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News Topical, Digital Desk : A major controversy that has raged for years within the railways has finally come to an end. This will now make the dream of becoming an officer a reality for loco pilots who operate trains. The Railway Board has issued a new order, eliminating the discrepancy in promotions between loco pilots and stationery staff (such as SSEs/JEs).
The posts of loco pilots will be equivalent to senior engineers.
The Railway Board has now established a new "equivalence matrix." Under this, loco pilots will be considered equivalent to senior engineers when it comes to promotions. Until now, the biggest problem was that loco pilots on express and passenger trains were in pay level six, while engineers were in pay level seven. This difference significantly disadvantaged drivers in seniority lists and promotions.
Goods train loco pilots are also equivalent to level seven.
Now, under the new rules, mail, express, and passenger drivers have been directly elevated to Level 7 for promotion purposes. Similarly, freight train loco pilots will also be considered Level 7.
There will be benefits under the new formula
Under this new formula, the Railways has accepted that even though the loco pilots of mail, express and passenger trains are working in pay level six, considering their responsibility and experience, they will be considered equivalent to level seven at the time of promotion.
Loco pilots were unable to reach the officer rank
Freight train drivers have also been placed in this category. This decision eliminates the anomaly that had previously caused drivers to lag behind engineers in the promotion race despite their qualifications. This also prevented loco pilots from reaching officer rank (Group 'B') despite their qualifications.
The loco pilot is responsible for the safety of thousands of passengers.
The recruitment process for both loco pilots and junior engineers (JEs) in the Railways is extremely challenging. While junior engineers require a technical diploma or degree in the relevant trade, loco pilots must also possess an ITI or engineering diploma, as well as pass rigorous psychological tests (aptitude tests) and meet high-level medical standards. A loco pilot is entrusted with the safety of thousands of passengers and property worth crores, requiring years of on-track training and the development of technical skills.
CPRO said that instructions will be followed.
In a letter issued on April 9 by Aarti Singh Lal, Joint Director (Establishment) of the Railway Board, it has been clarified that the experience of loco running staff will be given priority when preparing the unified seniority list for promotions. According to this order, loco pilots (level six) of mail, express, and passenger trains have been considered equivalent to stationery staff (SSE/JE) at level seven. CPRO Shashikant Tripathi stated that the board's instructions are being followed.
Quick decision-making ability
Loco pilots work with high-speed locomotives and complex signaling systems. Their technical understanding and operational skills are equivalent to the theoretical and practical knowledge of a junior engineer. Their ability to make quick decisions, whether to apply emergency braking or repair technical faults on the track, is comparable to that of an officer.
'Desk jobs' and 'stationery duties' are not the foundation of leadership.
Like engineers, loco pilots also gain in-depth knowledge of the mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic systems of engines during their service. Their practical experience is as challenging and technically rich as that of a Level 7 Stationary Staff (SSE/JE). Mere "desk jobs" or "stationary duties" are not the foundation of leadership. Loco pilots' years of rigorous field experience, technical expertise, and commitment to safety standards are the key pillars of this "level playing field."
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