The Kolkata Metro staff shortage has reached 28.34 per cent, prompting the Railway Board to direct the urban rail network to source additional loco pilots and assistant loco pilots from other railway zones.
According to a Railway Board letter dated September 3, Kolkata Metro has 306 running staff on its rolls against a sanctioned strength of 427, leaving 121 vacancies.
Of the 306 staff members, 164 are on loan from Eastern Railway (ER) and 80 from South Eastern Railway (SER). The remaining personnel are permanently absorbed or belong to other zonal railways, the letter said.
The shortage is creating challenges for daily operations as Kolkata Metro expands its network and increases service requirements.
Railway Board Seeks Crew From Eastern and South Eastern Railway
The Railway Board reviewed Kolkata Metro’s running staff strength at a meeting in New Delhi on September 2. The review covered motormen and shunters, who perform operational duties on the Metro network.
Of the 396 sanctioned motorman posts, 282 were filled. For shunters, 24 of the 31 sanctioned posts were occupied.
Motormen operate Metro trains and perform duties comparable to those of loco pilots on passenger and goods trains. Shunters assist with Metro train movements and perform duties comparable to those of assistant loco pilots.
The Board directed Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway to make suitable arrangements to meet Kolkata Metro’s staffing requirements.
It noted that the requirement for 121 additional running staff represented only 0.6 per cent of the combined on-roll running staff strength of the two zones, which stood at 17,506 personnel.
The Board also asked Kolkata Metro to seek volunteers from other railway zones to fill the vacancies.
Kolkata Metro Asked to Improve Staff Utilisation
Alongside sourcing additional crew, the Railway Board advised Kolkata Metro to improve staff utilisation and minimise its staffing requirements.
It asked the Metro administration to explore outsourcing or re-engagement for stationary posts. The Board also directed it to withdraw running staff from stationary duties and deploy them in train services where required.
Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway and Kolkata Metro have been asked to hold quarterly review and coordination meetings. They must also update the Railway Board on the progress made.
The directions seek to address the immediate staffing gap while improving the deployment of available personnel.
Network Expansion Raises Motorman Requirements
Before the review meeting, Kolkata Metro had written to the Railway Board on August 24, seeking permission to obtain eligible running crew from other railway zones on loan or deputation.
The Metro administration said its network had expanded considerably and continued to grow to meet rising urban transportation demand.
It also pointed to longer operating hours on several services and demand for shorter headways, which would allow trains to run at more frequent intervals. Proposals to introduce additional services have further increased the requirement for motormen.
The staffing issue comes as Kolkata Metro seeks to accommodate growing operational demands. The Railway Board’s plan combines additional crew from other zones with measures to improve deployment and monitor staffing requirements regularly.
