The applications, received on Tuesday by the Divisional Railway Manager, the General Manager’s Office, and the Senior DEE (TRO), outline serious concerns over safety, poor facilities, and administrative pressure
The loco pilots outlined serious concerns over safety, poor facilities, and administrative pressure. Representational Pic
72 Loco Pilot (Mail) staff from Central Railway’s Mumbai Division have jointly applied for voluntary retirement, citing long-standing systemic issues that they say have made continued service “professionally unsustainable.”
The applications, received on Tuesday by the Divisional Railway Manager, the General Manager’s Office, and the Senior DEE (TRO), outline serious concerns over safety, poor facilities, and administrative pressure.
Critical concerns highlighted by loco pilots
Substandard food facilities: Meals provided during duty hours and at running rooms are reportedly unhygienic and unfit for consumption, posing health risks for safety-sensitive duties.
Poor rest facilities: Running rooms and rest areas lack cleanliness, proper maintenance, and essential amenities, preventing adequate recovery after long, strenuous shifts.
Unsafe infrastructure: Missing pathways, poor lighting, and unsafe access to lobbies, trip sheds, and running rooms create significant safety hazards, particularly at night and during adverse weather.
Administrative pressure: Staff report undue administrative interference, harassment, and a stressful work environment affecting mental health and operational efficiency.
Health and family impact: Continuous stress, irregular duties, and poor facilities have reportedly deteriorated the physical and mental well-being of staff, straining family life.
The joint application stresses that the decision was taken after repeated representations to authorities went unaddressed.
The applicants have requested that their VRS applications be approved promptly and have assured full cooperation during the notice period, including a smooth handover of duties.
The move has drawn attention to long-standing welfare and safety issues within the Mumbai Division, raising concerns about staff retention and operational safety in Central Railway operations.
NRMU demands high-level inquiry and urgent upgrades
The National Railway Mazdoor Union (NRMU) has warned the Central Railway administration that a large number of Mumbai-division mail and express loco pilots have applied for voluntary retirement, citing mounting workplace distress and neglect of long-pending grievances.
In a representation, the union stated that poor-quality and unhygienic food, badly maintained running rooms, unsafe access to facilities, excessive administrative pressure, and the impact on health and family life are demoralising a safety-critical workforce and could affect punctuality and public confidence in rail operations.
“This development is not merely an administrative matter but a serious institutional warning signal,” said Venu P. Nair, General Secretary of NRMU, urging a high-level inquiry, urgent facility upgrades, and structured dialogue to prevent a potential exodus and safeguard railway safety.
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