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Railway workshopson verge of closure?
The Carriage Workshop at Lalaguda receives 136 coaches every month for Periodical Overhaul (PO) but most of the work is outsourced. With employees retiring and no fresh recruitment taking place, the number of employees has been dwindling over the years and as a result there are just 3000 employees left at the workshop, which was established in 1893.
The Signal and Telecommunication workshop at Mettuguda and Carriage Workshop at South Lalaguda are a pale shadow of their former self with most of the work outsourced
The Carriage Workshop at Lalaguda receives 136 coaches every month for Periodical Overhaul (PO) but most of the work is outsourced. With employees retiring and no fresh recruitment taking place, the number of employees has been dwindling over the years and as a result there are just 3000 employees left at the workshop, which was established in 1893.
A few kilometres away, the scenario at the Signal and Telecommunication workshop at Mettuguda is also not so rosy. In 2008, there were 1250 employees as against 400 at present. Due to lack of staff and several other aspects the production has shifted from mechanical to electrical equipment. A worker on condition of anonymity said, “There was a time when items such as signal base, shunt signals, mechanical lifting barrier, GKB box, signal foundation among other items were the mainstay, not anymore.”
In 2006, a three-member committee of the South Central Railway (SCR) had recommended for the closure of the Signal and Telecommunication workshop but due to the protest from the employees, it was stalled. Senior members of South Central Railway Mazdoor Union (SCRMU) and South Central Railway Employees Association (SCRES) say that the workshops have the potential to regain their past glory only if fresh recruitments take place.
Over the years several works are being outsourced, for instance, bathroom frame, anglers including fibre were made at the Lalaguda workshop but now stainless steel frames are being ordered that cost Rs 9000 per frame. A machine costing Rs 42 lakh that could make more than 18 types of material to repair the coaches is now lying defunct at the workshop.
Mallaiah (name changed) a worker at the Carriage Workshop says, “Even the scrap that is offloaded is being outsourced.”There were close to 6000 workers at the Carriage Workshop in the year 2000, today the number has come down to 3000. The Bibek Debroy committee report which seeks a reallocation of the social cost could prove a death knell for the workshops. With corporatisation of the Railways in the offing, stem is running out for these workshops.
By:T P Venu
