A safer Indian Railways? Check out what these 220,000 railmen want
Indian Railways has been determinedly working to ensure passengers safety comes first. However, the men on the ground, who actually ensure track safety, are a dissatisfied lot. Indian Railways keymen have pleaded with the railway board to reduce their beat length from 8 km to 3 kms, in order to improve safety.
Indian Railways has been determinedly working to ensure passengers safety comes first. However, the men on the ground, who actually ensure track safety, are a dissatisfied lot. Indian Railways keymen have pleaded with the railway board to reduce their 'beat length' from 8 km to 3 kms, in order to improve safety. These Railway keymen walk for 8 kms everyday to inspect every crack and every nut and bolt to detect defects on tracks. They also ensure that they carry out the repairs in time for trains to pass.
There are 2.2 lakh keymen on the payroll of the national transporter, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) have written to the board. These keymen are considered to be Railways' last line of defence in terms of safety. NFIR also stated that these men actually walk double their beat length - to and fro - carrying equipment and other necessities which weigh around 14 kg.
According to PTI, NFIR has reiterated its demand to the Railway Board in a letter dated June 22, referring to its earlier march 20 latter, "explaining the need to reduce the beat length of Track Maintainer-Il, performing the duties of keyman to 3 Kms..."
"NFIR once again urges upon the Railway Board to kindly look into the merits explained in the said communication of the Federation and issue suitable instructions to the Zonal Railways for reducing the beat length of Track Maintainer-Il deployed to perform the duties of keyman," said the letter dated June 22 to the board, cited by PTI.
The union had in detail listed out the need to reduce the beat length that is given to these men for inspection, in the earlier letter.
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The letter said, "Daily walk on uneven and rough track with heavy load of mandatory equipments on body for such a long distance while doing lot of work and keeping alertness is quite a demanding task, therefore the beat length of keyman needs to be reduced.Better maintenance of fittings will be achieved through 'beat,' which will improve safety."
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