Rail min has assured to deploy trackmen for detecting cracks: AIRF

With an aim of detecting cracks in railway tracks, the Railway Ministry has agreed to deploy trackmen equipped with walkie-talkies or mobile phones for night patrolling across the country, All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) said Tuesday.

With an aim of detecting cracks in railway tracks, the Railway Ministry has agreed to deploy trackmen equipped with walkie-talkies or mobile phones for night patrolling across the country, All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) said Tuesday.

HT Image

"Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has given us the assurance to this effect during our recent meeting and promised to issue suitable orders at the earliest," AIRF Assistant General Secretary N Kanniah told reporters in Chennai.

With the wireless equipment, the trackmen could keep in touch with the nearest authorities in case of emergency and ensure safety of railway tracks and the passengers, he said.

Kanniah said he and AIRF General Secretary S G Mishra met the Minister with a charter of demands and she had agreed to consider the same.

The demands included filling up of two lakh vacancies in the department across the country, removal of anomalies in the implementation of Pay Commission recommendations, payment of mileage allowance from January 1, 2006.

Of the two lakh vacancies, nearly one lakh were in Group D posts like trackmen and gatemen, he said.

During the meeting, Banerjee promised to get the consent of the Finance Ministry and implement their demands very soon, he claimed.