Railways to fill up 2 lakh vacancies

THE HINDU
Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 07, 2010
Railways to clear backlog of 2 lakh posts: Mamata
Special Correspondent
‘10-lakh award for Games gold medal winners'
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MoU with IIT-Kharagpur to develop wagon prototyping unit
Plan to launch ‘Technology Express' to connect the Country's IITs
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KOLKATA: Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that her Ministry would clear a backlog of two lakh vacancies across the country within six months.
Speaking at a function in Kharagpur in the State's Paschim Medinipur district, Ms. Banerjee said: “I do not leave anything undone. My Ministry is trying to clear the backlog of two lakh vacancies within six months.”
She also announced an award of Rs.10 lakh for each of the three sportspersons from the Railways who have so far won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
Ms. Banerjee laid the foundation stones for a centre for excellence in wagon prototyping and an advanced loco pilot training centre besides flagging off the Kharagpur-Purulia Intercity Express, to be called “Alchiki Express”.
Blockades
She also expressed concern over frequent bandhs and blockades which were posing problems to the running of high-speed trains.
Ms. Banerjee also said that the Railways had signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, for setting up a centre where the latter will provide technical know-how and support for developing the wagon prototyping unit.
“The Railways will tie up with the IIT for the launching of a ‘Technology Express' that will connect the various IITs in the country and facilitate transfer of technology. We are proud to utilise all our institutions of potential for such purposes,” she added.