When gangmen’s woes were heard

Acknowledging the services of rail ‘gang’ personnel, Southern Railway’s Palakkad division has launched a contact programme with the rail track maintenance personnel.

It is an endeavour to lend a patient ear to their woes and miseries while on duty in the entire division, right from Panambur in the north to Podannur and Pollachi in the other end of the railway division.

As part of the gesture, a team of officials led by M.P. Lipinraj, Indian Railways Personnel Service (IRPS) Divisional Officer attached to the Palakkad division, had an interaction with the group of track maintenance staff at the Ullal railway station, near Mangaluru, on Wednesday.

Accompanied by chief staff welfare inspector K.R. Sreekumar and office superintendent at Ullal T.V. Ashokan, Mr. Lipinraj listened to hitherto unaddressed grievances related to their work timings and meticulously went through the duty chart and leave status.

The officials assured them that they would look into the issues, especially in the light of increasing density of rail traffic.

Many trains now run up to 130 kmph on select stretches after executing the electrification drive up to Mangaluru. The track men wholeheartedly welcomed the gesture of the Palakkad railway division, a senior railway officer told The Hindu.