Lok Sabha Question No. 449 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Shortage of Manpower in Indian Railways
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 449 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER IN INDIAN RAILWAYS

449.  DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that over 3.12 lakh posts lying vacant despite the shortage of Manpower in Indian Railways;
- (b) if so, the time period for which the posts have been lying vacant and the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to fill the vacant posts;
- (c)  the  details  of  vacant  posts  in  Indian  Railways  in  the  last  four years, zone-wise; and
- (d) the details of the total number of per day work hours carried out by loco pilots of each train, zone-wise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 449 BY DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOKSABHA  ON  24.07.2024  REGARDING SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER IN INDIAN RAILWAYS (a) to (d) :  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
2. phase  locos  have  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.
- d. 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 available in running rooms for giving loco pilots proper rest.
- (3) Other    technological    aids    for    improving    safety    in    train operation:
- a. 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    counseling    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 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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