrastructure (Ganguly, 1977). It has excellent connectivity to all the major cities of the country on railway network (Govt. of West Bengal, 2013). The operation of this railway zone started in 1955 (www.wikipedia.com). There are altogether four divisions within South-Eastern railway zone-Adra, Kharagpur, Chakradharpur and Ranchi division among which Adra and Kharagpur divisions run within West Bengal. Railway Network within Adra Division:The Adra division of railway network is extended within Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia and Bardhaman districts of West Bengal. Some stretches are Broad Gauge (B.G) double line constructed within West Bengal (Fig: 1). Some others stretches are Broad Gauge single lines within West Bengal.There are still no Broad Gauge multiple lines within this division. Railway Network within Kharagpur Division:Kharagpur division is spread over the States of Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand (www.cleartrip.com). This division is extended through the districts of Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purba Medinipur and Haora (Fig: 1). The stretch running from Haora to Kharagpur is Broad Gauge multiple line within West Bengal. Some stretches are Broad Gauge single lines. Others parts are included within Broad Gauge double lines. 5. Flow of the Local Trains and Area of Influence under Local Trains Movement: South-eastern railway has an important role in Kolkata suburban railway system. The suburban rail traffic accounts for over 17.38% of commuting into central Kolkata (CMDA Report, 2001). The number of local trains gradually decreases with increasing distance. Maximum number of local trains are running from Howrah to Kharagpur (Table: 1). Flow of the local trains from Howrah to Purulia, Haldia, Jhargram, Bankura and Digha are very much negligible (Fig: 2). Area under South-Eastern Railway Network in West Bengal, India, 2018 West Bengal in India South-Eastern Railway Network in West Bengal, 2018 742 IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews Research Paper [VOLUME 5 I ISSUE 2 I APRIL – JUNE 2018] e ISSN 2348 –1269, Print ISSN 2349-5138 http://ijrar.com/ Cosmos Impact Factor 4.236 Fig: 1 Source: Compiled from the Railway Board, Govt. of India, 2018The area of influence of suburban railway system is extended upto Midnapore, Bankura, Digha, Purulia, Haldia and Jhargram (Fig: 3). Table: 1 Different Railway Routes in South-Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal, 2018 Railway Routes Time Required Number of Trains per Day Howrah-Midnapore 03:15 Hours 28 Howrah-Kharagpur 03:00 Hours 126 Howrah-Panskura 01:53 Hours 77 Howrah-Mecheda 01:38 Hours 94 Howrah-Uluberia 01:00 Hours 75 Howrah-Santragachi 00:20 Hours 83 Howrah-Digha 03:22 Hours 5 Howrah-Bankura 03:35 Hours 10 Howrah-Adra 05:05 Hours 95 Howrah-Purulia 05:25 Hours 15 Howrah-Haldia 03:38 Hours 3 Howrah-Jhargram 02:50 Hours 9 Source: Railway Board, Govt. of India, 2018 Flow of the Local Trains within South-Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal, 2018 Fig: 2Source: Compiled from the Railway Board, Govt. of India, 2018 Area of Influence under Local Trains Movement within South-Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal, 2018 Fig: 3Source: Compiled from the Railway Board, Govt. of India, 2018 Research Paper IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews 743 [ VOLUME 5 I ISSUE 2 I APRIL – JUNE 2018] E ISSN 2348 –1269, PRINT ISSN 2349-5138 Table: 2 Flow of the Passengers through the Local Trains within South-Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal, 2018 1. Towards Santragachi Rail Station from Howrah Below Standing Capacity 2. Towards Kharagpur Rail Station from Howrah Above Sitting Capacity 3. Towards Medinipur Rail Station from Howrah Below Sitting Capacity 4. Towards Adra Rail Station from Purulia Above Sitting Capacity (Where, Below Sitting Capacity < Above Sitting Capacity < Below Standing Capacity) Source: Computed by the author from Peoples’ Perception Survey, 2018 But maximum influential zone of commuter linkage is established up to Santragachi railway station because this is a part of Kolkata suburban railway zone. Based on the number of local trains movement, maximum frequency of the railway services along with maximum level of accessibility is concentrated up to Santragachi station. 6. Flow of the Passengers through the Local Trains: Most of the passengers move within Kolkata surrounding outskirts. The flow analysis is here computed through three important parameters viz. crowd below sitting capacity, above sitting capacity, below standing capacity etc. Most of the stretches are having crowd below sitting capacity. Only the route towards, Kharagpur and Santragachi have comparatively better commuters’ flow and resultant crowd (Table: 3). 7. Problems Faced by the Passengers Regarding Local Trains Movement within South-Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal:The commuters moving through the south-eastern railways face different kinds of problems related to interrupted railway services listed below: Absence of Punctuality in the Scheduled Movement of Trains: The trains in the south-eastern railway often don’t maintain the time schedule both in arrival and in departure. Signalling Problem: Many times, the trains remain standing on the track due to not having clearance of signals due to some mechanical faults. No Alternative Tracks for Express Trains: The local trains are often delayed due to passing through the Express and Superfast trains. Interrupted Services of the Electronic Ticket Vending Machines (ETVMs): The ETVMs set at different large railway stations are of no use now.