Panel recommends better facilities for loco drivers, guards

A High Power Committee, set up by the railways to review duty hours of running staff and other safety related issues, has recommended upgrading of existing facilities for guards and loco drivers.

The four-member committee headed by D P Tripathi, former secretary of Food Processing Ministry, has submitted its final report to Railway Board Chairman Arunendra Kumar recently.

There were complaints that running staff (guards and drivers) get little time for rest and are always overburdened with work schedule.

The committee conducted wide ranging consultation with railway administrations, federations and staff from across the country and prepared a comprehensive report. The Railway Ministry will examine the report for implementation of the recommendations of the panel, a Railway Ministry official said.

Other three members of the committee were V K Manglik, former West Central Railway General Manager, Amar Nath, former Chittaranjan Locomotive Works GM and M S Khan, former additional member of Railway Board.