Correct Answer :   Delhi Metro

Delhi Metro has launched QR code paper tickets for passengers of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The new facility has started and now allows travellers to use QR code-based paper tickets during the travel from metro.

* DMRC has said that the new system is an alternative to the existing tokens and smart cards and that the organisation has even modified its gates and counters to scan the QR codes and collect the fares. The QR ticketing system has been under trial for some time.

* According to DMRC, each station has two gates for entry and exit that can accept QR paper tickets. The corporation plans to make all the gates and ticket machines compatible with QR codes by June.

* Delhi metro is also aiming to launch mobile QR tickets by the end of this month. This will further make travel in Metro faster, easier and more convenient, as riders would not have to buy physical tickets at the stations or counters.

How to use QR paper ticket in Delhi Metro :

* Buy a QR based Paper Ticket (non-refundable) from the Ticket Vending Machine or the Customer Care Counter at the station where you want to start your journey.

* Scan the QR code on the ticket at the entry gate within 60 minutes of buying the ticket. You cannot enter from any other station than the one where you bought the ticket.

* If you do not scan the ticket within 60 minutes, it will become invalid and you will have to buy a new one.

* Scan the ticket again at the exit gate when you reach your destination station..

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   Haryana

Indian Railways has successfully completed 100% electrification of railway network in the state of Haryana in March 2023 and with this achievement, Haryana has become the first state in India to have 100% electrified railway network.

* The electrification project covers the existing broad gauge network of 1,701 route kilometres in Haryana.

* Haryana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated the people of the state for this achievement.

* The completion of this project will reduce the dependence of Indian Railways on imported crude oil and also save foreign exchange.

* Electrification of Railways will help reduce carbon emissions and contribute towards the goal of a sustainable and environment-friendly transport system in India.

* Indian Railways is working towards achieving 100% electrification of its railway network in the country to increase efficiency, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote clean energy sources.

* Electrification of the railway network will also significantly reduce air pollution caused by diesel locomotives, thereby improving air quality.

* Recently (February 2023), 100% railway electrification was also done in Uttar Pradesh. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Division is the first 100 per cent electrified rail division of Indian Railways.

About Indian Railways :

* It is one of the largest railway networks in the world and was established in 1853 during British colonial rule.

* Indian Railways covers a vast network of over 67,000 km, connecting almost every corner of the country.

* It operates a variety of trains including local passenger trains, express trains, superfast trains and luxury trains.

Correct Answer :   3,825 Kilometers

The Central Railway has achieved 100 per cent electrification of its broad gauge network of 3,825 kilometers, which was resulting in an annual reduction of 5.204 lakh tonnes of carbon footprints.

The CSMT-headquartered zonal railway said the 52-kilometre Ausa Road-Latur Road stretch in Solapur division was the last non-electrified section and its electrification was completed on the 23rd of February 2023.

This move helps in reducing carbon footprints of 5.204 lakh tonnes every year as well as savings of 1670 crore rupees. It will reduce fuel bills and help earn carbon credit...

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Kochi Metro

In an initiative to promote Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), Kochi Metro has started accepting the digital currency (e-rupee) in its parking facilities.

The programme was inaugurated on Friday (10th March 2023) at the parking facility in Thykoodam and the system would be introduced in all other parking areas of the Metro soon.

According to Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) authorities, Kochi Metro is the first Metro in the country to accept CBDC.

The programme was introduced in association with IDFC FIRST Bank partnered with Anantham Online, a technology startup.

This initiative comes at the back of a pilot programme launched by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). RBI recently announced the launch of CBDC for retail users...

Source : India Times

Correct Answer :   Mumbai

The Churchgate railway station in Mumbai will soon be renamed after the first governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) CD Deshmukh (Chintaman Dwarakanath Deshmukh).

The station will be called 'Chintamanrao Deshmukh station'.

The first national executive meeting of Shiv Sena under "Eknath Shinde" passed a resolution demanding that the Churchgate train station in Mumbai be named for former RBI governor and finance minister CD Deshmukh.

Who is CD Deshmukh :

* CD Deshmukh, a famous economist, was born on 14 January 1896 in a Marathi family in Raigad district of Maharashtra.

* After studying in England, he joined thecivil service and became the first Indian governor of the RBI in 1943 under the British Raj.

* Later, as the Union Finance Minister from 1950 to 1956, CD Deshmukh contributed to the economic development of the country.

* One of Deshmukh's notable achievements as governor was the establishment of the Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) in 1948.

* IFCI was established to provide long-term finance to industrial projects, which was vital to the development of India's industrial sector.

* He also played a major role in setting up the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) after World War II.

* He represented India at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944, where the IMF and the IBRD were established.

* He was knighted by the British government in 1944 and awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1959..

Source : Times Now News

Correct Answer :   Uttar Pradesh

Indian Railways achieved a significant milestone (21st Feb 2023) in Railway electrification. With the completion of electrification of Subhagpur-Pachperwa Broad Gauge (BG) route in North Eastern Railway, Indian Railways has completed the electrification of all Broad Gauge(BG) routes in Uttar Pradesh.

This will improve rail connectivity in the region and will improve the speed of trains in the region.

With this achievement, Indian Railways has completed electrification of BG routes in six zonal railways namely, East Coast Railway, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway, Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway, West Central Railway.

Also, Highly Utilized Network (HUN-5), Jhansi-Muzzaffarpur-Katni is fully electrified now. This will improve connectivity between Jhansi-Lucknow-Barabanki-Burhwal, Gonda-Anandnagar-Gorakhpur-Valmikinagar-Sugauli, Muzzaffarpur-Bachwara and Narkatiyaganj-Raxual-Sitamarhi-Darbhanga-Samastipur, Sitamarhi-Muzzaffarpur-Hazipur including Bhatni-Varanasi—Naini(Allahabad)-Manikpur-Satna-Katni and Chhapra-Varanasi.

With 85% of RKM electrified, Indian Railways is rapidly progressing to accomplish Mission100Percent Electrification and become the largest green railway network in the world..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Delhi Metro

India’s first indigenously developed Train Control and Supervision System, the i-ATS (Indigenous–Automatic Train Supervision) deployed on The Delhi Metro.

In a first for a mass rapid transit system in India, an indigenously developed signalling technology was launched on Saturday (18th Feb 2023) for operations on the Red Line of the Delhi Metro.

India’s first-ever Indigenous Automatic Train Supervision System (i-ATS) has been developed by a joint team of DMRC and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), under the government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives for metro rail transit systems.

The i-ATS system was formally launched on the Red Line from the Operations Control Centre (OCC) in Shastri Park by Manoj Joshi, the Secretary of Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, who is also Chairman of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

Vikas Kumar, Managing Director, DMRC and Bhanu Prakash Srivastava, Chairman & Managing Director, BEL, were also present during the inauguration.

Final field trials of the signalling technology were virtually inaugurated on the Red Line in March last year...

Source : The Print

Correct Answer :   2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off Mumbai-Solapur and Mumbai-Sainagar "Vande Bharat Express" from Mumbai on Friday (10th Feb 2023).

During the event, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chief Minister of Maharastra Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis were also present at the occasion.

With the two trains becoming operational, the number of Vande Bharat Express trains running from Mumbai will increase to three and the count will go up to 10 for the country.

The first Vande Bharat train in Maharashtra connected Mumbai with Gujarat's Gandhinagar.

Here is the list of all the trains of Vande Bharat Express in function :

TRAIN NO.: VARANASI – NEW DELHI (22435) / NEW DELHI – VARANASI (22436) :  On February 18, 2019, the first Vande Bharat Express train made its debut. The first route makes stops in Thyagraj and Kanpur on its way from the capital city of Delhi to the sacred city of Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh). Except on Monday and Thursday, this train runs five days a week.

TRAIN NO.: NEW DELHI – SMVD KATRA (22439) / SMVD KATRA -NEW DELHI (22440) : From Delhi to Katra, the second Vande Bharat Express is now operating (Jammu and Kashmir). Amit Shah, the minister of home affairs, gave it a ceremonial opening on October 3, 2019, and on October 5, 2019, it began operating for profit. The train stops in Jammu Tawi, Ludhiana, and Ambala Cantt. Except on Tuesday, it operates six days a week.

TRAIN NO.: MUMBAI CENTRAL- GANDHINAGAR CAP (20901)/ GANDHINAGAR CAP -MUMBAI CENTRAL (20902) : On September 30, 2022, the third train began operation. In less than six hours, this train travels the distance between Mumbai, Maharashtra, and Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Other trains take less than seven to eight hours to complete this trip. This train, which is a 2.0 upgrade of the Vande Bharat Express, is renowned for being quicker, quieter, and smoother. The train runs five days a week, but not on Sundays.

Amb Andaura - New Delhi (22447)/Amb Andaura - New Delhi (22448) : On October 13, 2022, the fourth train was put into service. From New Delhi, through Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, the railway travels the route. Six days a week, the train runs.

TRAIN NO.: CHENNAI – MYSURU (20608)/ MYSURU- CHENNAI (20607) : The Vande Bharat Express, which debuted on November 10, 2022, was the fifth train. Two stops are made by the high-speed train at Katpadi and KRS Bengaluru.

This train travels 479 KM in total. It operates five days a week and is not operational on Wednesday.

TRAIN NO.: NAGPUR JUNCTION (20825) /NAGPUR – BILASPUR JUNCTION (20826) : On December 11, 2022, the sixth Vande Bharat Express train was just inaugurated. It travels from Nagpur to Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) (Maharashtra). This train operates on a six-day schedule. On Saturdays, the train is not in service. The train stops in Gondia, Raipur, Durg, and Rajnandgaon.

TRAIN NO.: HOWRAH-NEW JALPAIGURI (22301) /NEW JALPAIGURI JUNCTION – HOWRAH (22302) : On December 30, the seventh Vande Bharat Express train debuted. The entire voyage of the train lasts 7 hours and 30 minutes. Except for Wednesday, the Vande Bharat Express runs six days every week.

Source : India Today

Correct Answer :   China

Correct Answer :   December 2023