Rly Board formulates manpower mgmt plan to revise yardsticks for O&M
Date :26-Nov-2019
By Sagar Mohod :
Accelerating downsizing in view of technological upgradation, Railway Board has formulated manpower management plan wherein yardsticks for operations and maintenance (O&M) were revised. The Board has advised Zonal and Production Units to streamline works as per new benchmarks that are collated after taking into account best of practices over various Zones. This, in short, is to surrender excess posts that are identified post reduction in requirement of manpower.
The Board also advised its filed units to stick to these new guidelines and excess post be surrendered. The 13 lakh strong work force is sought to be brought down below 10 lakh with major thrust on outsourcing as Railways look down to cut down its wage bill. The aim is also to improve the operating ratio with sustained target of curtailing ordinary working expenses. The revised yardstick covers departments of TRD, TRS, Crew Review-Freight Services, Coach Maintenance and Coach Maintenance-Mechanical. TRD:
As per the Board’s directives the yardstick for traction department (TRD) activity, it looks after overhead electrical supply to railways, in non-suburban area which is fixed at 0.22/Track Kilometer. For the activity relating to OHE non-power block and other OHE works should be outsourced and only supervisory job and related work remains with Department that too at minimum level. As to PSI maintenance, operating and manning is also to be outsourced with only monitoring staff be retained. Centralised Activities-barring TPC manning, and technical staff including clerical staff and Helpers others will be handed out to private parties. TRS: For Electric and Loco Maintenance in loco sheds for handling different types of locomotives the revised yardstick will be as follows.
For Conventional Loco (freight) with DC drive with Hitachi TM (WAG5) and NAG7, only three staff per loco should be kept. For other conventional locos with DC drive including coaching locos, 3.5 staff/loco and also for 3-phase locomotive (WAG9/WAP7) 3.5 staff/loco. The note by Board underlined that already many of the regular activities at Sheds are outsourced and in addition to them for Conventional Locomotives-DC TM overhauling, overhauling of contractors by OEMs, overhauling of auxillary motor. As to three phase locomotives-compressor overhauling,
TM overhauling, overhauling of auxillary motors. The advisory further mandated Principal Chief Electrical Engineer to take review to see if any other maintenance activities can be outsourced taking into account local situation and conditions. Crew Review: Next category is Crew Review for Freight services, wherein it now decided to have uniform norm over all zone. The first and foremost task for calculating requirement is to take peak six monthly review as to method of progressive crew hours, wherein 12 fortnights for preceding year be followed to arrive at bare crew requirement, additional requirement Leave Reserve, Rest Giver etc. shall be governed by extant rules.
Coach Maintenance: For Coach Maintenance-Electrical Maintenance and escorting staff for AC coaches as well as staff for Train Lighting (TL) coaches. They have been divided for primary maintenance of SG TL/HB TL coaches now only 0.24 staff per coach holding for primary maintenance (for ICF coaches), secondary maintenance 0.15 staff per coach, for train passing TL/AC coaches only 0.05 staff per coach holding and in sick line attention only 0.05 coach holding.
As to AC coaches ICF &LHB SGAC coach with RMPU only 1.10 staff/coach holding in case of primary maintenance, for ICF&LHB EOG AC coach with RMPU 0.8 staff for primary maintenance. In case of secondary maintenance for the ICF&LHB SGAC coach 0.46 staff/coach holding and 0.36 staff/coach for EOG AC coach and 0.20 staff per coach in sick line attention. At the Mechanical side at coach maintenance as per revised yardstick only 0.85 person/coach (for ICF&LHB) while interior amenities attention recommended to be outsouced, Terminal attention under RPC-4 0.3 man/coach, PF return trains nominated for rolling in examination+clean train station etc. 0.2 man/coach, sick line-0.12 man/coach, inspection carriages- (per IC holding) 1.76 man/IC holding, Linen Management-per AC coach holding-0.18/AC coach holding with recommendation to consider outsourcing this activity. The new yardstick is going to result in massive retrenchment in Yard and siding as well as Sheds where maximum technical staff is in employment over Indian Railways, said a senior officer on condition of anonymity.
Zones asked to outsource security activities The revision of yardstick by Railway Board has also asked Zones to outsource amenity/ security activities like PA/ PIS, CCTV & Infotainment etc. Further coach amenity attention including carpentry, welding, trimming, plumbing/ pipe fitting and provision of items like window glass, mirror, bottle holder, snacks table, taps and faucet etc, said the recommendation from Board.