Lok Sabha Question No. 337 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Loco Pilots of Southern Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 337 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## LOCO PILOTS OF SOUTHERN RAILWAYS

337 SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether it is  a  fact that  loco  pilots of Southern Railway have been protesting against the increasing workload and stress;
- (b) if so, whether Loco pilots demanding to implement periodical rest as per the rule and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  due  to  a  large  number  of  loco  pilot  posts remained vacant for a long time, the existing loco pilots are being put to work extra time;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether it is a fact that putting the loco pilots for extra hours of duty is a matter of concern towards safety of train operations; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

- (a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (f)  OF  UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.337  BY  SHRI  V  K  SREEKANDAN  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK SABHA ON 24.07.2024 REGARDING LOCO PILOTS OF SOUTHERN RAILWAYS

(a)  to (f):  Occurrence and filling up of vacancies are continuous process on Indian Railways considering its size, spatial distribution and criticality of operation. Adequate and suitable manpower is provided to cater to the regular operations, changes in technology, mechanizations and  innovative  practices.  The  vacancies  are  filled  up  primarily  by placement  of  indents  by  Railways  with  Recruitment  agencies  as  per operational and technological requirements.

After easing of restrictions imposed on account of COVID 19, two major examinations  involving  more  than  2.37  crore  candidates  have  been conducted successfully.

Computer Based Test (CBT) exam for more than 1.26 crore candidates was conducted in 7 phases from 28.12.2020 to 31.07.2021 in 133 shifts in 68 days across 211 cities and 726 centres.

Similarly,  CBT  was  conducted  for  more  than  1.1  crore  candidates  in  5 phases from 17.08.2022 to 11.10.2022 in 99 shifts in 33 days across 191 cities and 551 centres.

Based  on  these  exams,  1,30,581  candidates  have  been  recruited  in Railways.

The RRB examinations are quite technical in nature entailing large scale mobilization  of  men  and  resources  and  training  of  manpower.  Railway overcame all these challenges and successfully conducted the recruitment in a transparent manner following all laid down guidelines. No instance of paper leakage or similar malpractice has occurred during the entire process.

Recruitment  done  in  Indian  Railways  during  2004-2014  vis-à-vis  during 2014-2024 is given as under :-

| Period   | Recruitments   |
|----------|----------------|
| 2004-14  | 4.11 lakh      |
| 2014-24  | 5.02 lakh      |

Further, as system improvement, the Ministry of Railways has introduced a  system  of  publishing  annual  calendar  this  year  for  recruitment  to various  categories  of  Group  'C'  post.  Accordingly,  four  Centralized Notifications  (CENs)  for  32,603  vacancies  have  been  notified  during January to March 2024 for filling  up  of  posts  of  Assistant  Loco  Pilots, Technicians,  Sub-Inspectors  &  Constables  in  Railway  Protection  Force (RPF). The introduction of annual calendar will benefit the aspirants in the following manner :-

-  More opportunities for candidates;
-  Opportunities to those becoming eligible every year;
-  Certainty of exams;
-  Faster Recruitment process, Training and Appointments

Duty  hours  of  Loco  Pilots  and  Assistant  Loco  Pilots  are  governed  by Railway  servants  (Hours  of  Work  &  Period  of  Rest)  Rules  2005.  Duty hours, numbers of night duties, facility for out-station rest, number and hours of rest at headquarter are well defined and monitored closely.

Several steps have been taken for improvement of working condition of loco running crew and initiatives taken for improvement in safety of train operation which are as follows:

- (1) Improvement in locomotives for the  comfort  and  for  easing  out duties  of  loco  running  staff :-

Considering the tough duties of loco running staff, number of steps have been initiated and executed which are as under:

- a. Production    of    three    phase    locos,    having    ergonomic  crew friendly  design features like better seat and drivers desk for better comfort of  loco  and  assistant  loco  pilot,  has    been    increased  in past  10  years  i.e. since  2014,  7,286  three  phase  locos  have
2. been  manufactured  as  against  719 prior to 2014.
- b. All new locos manufactured are provided with air-conditioned cabs since  2017-18.  So  far  more  than  7,000  locos  have  been  provided with air conditioners.
- c. All  new  locos  being  manufactured  are  provided  with  Vigilance Control Devices (VCD) as a technological aid to monitor and warn Loco Pilots  in  case  of  loss  of  alertness  while  driving. Since 2014, VCD has been provided in more than 12,000 (10,521 Electric +1,873 Diesel) locos.
- d. A  portable  GPS  based  Fog safe  Device (FSD)  is  being  provided to  Loco  Pilots  as  a technical aid  for  displaying and announcing the  name and distance of   approaching  signals  and  important landmarks.  Since 2014, 21,742 nos. FSDs have been provided in IR.
- e. Retro-reflective  strip  in  sigma  shape  have  been  provided  two masts  prior to stop  signals  on  all  the  Zonal  Railways  for  easy identification of stop  signal  during   foggy  weather  as  an  aid and  for  reducing  stress  on  loco  pilots.
- (2) Improvement  in  quality  of    rest    of    running    staff    at    Running Rooms :-

A number of steps have been taken in the last 10 years to improve the quality of rest of  the running  staff  which are as  under :

- a. All 558 running rooms have been air-conditioned.
- b. Running staff are also provided with Yoga  and meditation room, reading  room   with  newspaper and magazines for relaxing  in accordance  with  their  requirements.
- c. Provision for good quality subsidized meal in running rooms.
4. d.
5. Availability of RO water filters in running rooms.
- e. Separate room for female crew.
- f. Loco  pilots  have  to  keep  a  continuous  watch  on  track  and signals  involving  long  hours  of  standing  in  cab.  Based  on CAMTECH  report,  facilities  like  foot  massager  etc.  are  made
8. available in running rooms for giving loco pilots proper rest.
- (3) Other technological aids for improving safety in train operation :-
10. a.
11. Simulator based training for improving the driving skills and the reaction time of Loco Pilots is being emphasized and simulator training facility is increased significantly.
- b. Mobile Application named 'Chalak Dal' has been developed for the facilitation of crew.  The App has been modified in 2023, to enable crew  to  access  all  his  details  related  to  running duties, sign on / sign  off,  loco  trouble  shooting  directory  and other    documents  required    during    train    operation    which otherwise  were  required  to  be  carried  in  hard  copy.
- (4) Other measures for improving safety in train operation :-
- a.    Various  safety  drives  &  special  counselling  programs  are regularly  organized  for  checking  the  alertness    and    safety awareness  among  the  running  staff. Special safety seminars &    meetings    are  also  organized  for  interaction  with  family
15. members of running staff for educating  on  role  of  quality  rest in  life  of  running  staff.
- b.   Special drives are launched regularly to counsel running staff to boost their morale and confidence.

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