New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): To overcome the inconvenience over multiple helpline numbers for grievances and enquiry during railway travel, Indian Railway has integrated all railway helplines into a single number1–39 (Rail Madad Helpline) for quick grievance during the journey.
According to an official statement: “Various Railway grievances helplines were discontinued last year. Now, Helpline number 182 would also be discontinued from March 1 and merged into 139 which is available in twelve languages.
Passengers can opt for IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System), or directly connect to the call-centre executive by pressing (asterisk). There is no need for a smartphone to call on 139, thus, providing easy access to all mobile users.
On an average basis, the merged helpline number received 3,44,513 inquiries per day, the statement read.
The customer has to press 1 for security and medical assistance, 2 for PNR status enquiry, 4 for general complaints, 5 for vigilance related complaints, 6 for Parcel and goods related queries, 7 for IRCTC operated trains queries, 8 for the status of complaints, 9 for talking to call centre executive and press *( asterisk) for talking to call centre executive.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Railways has also launched the Social Media campaign #OneRailOneHelpline139 to inform and educate the passengers. (ANI)

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 8 (ANI): The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is all set to revamp and beautify 12 major junctions in the city, said an official statement on Monday.
In the statement, the BBMP Administrator Gaurav Gupta said that the architects have studied the city’s 12 major junctions and thought of a number of themes for the junctions to make them appealing to the public while incorporating modifications for smooth traffic.
The designs must be implemented with emphasis on the beautification of the junctions.
“Once the junctions are revamped, the vehicular movement must not be affected. The sidewalks must be designed in a pedestrian-friendly way. The designs must be considered only after consultation with the traffic police department,” he instructed.
The construction work should be taken up in coordination with the department, he said.
Chalukya Circle junction is designed on the theme of the erstwhile Chalukya dynasty. Anil Kumble Junction, which is near Chinnaswamy Stadium, is designed on a sports theme. Likewise, the Mysore Bank Circle junction design is based on the theme of the Karaga festival.
Special Commissioner (Planning) Manoj Jain, Chief Engineer Prahlad of Road Infrastructure Division, architects and other concerned officials were present in the meeting at BBMP head office today. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India has crossed 2.26 crore on Monday, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).
According to MoHFW, A total of 2,26,85,598 vaccine doses have been given till today. As many as 70,41,584 healthcare workers have received the first dose and 37,12,906 healthcare workers have taken the second dose.
When it comes to frontline workers, 67,73,081 have taken the first dose and 3,13,835 have received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, 41,85,274 beneficiaries are more than 60 years old and 6,58,918 beneficiaries aged 45 and above with specific co-morbidities.
The nationwide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 2021 and vaccination of the frontline workers started on February 2.
The second phase of COVID-19 vaccination has started from March 1 for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 8 (ANI): The Supreme Court will on Tuesday hear plea by BJP leader and former IPS officer Bharati Ghosh seeking directions to transfer all cases registered against her by the West Bengal police to an independent agency.
A two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Uday Umesh Lalit gave directions for the matter be listed tomorrow.
“Considering the urgency, let the matter be listed tomorrow before the appropriate bench of this Court”, Justice Lalit said.
The top court had earlier granted protection from arrest in all the cases registered against Ghosh, who had joined the BJP.
Ghosh claimed in her plea that she joined the BJP before the last Lok Sabha elections and 10 first information reports (FIRs) were registered against her “in false cases”. She said four more FIRs were filed against her after the elections.
The petitioner sought a stay on the arrest warrant issued against her on February 4, 2021, registered at Keshpur police station.
She sought a direction to the respondents, particularly the Union of India (UOI), to call for reports of the Central Industrialist Security Force (CISF) submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding the alleged incident of May 12, 2019.
Ghosh also sought direction to the West Bengal government to furnish the complete list of cases/FIRs registered by them, directly or indirectly, against her.
The petitioner sought directions for the West Bengal government to give the petitioner prior notice, at least 10 clear days in advance, in the event of their registering a new/fresh case/FIR against her. (ANI)

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 8 (ANI): Ahead of Assembly elections, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Monday promised to provide Rs 1,500 per family to housewives every month and six LPG cylinders in the AIADMK manifesto if elected to power.
The Chief Minister promised six LPG cylinders per year for each family under its poll manifesto.
“On this Women’s Day, considering the well-being of women, six LPG cylinders per year for each family will be included in the AIADMK election manifesto. And Rs 1,500 will be handed over to housewives per family each month. AIADMK manifesto will be released soon,” Palaniswami said.
The 234-members Tamil Nadu assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 6 and the counting of votes will be done on May 2.
While the ruling AIADMK is contesting the polls in a pre-poll alliance with the BJP, DMK has joined hands with Congress. (ANI)

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], March 8 (ANI): All six Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) candidates who filed their nominations for MLC positions were unanimously elected on Monday.
The newly elected MLCs are Balli Kalyana Chakravarthy, Mohammad Karimunnisa, C Ramachandraiah, Duvvada Srinivas, Shaik Mohammad Iqbal and Challa Bhageerath Reddy.
Elections were notified for the six vacant seats. However, only the YSRCP candidates had filed nominations for the seats.
Chief Electoral Officer declared the results. (ANI)