WR motormen’s protest called off

Western Railway motormen, who were protesting from Tuesday alleging that the selection process for trainers was corrupted, withdrew their protest on Thursday around 7pm, after WR promised a probe into the complaints.

Western Railway motormen, who were protesting from Tuesday alleging that the selection process for trainers was corrupted, withdrew their protest on Thursday around 7pm, after WR promised a probe into the complaints.

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For the last two days, commuters on the Churchgate-Virar stretch were inconvenienced due to delayed suburban trains. The situation normalized after the protest was called off.

The Western Railway Motormen’s Association (WRMA) had a meeting with the WR administration on Thursday were it was decided that their allegations would be looked into.

Sources said nearly 40 services were cancelled during the protest, and trains were running late by 10-15 minutes.“There was no delay in services and trains have been running fine,” said chief public relations officer, Sharat Chandrayan.

Under the ‘work to rule’ agitation, motormen were maneuvering the trains at not more than 10 kmph while entering terminating platforms and those having dead ends, and at 10-15 kmph at curvatures along the 60km route when visibility is affected.

Those belonging to WRMA claimed that the officials in-charge had rigged the process of selecting the instructors at the zonal training centre for motormen at Mahalaxmi. In a letter written to WR chief personal officer on March 2 by general secretary of the association, PN Gupta, questioned the entire process. “The process of selection should be fair,” said PN Gupta.

“We follow all the rules specified by the railway board and there is no misconduct. Yet we are looking at the allegations,” said a senior official. On June 15, the administration stated in a letter to WRMA that a three-member committee of officers has been nominated to examine the complaints.