Lok Sabha Question No. 778 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Shortage of Trackmen
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: CHANDU LAL SAHU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 778 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2018

## SHORTAGE OF TRACKMEN

†778. SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the shortage of trackmen who undertakes  patrolling  job  for  the  security  of  Railways  and  if  so,  the details of vacancies, zone-wise;
- (b)  whether  the  Railways  has  decided  to  engage  homeguards  and employees of private companies for safety of tracks during night;
- (c)  if  so,  the  number  of  private  employees  already  engaged  and  the reasons for taking decision to engage private employees in the field of security;
- (d) whether this decision has not curtailed employment opportunities and will not lead to security lapses and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to launch new recruitment drive for  the  post  of  trackmen,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) Yes, Madam. Ministry of Railways is aware of the shortage of Track Maintainer.  The  zone  wise  vacancy  position  of  Track  Maintainer  is appended.

- (b) & (c) Ministry has decided that whenever night patrolling is to be carried  out  in  pair  and  in  case  available  departmental  manpower  is inadequate, the second patrolman to accompany  railway Track Maintainer deputed for patrolling, may be engaged through outsourcing.  2013  number  of  private  persons  have  been  engaged  for the above purpose.
- (d) The outsourcing of patrolman is to be done if available departmental manpower is inadequate. The outsourced patrolman is to be  trained  by  Railway  officials  before  patrolling  in  pair  with  Railway Track Maintainer deputed for patrolling.
- (e)    Recruitment  process  to  fill  up  the  vacancies  in  Level-1  posts, including those of around 35,000 Track Maintainers, has already been set in motion.

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APPENDIX  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 778 BY SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.02.2018 REGARDING SHORTAGE OF TRACKMEN.

(a): The zone-wise vacancy position of Track Maintainer is as under:

| Vacancy position of Track Maintainer as on 01.04.2017 over Zonal Railways (provisional)   | Vacancy position of Track Maintainer as on 01.04.2017 over Zonal Railways (provisional)   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Zonal Railway                                                                             | Vacancy of Track Maintainer (No.)                                                         |
| Central Railway                                                                           | 2151                                                                                      |
| East Coast Railway                                                                        | 1848                                                                                      |
| East Central Railway                                                                      | 3573                                                                                      |
| Eastern Railway                                                                           | 4664                                                                                      |
| Metro Railway                                                                             | 1                                                                                         |
| North Central Railway                                                                     | 3332                                                                                      |
| North Eastern Railway                                                                     | 2694                                                                                      |
| Northeast Frontier Railway                                                                | 2467                                                                                      |
| Northern Railway                                                                          | 4956                                                                                      |
| North Western Railway                                                                     | 3639                                                                                      |
| South Central Railway                                                                     | 3273                                                                                      |
| Southeast Central Railway                                                                 | 1236                                                                                      |
| South Eastern Railway                                                                     | 2726                                                                                      |
| Southern Railway                                                                          | 2909                                                                                      |
| South Western Railway                                                                     | 1303                                                                                      |
| West Central Railway                                                                      | 2874                                                                                      |
| Western Railway                                                                           | 4164                                                                                      |
| Total                                                                                     | 47810                                                                                     |

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