'Vacancies, pay, health, basic amenities': RDSO report flags challenges train controllers face

New Delhi: A study by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), which functions under the Railway Ministry, has found that train controllers face multiple challenges at work including "unattractive" pay scale, huge stress due to vacancy leading to health concerns, and a lack of basic amenities.

The report, which was submitted to the Railway Board recently, said section controllers perform high-strain jobs, their task made more difficult by the around 15-20 per cent vacancy, medically-decategorised officers posted in the department and the absence of appropriate reward either in terms of money, or esteem and career growth.

Titled 'The challenges faced by Section Controllers in carrying out their duties effectively' the report aims at exploring improvements in selection procedure, training, and infrastructures for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of train operations.

The Indian Railways is one of the largest networks in the world with thousands of trains traversing various sections of almost 1,05,555 km of tracks daily, the report states. "This mammoth activity is controlled by 68 operation centers over the IR network called the Divisional Control Office." The Divisional Control Office, situated at divisional headquarters, plays a vital role in the entire operation of the railway network, tt says.

The rail network in a division is subdivided into sections consisting of several stations. "The trains running over these sections are controlled and monitored by the Section Controllers working round the clock in shift duties on the Control board."

The RDSO team collected data from various divisional control offices and found that there are vacancies ranging from 15 to 24 per cent.

"High vacancy in the cadre ultimately affects the working condition of the staff on roll. Under strenuous conditions, the quality of work also suffers. Administration also faces difficulty in managing the rest and leave of the staff. Therefore, vacancy in the cadre should be analysed on priority and effort should be made to fill up the vacancy," the report says.

It says section controllers work 24x7 their shifts cannot be left unmanned.

"As per the roaster, Section Controller requires 30 hrs of weekly rest. But in the absence of adequate number of staff, sometimes the administration faces problems in arranging weekly rest or leave to Section Controllers. In a continuous work schedule, they feel burned out and their productivity gets affected," the report adds.

While identifying the reasons for the shortage of section controllers, the report said 75 per cent of the posts are filled through selection from the feeder cadre of Station Masters (55 per cent), train managers (10 per cent) and train clerks (10 per cent).

"The initial grade pay of Section Controllers has been made identical with the Station Masters grade pay (L/6) in the VIIth CPC. While earlier the initial pay of Section Controllers was a grade higher (L/6) than the pay of SMs (L/5) and therefore, SMs were interested in applying for the post," the study says.

"But in the present selection process, there is reluctance from the SMs category to apply for the post of Section Controllers due to lack of any substantial financial gain. This situation has led to the shortage of staff in the Section Controller cadre resulting in further stress on the working strength of the Section Controllers," it adds.

Expressing concern over the current practice of inducting "medically de-categorized" staff in the control department as section controllers, the study says, "A person with any medical condition or handicap will have some restricting working condition where that person will be unable to meet the demand of the job."

The study has suggested several measures such as upgradation in the initial pay scale from grade pay 4,200 to grade pay 4,600 to make them more attractive for the feeder category candidates, introduction of an aptitude test in the recruitment/selection, extension in the duration of training period.

The team has also suggested the Railway Board reintroduce direct recruitment of section controllers through the Railway Recruitment Board which was discontinued in 2020.

It also said no controller should be allowed to work without undergoing the periodical refresher courses, the Study said.

"Increase in the frequency of refresher courses will also equip the Section controllers with frequent updates in their knowledge and skill. It may be increased from once in 03 years to once in a year as in the case of Air Traffic Controllers," it added.

The study also found that basic amenities such as water purifiers, automatic tea/coffee vending machines, and restrooms were unavailable in Section Control offices, which it recommended.

"During interaction with Section Controllers on their health-related issues, it was revealed that most of the Section Controllers are suffering from various lifestyles related disorders like, Blood Pressure, Diabetes, or Heart disease. This is a matter of concern for an employer. Therefore, Periodical Medical Examination (PME) is recommended for this category which will improve their physical well-being," the study says.

It added, "As the job is strenuous in nature, Yoga, meditation or other specialised mitigation programs may also be arranged to promote their well-being."