K M Dayashankar
KAZIPET, JULY 21, 2024: Responding to the demand made by the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR), the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) have decided to constitute a multi-disciplinary Committee to deliberate, engage with federations and submit a holistic recommendation on the issues/grievances of loco running staff.
The Committee consists of ED/EE(RS) Railway board as convenor, ED/Safety/EE Railway board, ED/TT/S Railway board, EE/E(N) railway board and ED/Traffic RDSO as members.
The ED/Traffic from RDSO will handle cases involving aptitude tests. The committee’s terms of reference include reviewing legislation on breaks for meals and nature’s calls, duty hours, periodic tests, and manpower deployment and utilisation. Other issues include changing the definition of high-speed trains to 130 km/h from 110 km/h and deploying Assistant Loco Pilots (ALPs) on trains running up to 130 km/h.
The committee will also consider making the aptitude test mandatory for promotions, from LP (Goods) to LP (Passenger) and from LP (Passenger) to LP (Mail/Express). Additionally, it will address the redeployment of drivers who fail the aptitude test after SPAD (Signal Passed At Danger) incidents.
The committee is to submit its report within one month of its formation, and its headquarters will be in New Delhi. More than 17 opposition MPs wrote to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw about issues affecting train drivers and causing red-signal overshoots and accidents.
After the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) approached these MPs, five sent separate letters and 12 sent a joint note demanding better facilities and rest for train drivers. Rahul Gandhi also visited New Delhi Railway Station on July 5, 2024, to meet with loco pilots and raise their concerns, prompting Railway Ministry officials to listen to the train drivers’ problems.
Loco Running Branch Working Chairman South Central Railway Employees Sangh, Kazipet Paka Raj Kumar said that the NFIR and SCRES was committed for the safety and protection of the railway passengers as well as its employees. He thanked the Railway board for accepting the proposal made by M Raghavaiah for the constitution of a committee to redress the grievances of loco running staff.
