SOUTH CENTRAL RAILWAY TO OPERATE SPECIAL TRAINS BETWEEN TIRUPATI-VIJAYAPURA AND TIRUPATI-SECUNDERABAD To accommodate the additional passenger rush during October 2026, Railways will operate special express services on the Tirupati-Vijayapura and Tirupati-Secunderabad routes. Tirupati-Vijayapura Special Express Train No. 07419 Tirupati-Vijayapura Special Express will operate on Sundays from October 4 to October 25, 2026, covering four trips. The train will depart Tirupati at 08:15 hrs and arrive at Vijayapura at 22:25 hrs on the same day. In the return direction, Train No. 07420 Vijayapura-Tirupati Special Express will depart Vijayapura at 23:35 hrs on Sundays during the same period and reach Tirupati at 14:15 hrs the following day, Monday. The special trains will stop at Renigunta, Koduru, Razampeta, Kadapa, Yerraguntla, Tadipatri, Gooty, Guntakal, Ballari, Toranagallu, Hosapete, Koppal, Gadag, Hole Alur, Badami, Bagalkot, Almatti and Basavana Bagevadi Road in both directions. The train will comprise 11 coaches: one AC 2-Tier, two AC 3-Tier, four Sleeper Class, two General Second Class and two Second Class luggage-cum-guard van (SLR) coaches. Tirupati-Secunderabad Special Express Train No. 07421 Tirupati-Secunderabad Special Express will operate on Sunday, October 4, 2026. It will depart Tirupati at 16:30 hrs and arrive at Secunderabad at 07:00 hrs the following day. In the return direction, Train No. 07422 Secunderabad-Tirupati Special Express will depart Secunderabad at 16:15 hrs on Monday, October 5, 2026, and reach Tirupati at 06:45 hrs the following day. The service will have stoppages at Renigunta, Koduru, Razampeta, Cuddapah, Yerraguntla, Tadipatri, Gooty, Guntakal, Adoni, Mantralayam Road, Raichur, Krishna, Yadgir, Seram, Tandur, Vikarabad, Hi-Tech City and Begumpet in both directions. The train will consist of 22 coaches, including two AC 2-Tier, six AC 3-Tier, eight Sleeper Class, four General Second Class and two Second Class luggage-cum-guard van (SLR) coaches. Railway authorities have requested passengers to make use of these special train services to meet the additional travel demand during the period.

SOUTH COAST RAILWAY CONCLUDES 'SWACHHATA HI SEVA' FORTNIGHT WITH MAJOR PLANTATION DRIVE AT MUDASARLOVA South Coast Railway (SCoR) concluded the fortnight-long 'Swachhata Hi Seva 2026' campaign on October 2, marking the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, with a large-scale plantation drive at Mudasarlova. The cleanliness and environmental campaign, conducted across the zone from September 17 to October 2, focused on cleanliness, waste segregation at source, recycling, water conservation, increasing green cover and eliminating single-use plastics. The campaign received active participation from more than 40,000 railway personnel, who took part in cleanliness drives, awareness programmes, rallies and environmental conservation activities across the divisions. As part of the initiative to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly railway infrastructure, more than 50,000 saplings were planted at railway colonies, station circulating areas, workshops and office complexes. On the concluding day, General Manager, South Coast Railway, Shri Sandeep Mathur, along with Principal Heads of Departments (PHODs) and senior railway officials, led a plantation programme at the under-construction site of the new Zonal Headquarters Office building at Mudasarlova. Smt. Charu Mathur, President of the South Coast Railway Women's Welfare Organisation (SCoRWWO), along with members of the executive committee, also participated in the plantation drive, reinforcing the organisation's commitment to promoting greener railway premises. Before the plantation activity, Shri Sandeep Mathur administered the Swachhata Pledge to officers and staff. Addressing the gathering, he recalled Mahatma Gandhi's vision of clean and self-reliant communities and called upon railway employees to devote at least one hour every day to cleanliness and environmental conservation. The General Manager also stressed the need to progressively eliminate single-use plastics, enhance green cover and maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene across railway premises. He emphasized that sustained public and employee participation is essential for creating cleaner, greener and more passenger-friendly railway infrastructure.

SOUTH COAST RAILWAY STEPS UP WATER QUALITY MONITORING ACROSS STATIONS, COLONIES AND HOSPITALS South Coast Railway (SCoR) has stepped up its water quality monitoring programme across railway stations, residential colonies and railway hospitals to ensure a safe and reliable supply of potable water for passengers, residents and railway users. The comprehensive quality-assurance drive is being carried out in accordance with the Indian Railways Medical Manual (IRMM), with specialised inspection teams conducting regular checks under the supervision of senior railway officials. The monitoring programme follows a three-tier testing and corrective mechanism: Daily residual chlorine testing: Water is checked at both source and supply points every day. Samples found below prescribed standards are followed up immediately with the Senior Section Engineer (Water Works) to restore appropriate chlorination levels. Monthly and bi-monthly bacteriological testing: Water at major facilities is tested monthly, while minor locations are tested every two months for E. coli and coliform bacteria. If a sample is found unfit, reservoirs, pipelines and water coolers are thoroughly cleaned, followed by joint sanitary inspections with the Engineering Department until subsequent samples meet safety requirements. Biannual chemical analysis: Water sources undergo comprehensive chemical testing every six months. The same testing is mandatory whenever a new water source is introduced to ensure that all chemical parameters remain within permissible safety limits. South Coast Railway General Manager Sandeep Mathur has directed officials and field supervisors to maintain heightened vigilance and undertake frequent surprise inspections to safeguard drinking-water quality across the railway network. During a week-long special monitoring drive, SCoR tested water quality across its four divisions. A total of 3,441 locations were checked for residual chlorine, 211 samples underwent bacteriological testing, and 28 samples were analysed for chemical parameters. All samples met the prescribed safety standards. Despite the satisfactory results, concerned departments have been directed to maintain continuous monitoring and strict vigilance to ensure the consistent availability of safe drinking water across South Coast Railway facilities.