Vijayawada Division undertakes extensive infrastructure development works and maintenance activity on tracks & bridges over the Division to improve safety and operational efficiencies during this lockdown.

Two new bridges commissioned in record time along with renewal of scissors crossovers at three locations of Vijayawada Yard with PSC sleepers.

 

Ultrasonic flaw detection (USFD) of 753.74 kms of track and testing of 2846 rail welds has been carried out with USFD machine.

 

Field staff of Vijayawada Division has successfully executed long pending Maintenance works like Renewal of Scissors Crossover, Commissioning & Repairs of Bridges during this lockdown which were left pending for several years. Apart from ensuring supply chains all essential commodities running  through parcel trains and freight trains, Division has  executed these long pending maintenance works during this lockdown period when passenger services were suspended due to COVID -19.  

 

Converting the unprecedented lockdown into an opportunity, the Division has carried out extensive maintenance of the rail signaling system, tracks, overhead equipment and the rolling stock. During the lockdown, Health of the track has been monitored through periodic runs of Oscillation Monitoring System (OMS) cumulating 3618 kms. of track at 344 peak locations indicated by OMS test has been attended to ensure proper quality. Ultrasonic flaw detection (USFD) of 753.54 kms of track and activities like de-stressing of long welded rail (LWR)which involved huge men power has been taken up with a new procedure for carrying out the  work with ensuring social distancing norms. 13 kms of de-stressing of LWR has been done. 

 

The entire fleet of track machines were deployed and carried out tamping of 328.73 km of plane track and 175 turnouts. 973 critical joints have been welded along with 4Km deep screening of ballast was taken up during the lockdown. Overhauling of 19 level crossing and inspection of every inch of track by Keyman through patrolling to ensure safe & smooth operations. During the activity the staff were provided with protective gear, they were thermally screened and the equipments were also frequently disinfected with sodium Hypochlorite in addition to the practice of strict social distancing norms.

 

SOME OF THE IMPORTANT TRACK WORKS:

 

i. Renewal of Scissors Crossover at Vijayawada Yard with PSC Layout (South Central Railway).

 

Two blocks of 24 hours were taken on 09.04.20 and 10.04.20 during the lockdown period for renewal of old wooden layout Scissors crossover with standard PSC (Pre stressed Concrete) sleeper layout crossover providing a vital link and flexibility in the operations of the yard. This will improve movement of train service towards Secundrabad and Vishakhapatnam.

 

IMPORTANT BRIDGE WORKS:-

 

i. Construction of bridge in Rajahmundry-Vishakhapatnam section to cater opening of 4 x 5.5 m (South Central Railway).

 

The work involves provision of new bridge in HUDUD affected area where the track was washed out 2 times in 2013 & 2014. Total 21 hours traffic block was availed at 7:00 hrs each on 25.04.2020, 27.04.2020 and 28.04.2020. This bridge was required for passage of flood water to avoid breaches. The work was completed in 3 days

 

II. Insertion of Box at Bridge No. 525 (South Central Railway) between Tanguturu & Singarayakonda:

 

Bridge no. 525, a new water way bridge sanctioned in the year 2017-18 in busy Vijayawada- Chennai section to cater the drainage in flood prone area between tanguturu- singarayakonda stations of Prakasham district. 16 precast Boxes of size (4.6x4 m) were inserted at Bridge no. 525 on UP line at km 266/7-5 between Tanguturu–Singarayakonda on 29.04.2020 & 01.05.2020 . Duly utilising the Covid19 lock down period, heavy machinery viz; 3 cranes of 200MT capacity, 4 proclain/excavators of 300 and breakers & 5 no's of tippers were   mobilized and deployed, duly reducing the man power to bare minimum of 20 men. The work was  completed in record 2 days with staff working for 8hrs on each day.

Shri P. Srinivas, Divisional Railway Manager, Vijayawada complimented the Engineering team for carrying out such crucial works during down. He lauded the efforts & dedication of field staff in commissioning the major infrastructure works in record time without affecting the train operations.