The Hindu : OFC network inaugurated

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 15, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

OFC network inaugurated

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Dec. 14. The OFC in the Bangalore-Dharmavaram section of the Southern Railways was inaugurated by Arvind Sharma, Member (Electrical), Railway Board, New Delhi, here today.

This telecom network completed at a cost of Rs. 1,373.15 lakh covers 23 stations and 209 km. Some of the facilities provided by the OFC include control phones at all stations, new ISDN Exchange at Hindupur with 2MB connectivity with Bangalore and provision of data connectivity at wayside stations.

"The Southern Railways has been in the forefront of implementing technological innovations," said V.Anand, General Manager, Southern Railway. On the occasion of the completion of the OFC network between Bangalore-Dharmavaram, Mr. Sharma announced an award of Rs. 50,000 for the personnel involved in the project.

Meanwhile, Mr. Anand, representing the Southern Railway, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with S.K.Aggarwal, Officer on Special Duty, South-Western Railway, for bifurcation of the administrative control.

This paved the way for the formation of the South-Western Railways with its headquarters at Hubli.

The new zone is being formed as a separate one, comprising Bangalore and Mysore divisions of Southern Railways and Hubli division of South-Central Railway.

OFC network for 2,400 km. has been taken up by the Southern Railway, and 1,300 km. have already been covered by it. Besides improving the voice and data communication needs of the Railways, the OFC network is expected to rake in additional revenue for the Railways.

To continue this effort of improving telecommunication, the Railways would extend the link between Bangalore-Secunderabad and Howrah-Chennai. Both these works are scheduled for completion by the year-end. Moreover, there are proposals to take Bangalore-Dharmavaram and Bangalore-Tumkur routes under the Centralised Traffic Control.

As of now, the Indian Railways has covered 15,000 km. under the OFC communication network. The aim is to cover 27,000 km. in two or three years and around 34,000 km. within five years, according to Mr. Sharma. The contract for laying down the OFC network would either be undertaken by the Indian Railways or Railtel, he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Young minds are sensitive too

BILS students bag four ranks

OFC network inaugurated

Impressive passing-out parade

Petra to rock Bangalore