Indian Railway, Joint ventures - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: IIT-Madras

Explanation:
IIT Madras has signed an MoU with Indian Railways on 22nd December to develop a long term framework for research and collaboration in the advancement of technology. The MoU will function for a period of 3 years. Centre for railway research will be set up at the IIT for this purpose for carrying out research relating to structural health monitoring of railway infrastructure.

ANSWER: Project Management & Information System

Explanation:
Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu on May 3, 2016 launched e-enabled Project Management & Information System at Rail Bhawan in Delhi

• Application will be used for proper monitoring of Railway projects throughout the nation
• Indian railways has 600 major projects of network expansion and modernisation costing INR 4.5 lakh rupees
• Indian Railways requires money as well as proper monitoring of projects for which money has to be spent.
• Newly launched Project Management and Information System will contain data about ongoing projects

ANSWER: Telangana

Explanation:
MoU was signed between Ministry of Railways and State Government of Telangana for formation of JV companies for the development of rail infrastructure within the state. The MoU was signed against the Budget’s promise to set up JVs with states for focused project development as well as land acquisition and resource mobilisation as well as project implementation and critical rail project monitoring. and Railways has projects on the anvil valued at INR 3.5 lakh crore and additional lines of 9000 km. 17 states have already consented for the formation of the JVs and around 5 states have signed MoU with Railway Ministry for this.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
Shri. R. K. Verma, a 1980 batch IRSE or Indian Railway Service of Engineers officer has attained the charge of Secretary, Railway Board on 9th February 2016. Prior to serving as the Secretary, he was serving as advisor Public Grievance to the Ministry of State for Railways. He completed his engineering from IIT(BHU) and M.Tech from IIT-D. He joined Indian Railways in the year 1982.

ANSWER: Real time basis

Explanation:
In a major step towards digitisation, Indian Railways on 11th January 2016 launched a web based system for monitoring track maintenance on real time basis by replacing close to one lakh registers pertaining to it. Web based management of track maintenance will be implemented in 68 divisions of the Indian Railways. Various activities including track inspection, maintenance and monitoring.

ANSWER: State

Explanation:
Union Cabinet on 30th December 2015 provided approval for forming a joint venture company with state governments to mobilise resources for numerous rail infrastructure projects to provide a bid to push the infrastructure sector. For improving the connectivity between India and neighbouring country Myanmar, Union Cabinet also approved construction of 69 bridges on the TKK or Tamu-Kylgone-Kalewa route of the Trilateral Highway in Myanmar. In the railways JV, Union Cabinet has taken the decision to limit initial paid up capital for Ministry of Railways to INR 50 crore for each state. JVs aim at financial participation of states and quicker decision making to ensure speedy implementation of rail projects.

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
Stepping up the ecological initiatives, two environment friendly measures were announced by Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu namely a 26MW wind mill plant in Jaisalmer and a HOG or Head on Generation System in Mumbai Rajdhani. Prabhu also said there is need to protect the environment and promote sustainable development. Wind mill plant has been set up by REMCL or Railways Energy Management Company Ltd, a JV of Indian Railways and RITES Ltd at a cost of INR 160 crore. HOG system will reduce power cost by more than INR 1 crore each year. Within the HOG system, power supply for train lighting and air conditioning in coaches is taken from head power lights, preventing the use of diesel generators in power cars and consequent noise pollution.

ANSWER: NALCO

Explanation:
The two firms will come together to set up a caustic soda plant at Dahej in Gujarat. NALCO CMD T K Chand on 8th December 2015 laid the foundation stone of the proposed plant, a release here said. The new JV company GACL-NALCO Alkalies & Chemicals Private Limited, in which NALCO holds 40 per cent share capital, while GACL holds the rest, plans to produce 2.7 lakh tonnes of caustic soda per annum.

ANSWER: Maison Montblanc

Explanation:
Titan has appointed 3 directors including MD Bhaskar Bhat on board its new JV with Maison Montblanc which aims to carry out single brand retail trading of the products in India. The other two people appointed on the board are Co CEO S. Ravi Kant and Independent Director Ireen Vittal. Appointment is as per agreement between partners under which Titan has appointed three of six directors in a BSE filing. JV has “equity participation pursuant to FIPB approval in the ratio of 51:49 by Montblanc Services BV and Titan Co Ltd, respectively, as per the filing. The equity share capital of the JV company after allotment on December 5, 2015 is Rs. 41.50 crore comprising 4.15 crore shares of Rs.10 each, the company said. Montblanc is entering India again to open 5 boutiques within the next 3 months. Titan is a JV between TATA group and Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corp.

ANSWER: Indo-Bangladesh Rail Link

Explanation:
1000 crore rupees sanctioned for the laying of 15.06 km long tracks to connect Indian Railways with Bangladesh through the North East. Out of 15.06 km length connecting Agartala with Akhaura railway junction in Bangladesh, 3.7 km would comprise of elevated corridor.