A STRANGE scene was witnessed at Habibganj Railway Station on Tuesday where Ticket Collectors (TCs) were seen manning the parking lot!
The situation arose because of the cancellation of the parking contract after irregularities were detected in the deal. Subsequently, TCs were asked to supervise the parking lot, issue scooter/cycle parking tickets and collect charges from vehicle owners. Angry railway employees under the aegis of West Central Railway Employees’ Union (WCREU) also staged a demonstration at the Railway Station.
Union secretary Rajesh Tiwari alleged the contract was awarded to the contactor without verifying the Fixed Deposit (FD) furnished with the tender. As the FD worth Rs 13 lakh was found fake the contract had to be cancelled and TCs were forced to take care of the parking lot.
Employees union charged the Commercial Department of gross irregularities in awarding the contract and warned if TCs were forced to work at the parking lot further, the stir would be further intensified. The Union also said Class IV employees could have been deputed in place of TCs and one employee could have been asked to supervise.