New Delhi, Sep 1: Indian Railways has approved a proposal for the provision of modern Electronic Interlocking (EI) at 21 stations of Samastipur Division (Bihar) of East Central Railway with an investment of Rs 233 crore, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.

The approved work involves the replacement of existing panel interlocking with electronic interlocking at these stations in Bihar. The electronic system will strengthen railway signalling infrastructure across the division and facilitate the implementation of Kavach, the indigenous Automatic Train Protection system, to enhance safety.

Electronic interlocking is a modern signalling technology that replaces ageing relay-based systems with computer-based interlocking, ensuring higher reliability, faster fault diagnosis, easier maintenance and enhanced operational flexibility.

The initiative is part of Indian Railways’ continued efforts towards modernisation of signalling systems, strengthening railway safety and enhancing operational efficiency across its network, the statement said.

Indian Railways has also sanctioned the Bhavnagar Para (BVP) Yard Remodelling project in Gujarat at a cost of around Rs 125 crore. The project will strengthen rail infrastructure in Bhavnagar by creating additional operational capacity at Bhavnagar Para and improving facilities for passengers.

The project will help decongest Bhavnagar Terminus by shifting stabling and other operational activities to Bhavnagar Para. This will enable smoother train operations, reduce rake detention and help improve punctuality. The additional infrastructure at Bhavnagar Para will facilitate better management of train movements and provide greater operational flexibility.

The remodelling work includes four loop lines, one engine reversal line, ART and ARME siding, relocation of the Station and EI building, one high-level passenger platform, widening of the existing platform, extension of the existing Foot Over Bridge (FOB) and construction of one new FOB. The project will also include two Road Under Bridges (RUBs), including one new RUB and extension of an existing RUB, along with service buildings and associated electrical and signalling works.

Passenger convenience will be enhanced through a new high-level island platform, widening of Platform No. 2 and improved FOB connectivity at Bhavnagar Para station. These facilities will provide easier movement and access for passengers, the statement added.

New Delhi, Sep 1: Retail sales of onions continue at Rs 35 per kg and a total of approximately 669 metric tonnes (MT) of the staple vegetable has been sold to date, comprising 223 MT through bulk channels via the e-NAM portal and similar online platforms at prevailing mandi prices, and 446 MT through retail channels across the country, the government said on Tuesday.

The affordable onion sale is being organised through the NCCF, the NAFED, Kendriya Bhandar outlets, and mobile vans, ensuring affordable availability for consumers.

“Simultaneously, around 1,000 MT of onions are being transported by road to major consumption centres, based on prevailing market conditions and price trends, with the aim of improving availability and moderating seasonal price pressures,” the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution said in a statement.

Further, Rs 210 crore has been paid directly to around 3,400 farmers, ensuring timely payments.

The government said it has begun a calibrated release of onion buffer stocks through a hybrid transportation model comprising railway rakes (Kanda Express) and road transport to major consumption centres to ensure adequate availability and moderation of seasonal price pressures.

As part of this initiative, two Kanda Express consignments have been dispatched from Nashik. The first rake, carrying 450 MT of onions, reached Delhi in the late hours of August 27.

Of this, 140 MT was subsequently distributed across Varanasi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, and Amritsar, with the remaining quantity distributed across the Delhi-NCR region.

The second rake, carrying 840 MT of onions, reached Chennai on August 31. The Tamil Nadu government plans to distribute these onions through the Public Distribution System (PDS) against the requirement of 1 kg per card.

The onions are likely to be distributed across various districts of Tamil Nadu as per the proposed district-wise clustering:

Retail intervention efforts have expanded significantly across 19 cities, supported by the dispatch of over 30 trucks to ensure widespread availability, said the official statement.

The release of onions from buffer stocks has improved market availability and eased prices, particularly in centres where onion consignments have reached, such as Varanasi, Amritsar, Delhi and nearby markets. Prices have shown a decline from the day following the commencement of disposal, with increased supplies expected to further support price stability.

Mehsana, Sep 1: A constable posted at Satlasana Police Station in Gujarat’s Mehsana district and a local resident were allegedly caught accepting a Rs 83,000 bribe during an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) trap, after a person approached the bureau’s toll-free helpline 1064, officials said on Tuesday.

The accused have been identified as Kanji Chaudhary, a police constable posted at Satlasana Police Station, and Ashish Chaudhary, a resident of Chaudhary Vas in Navavas-Rajpur of Satlasana.

The ACB said the entire alleged bribe amount of Rs 83,000 was recovered during the operation.

According to the ACB complaint, a gambling case had been registered at Satlasana Police Station against the complainant and several other persons.

In connection with the case, the complainant and the others were required to appear at the police station.

The ACB alleged that accused police constable Kanji Chaudhary demanded Rs one lakh from the complainant in exchange for not assaulting the complainant and the others when they appeared at the police station.

Following negotiations, the alleged bribe amount was settled at Rs 83,000, with the payment agreed to be made on Monday.

Unwilling to pay the bribe money, the complainant contacted the Anti-Corruption Bureau through its 1064 toll-free number and lodged a complaint.

Based on the complaint, the bureau set up a trap on Monday (August 31). During the operation, the two accused allegedly remained in telephone contact with the complainant and accepted Rs 83,000 from him.

The transaction took place in the car of a friend of the accused on a public road opposite Suraj Complex in Satlasana.

The ACB team subsequently caught the accused at the spot and recovered the entire alleged bribe amount of Rs 83,000.

The ACB officials said that further legal proceedings were being initiated in connection with the alleged offence.

“The trap was conducted by D.B. Mehta, Police Inspector, ACB Field-3 (Intervening), Ahmedabad, along with his team,” officials said.

The investigation will continue to probe if there were similar instances involving the said cop in the past.