Rail passengers at providence mercy?

Hyderabad: It is true that there are fewer accidents on South Central Railway (SCR) compared to other divisions in the country. But the question that is haunting the people is: Are passengers just so lucky that no accident occurs on the line, going by the acute lack of safety staff.

Findings of a study ‘What Ails Railway Safety?’ on Secunderabad division by the South Central Railway Mazdoor Union (SCRMU) reveals glaring gaps in several departments ranging from Traction Rolling Staff Officer (TRSO), Diesel, Operations, C&W, Engineering, Signals and others. According to the study, it is sheer luck that no accident is taking place as the miniscule staff is punching above its weight to keep the trains running. But for how long is a question that trade union activists and men in the know of things are asking.

Secunderabad division is among the top five ranking divisions in the country and the operational ratio is 69 percent against the all India ratio of 96 percent. The division has also bagged several awards for its efficiency and even on the accident front, the SCR is better than other zones. However, if one looks at the number of safety category vacancies in Secunderabad division which stands at 3,500, one is forced to believe if the SCR is taking chances too far.

Loco pilots, pointsmen, trackmen, trolleymen, gangmate, station masters and signal engineers who form a part of the most crucial network that keeps the tracks safe and the system running are on their toes as there are no replacements when one of their colleagues retires and all are working in pressure. Ch Shankar Rao, general secretary, SCRMU says, “In the last 10 years, no new posts were created, especially in Signals and Traffic, but a number of electrification and doubling works have been undertaken. The staff has dwindled but the work increased.”

In the Signals Department alone, there are 87 percent vacancies for junior engineers. Out of the 31 sanctioned posts, 27 are not filled. K Siva Kumar, divisional secretary, SCRMU says, “The staff is working under pressure. Eight-hour roster is needed for all gatemen, pointsmen and assistant station masters in all sections. The Railway Board SPAD committee report has to be implemented with not more than two consecutive night duties. Four periodical rests of 40 hours in a month is required but due to lack of staff, this is not followed.”

At the Electric Loco Shed, Lallaguda, a team that can work for 100 locos does the work for 216 locos. Ch Shankar Rao says, “Due to pressure human errors occur. The Railway must be treated like an industry and unless vacant positions are filled, the well-oiled machine that once it was will falter.”

The SCR has been, over the years, maintaining a steady growth and is among the best performing zones but analysts say it is a matter of luck and it will not take it far unless corrections are done. In freight and passenger sectors, oversaturated tracks account up to 160 percent. There are 85,000 vacancies in safety category across the country and 56,000 posts in signals alone.