Double shifts add to stress for motormen, who claim they only get four hours of rest before starting another shift
Mumbai Division of WR has reported significant vacancies, leading to a high workload for the remaining motormen. Representation pic/istock
Motormen operating local trains on the Western Railway network have expressed resentment over new duty hours that reportedly make many of them work in double shifts.
The Mumbai Division of Western Railway has reported significant vacancies, leading to a high workload for the remaining motormen. To address this issue and decide on the future course of action, a meeting was held inside the motormen’s lobby at Churchgate on Wednesday. According to the sources, the problems have been simmering for a long time, and if not addressed timely, this could lead to disruption of suburban services. Motormen say they have been working without adequate rest due to the new rule, which affects the quality of driving and leads to safety issues.
At Byculla station, commuters approach a motorman about the closed doors. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
“There has been a shortage of motormen, leading to these issues. We only get four hours of rest after completing the duty and then again do one more shift. New motormen are joining, but the pace is slow and the problem is increasing,” a motorman said. “In the four-hour rest period, we cannot even go home and come back. We have been asked to get tiffins from home. All such things are adding to stress and compromising safety,” another motorman said.
Officials speak
WR officials said they were working on resolving the issue at the earliest. “There is a vacancy of about 54, with an average of 20 motormen forced to do double duty. To address this situation, recruitment of [Assistant Loco Pilots] ALPs from Railway Recruitment Boards [RRB] is being done. Also, promotion in the higher cadre of motormen will be done. Thus, once the cadre is filled, there will be no double duty. To provide facilities, air-conditioned running rooms are being provided with proper beds at multiple locations," an official said.
AC local doors remain shut at Dadar halt
Commuters of the 10.42 am AC fast local on Central Railway created a ruckus at Byculla station after the doors of their morning rush hour local did not open at Dadar station.
“The Badlapur-CSMT train arrived at Dadar, and the train halted as usual, but the doors did not open, and the train departed. The next station was Byculla, and people missed their schedules,” said Mukesh Makhija, a commuter.
“We then approached the motorman. There were seven people in his cabin. We questioned him, and he said that the guard is in charge of the train and that he does not have the mechanism to open doors,” said another commuter.
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