Nagpur: While the Indian Railways is introducing swanky Vande Bharat trains and planning to launch hi-tech Bullet Train in the near future, its Ajni Railway Colony presents a starkly different picture. With maintenance and repairs neglected for years, the colony for railway employees today houses crumbling, dilapidated buildings and faces worsening sanitation problems.
Poor Cleanliness and Overgrown Bushes
The residents and railway employees are grappling with poor cleanliness, while overgrown bushes point to maintenance neglect across the sprawling colony area. The Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh has alleged that the situation has worsened due to an acute shortage of maintenance workers, despite a private cleaning contract being operational in the colony.
Shortage of Manpower
According to the union, around 40 private workers were appointed for cleaning and maintenance work in the colony, but only a limited number of workers are available on ground duty. The association claimed that nearly 10 workers have been deployed at the pump house, while the remaining workers are under the control of IOW/Ajni. However, it alleged that only around 12 to 15 workers are currently carrying out actual maintenance work in the colony, while merely five workers are stationed at the pump house.
Due to the shortage of manpower, regular cleaning and maintenance activities are reportedly being severely affected. Several internal roads and open spaces in the colony are witnessing unchecked growth of bushes and poor sanitation conditions, causing inconvenience to residents and railway staff living in the area.
Transfers Weaken Workforce
The association further alleged that transfers of workers to the carriage line in Nagpur have further weakened the workforce available for Ajni Railway Colony. The large size of the colony requires substantial manpower for upkeep, union representatives said.
Demand for Immediate Intervention
The union has demanded immediate intervention by railway authorities, a detailed inquiry into the matter, and restoration of adequate manpower to improve conditions in the colony.
