Railway Board Chairman flags shortage of manpower

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Last Updated16/09/2024

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Board, Satish Kumar, has raised concerns about the critical issue of manpower shortages in Indian Railways and sought additional staff “urgently” to ensure the safe operation of trains.

Recently appointed Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, Satish Kumar, has raised concerns over manpower shortages in Indian Railways.
In a letter to the Ministry of Finance, he stressed the urgent need for additional staff to ensure the safe operation of trains and maintain new assets amidst rapid infrastructure growth.

Mr. Kumar highlighted the significant expansion of Indian Railways in recent years, including the construction of new lines, introduction of more trains, and an increase in capital expenditure from ₹1.48 lakh crore in 2019-20 to ₹2.62 lakh crore in 2023-24.
The creation of new posts, particularly in safety-related categories, is crucial for maintaining these assets and ensuring smooth operations.

The concerns come against the backdrop of multiple accidents across the railway network, leading to fatalities over the past two years. Loco pilots and trade unions have long been advocating for filling vacancies, especially in safety-critical departments.
Mr. Kumar stressed that outsourcing crucial maintenance work for tracks, bridges, locomotives, and signaling equipment was not feasible. Proper staffing is essential to comply with safety norms required by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.

Locomotives increased from 11,739 in 2019 to 15,564 in 2024 (a 59.86% rise).
Passenger amenities, such as escalators, grew from 656 to 1,436, and the number of lifts increased by 196%.
The electrified railway route rose from 35,488 km to 63,456 km.
Revenue saw a 40% increase in passenger earnings and a 31.40% increase in freight loading between 2019-20 and 2023-24.

To meet the targets for 2030, Mr. Kumar emphasized the need for more personnel to manage the increasing number of trains and to maintain infrastructure as per safety standards.
He urged the Ministry of Railways to gain approval for creating non-gazetted safety posts, noting that without sufficient manpower, it would be impossible to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the network.