AP forms special railway teams to clear boulder obstructions in Ananthagiri Hills

Visakhapatnam: ‘Specialised Hill Gangs’ will be using drones to survey and handle railway emergencies emerging from rocky terrain and boulder obstructions in Ananthagiri Hills, Visakhapatnam.

Equipped with the latest safety gear and equipment, the special teams were constituted by the Waltair Division this monsoon for facilitating track and tunnel maintenance in the KK line.

More than 20 staff members were trained this summer at the National Institute of Mountaineering under the Ministry of Defence in Arunachal Pradesh. An additional 30 members belonging to the engineering, traction and accident relief departments will be attending specialised training at the Arunachal Pradesh Institute in October.

Special trains equipped to blast boulders off tracks

To tackle any emergency obstruction caused by boulders on both sides in the Boddavara-Borraguhalu Ghat section, a new track material relief train has been introduced at Shrungaravarapukota Station in addition to the existing train available at Araku. The trains are equipped to blast boulders present on tracks, track material etc. using equipment such as proclain, compressors and pneumatic breakers.

A new flying squad, equipped with hydraulic rerailing equipment with wagon coupling and bogie material in a special coach to handle emergencies, has recently been posted at Araku.

Emergency communication portals outside tunnels

Emergency communication sockets have been installed at both ends of all tunnels as well as inside longer tunnels in the KK line. Trolleys and man refuges in tunnels were recently provided retroreflective indicator boards to guide patrolling trackmen.

DRM Saurabh Prasad said that these measures have been introduced to minimise disruptions and restore operations faster in any exigency in the KK line, especially as the line is critical for handling the growth of iron ore traffic.