Ahead of Gatimaan Express inauguration, Agra dvn employees allege foul play to favour Delhi’s loco-pilots

Arvind Chauhan | TNN | Apr 3, 2016, 

Loco pilots and other railway staff of Agra cantt station protest at the arrival of New Delhi- Bhopal Shatabdi... Read More

AGRA: Disappointed over not being given chance to operate India's fastest train Gatimaan Express, loco pilots of Agra on Sunday staged protest at the arrival of New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express at Agra Cantt station.

Though no train was delayed due to protest, the men claimed that it was their loco pilots who were given proper training at RDSO (Research designs and standards organisation) to operate Gatimaan Express, but with foul intention, railway officials sitting in New Delhi have favored their loco-pilots.

Speaking to TOI, secretary of North Central Railway Men's Union for Agra division, Saurjesh Kumar said, "Initially, the railway wanted to employ Agra division loco pilots for the Gatimaan Express, for which they even sent six best senior loco pilots to RDSO for a 15-day training, where they went through psychological and medical test apart from being taught about safety features of Gatimaan. But out of nowhere, the railway officials sitting in New Delhi chose Delhi's loco pilot who don't even have attended mandatory training at RDSO facility."

He said, "Merely 50-km stretch till Palwal of total 187.6 km between Hazrat Nizamuddin and Agra cantt comes under Northern Railway of Delhi division, while the rest part is of NCR Agra division, than how come Delhi loco pilots have been given preference to operate Gatimaan express."

Sources claim, those who will operate Gatimaan will have good salary hike and promotion too.

Speaking on anonymity, a senior railway official said, "Gatimaan is going to be operated from New Delhi hence the staff of the train is also from capital. The train will arrive at Agra Cantt station in morning and leave for Hazrat Nizamuddin in the evening for the next day journey."