Loco Pilots Demand Shorter Shifts for Safety, Begin 36-Hour Fast on February 20
Nagpur, India: Nagpur: Railway loco pilots, part of the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA), will begin a 36-hour fast from 8 am on February 20 to 8 pm on February 21. They are protesting the Ministry of Railways' (MoR) lack of action on their demands for safer working conditions.
The main demand is to reduce the duty hours for loco pilots. They want to work 6-hour shifts for mail/express trains and 8-hour shifts for goods trains. Currently, many loco pilots are required to work up to 11 hours straight.
According to KC James, secretary of AILRSA, multiple committees have recommended shorter working hours for safety, but the Ministry of Railways has ignored these suggestions. Loco pilots often work 12 to 20 hours without a break, which increases the risk of accidents.
Loco pilots are also calling for changes in night duty schedules. They want a limit of two consecutive night shifts, but many are still being forced to work four.
In addition, the shortage of staff in the railway sector is a major concern. There are around 25,000 unfilled loco pilot positions, which makes the situation more dangerous.
James said, “Loco pilots are overworked and exhausted. Some are forced to work even when sick, and their requests for leave are often denied. This puts both the pilots and passengers at risk.”
The AILRSA hopes that this protest will draw attention to their demands and lead to better working conditions for loco pilots.
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