Kolkata, March 11, 2024

General Manager of Eastern Railway (ER),  Shri Milind K Deouskar in presence of Additional General Manager, ER,  Shri Sumit Sarkar Additional General Manager Eastern Railway and other Principal Head of Departments, held a press conference today at Fairlie Place, Kolkata, to unveil the forthcoming mega event of Indian Railways scheduled for tomorrow (March 12, 2024) aimed at revolutionising rail infrastructure and connectivity.

The event also marks the opening of 50 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) at railway stations, including one at Malda Town station, to provide quality medicines and consumables at affordable prices.

At the press conference, Shri Majumder further elaborated on the significance of the 'One Station One Product' (OSOP) stalls in providing additional income opportunities to artisans belonging to marginal sections. These stalls serve as a platform for local artisans to showcase and sell their products at railway stations, eliminating the need for them to travel to larger cities. By setting up OSOP stalls, railways facilitate the promotion of local products and the rich heritage of the region, offering passengers the chance to experience and purchase authentic local goods. 

Shri Deouskar highlighted the significant advancement in logistics facilitated by the dedication of three Gati Shakti terminal sidings within ER during this mega event. These terminals play a pivotal role in bolstering transportation networks and streamlining the movement of goods across the region. The advantages of these terminals are manifold, including enhanced efficiency in cargo handling, reduced transit times, and improved connectivity between industrial hubs and markets. The General Manager emphasised upon ER's commitment to fostering local talent, promoting indigenous products, and driving socio-economic development through innovative initiatives like OSOP. He reiterated ER's unwavering resolve to serve its passengers and stakeholders with dedication striving towards a future where connectivity knows no bounds and opportunities abound for all.

Shri Deouskar also mentioned about the train to be flagged off by the Prime Minister tomorrow through VC . This new train Asansol - Hatia Express will run with a Vistadome coach through Giridih route so that passengers can enjoy the scenic beauty while travelling in such a coach. In fact, it is the second originating train from ER to have a Vistadome coach after Howrah - Radhikapur Kulik Express.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on Tuesday  is going to lay the foundation stone, dedicate various Railway projects to the Nation (around 6000 Nos.) worth over ₹85,000 crore across the country. The Prime Minister will also dedicate Dedicated Freight Corridor of New Khurja - Sahnewal section , New Makarpura to New Gholvad section, operation control centre of Western DFC. Besides, Shri Modi will also flag off 10 Vande Bharat Express trains and extension of four Vande Bharat trains and various other trains also.

As on January 31, 82 Vande Bharat train services are operating across the Indian Railways, connecting states having Broad Gauge (B.G.) electrified network. These Vande Bharat Express trains touch 24 States & 256 Districts. In West Bengal five Vande Bharat trains are presently running which will be increased to six with the introduction of New Jalpaiguri-Patna Vande Bharat Express. With the introduction of 10 more Vande Bharat trains (10 pairs), 104 services  (51 pairs) will be operational across Indian Railways.

In the pursuit to enhance wellness and welfare of passengers visiting railway stations, Indian Railways conceptualised a policy framework to establish Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) in circulating areas and concourses of stations which are operated by Licensees. Janausadhi Kendras at Railway stations aims to make available quality medicines and consumables (Janaushadhi products) to all at affordable price, enable passengers/visitors at railway stations to easily access Janaushadhi products, enhance wellness and welfare among all sections of the society by providing medicines at affordable prices, create employment opportunities and generate avenues for entrepreneurs for opening PMBJKs. 50 such Janausadhi Kendras at Railway stations are going to be opened now including one at Malda Town station.

Two major projects in Deoghar are on the anvil. Laying of Foundation Stone for augmentation of Deoghar Coaching Maintenance Pit for 24 LHB type coach maintenance & Sick line and also the dedication of  Washing Pit with stabling line at Deoghar. This coaching infrastructure development at Deoghar will help in running more trains originating from Deoghar area or passing through this area facilitating easy movement of pilgrims to and from Baidyanath Dham. These initiatives will not only improve maintenance capabilities but also bolster safety standards, reaffirming the pledge taken by Railways to prioritise passenger well-being.

The transformative impact of the 'One Station One Product' (OSOP) initiative spearheaded by the Indian Railways. Under the visionary guidance of the Ministry of Railways, the OSOP scheme has not only created a global market for indigenous products but has also breathed new life into the livelihoods of countless individuals across the nation. The OSOP scheme, rooted in the vision of ‘Vocal for Local’ championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to provide a platform for showcasing and selling local or indigenous products, thereby creating additional income opportunities for artisans and craftsmen. Under this scheme, railway stations serve as vibrant hubs for the display and sale of diverse indigenous items, ranging from handicrafts and textiles to agricultural produce.

With 1,189 OSOP outlets operational at 1,083 stations, this initiative has already benefited over 41,280 direct beneficiaries, including artisans, craftsmen, weavers, and agricultural/forest product producers. ER in particular has fabricated OSOP stalls at 301 stations so far, among which 103 are in Howrah Division, 143 in Sealdah Division, 27 in Asansol Division and 28 in Malda Division. Presently OSOP stalls are operating at 170 stations in four divisions of ER viz. 43 in Howrah Division, 83 in Sealdah Division, 17 in Asansol Division and 28 in Malda Division. The impact of OSOP has been lauded by none other than the Governor of West Bengal, Dr. C. V. Ananda Bose, whose recent visit to the Krishnanagar OSOP stall showcased the transformative effect of the initiative. It also underscored the scheme’s pivotal role in promoting indigenous products and fostering economic growth. Moving forward, ER remains steadfast in its dedication to fostering local talent, promoting indigenous products, and driving socio-economic development across the region through innovative initiatives like OSOP.

Tomorrow, various OSOP stalls will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to further catapult this initiative. More than 1500 One Station One Product Stalls, costing Rs. 160 crore, will be inaugurated across India, including many across ER, to give a new lease of life to Bengal's craft. Additionally, a new passenger train, the Asansol-Hatia from Asansol, will be flagged off, serving as a great gift to the people of Asansol. In addition to this, the inauguration of the Asansol-Hatia passenger train, is a testament of the dedication to serving the people with better connectivity.    

Another important project is dedication of  the Thaparnagar Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal program at the Maithon Power LTD siding. Two other Gatishakti Cargo Terminals one at Pakur and the other at Godda are also being developed. This initiative will bolster logistics and facilitate smoother movement of goods, furthering  the goal of seamless transportation networks.

The long-awaited dedication of the Mohanpur Goods Shed exemplifies the unwavering effort to modernize infrastructure and streamline operations. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a crucial hub for efficient handling of goods, contributing to the overall efficiency of the Railway network.

In this journey of progress and innovation, Railways remain steadfast to serve the nation and its citizens with unwavering dedication. Railways continue to strive towards a future where connectivity knows no bounds and opportunities abound for all.

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SSS/11.3.24/.....

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