New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on July 5, 2024, met a group of Indian Railways loco pilots, who complained of “inadequate rest due to understaffing”. Shri Rahul Gandhi assured them that he would raise their issues in Parliament.
He met more than 50 loco pilots from all over India at the New Delhi railway station and they explained to him their issues.
Basically, the loco pilots complained of inadequate rest, they said. The loco pilots drive trains over long distances, far from home, and are often pressed into duty without adequate breaks.This causes great stress and lapses in concentration which is a major cause of accidents, they added.
The loco pilots demand a weekly rest of 46 hours, which means a train driver returning home on Friday afternoon will return to duty no later than Sunday morning.
The Railways Act 1989 and other rules already provide for 30+16 hours of rest per week, which is not being implemented, the sources alleged, adding that aeroplane pilots also typically get this much rest.
According to the Party, the loco pilots demanded that two consecutive nights of duty should be followed by one night of rest, and trains should have basic amenities for drivers.
The lack of rest is caused by understaffing due to the government halting recruitment of loco pilots, the Party sources claimed.
“Over the past four years, the Railways Recruitment Board has not recruited even a single loco pilot despite tens of thousands of vacancies,” a Party source claimed.
Leader of Opposition Shri Rahul Gandhi assured the loco pilots that he has been consistently raising the issue of “railways’ privatisation and lack of recruitment”, the sources said, adding that the Congress leader listened to their concerns and supported their demand for adequate rest. Shri Rahul Gandhi expressed hope that this would significantly reduce accidents. As Leader of Opposition, he promised to take up their demands with the government.