26/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 26/07/2024 20:50
Loco Pilots are important members of Indian Railway family who play pivotal role for moving passenger and goods traffic in safe and efficient manner. Indian Railways is committed to ensure proper working conditions for loco pilots.
Loco Pilots are classified under Continuous Category. Section 132 (2) of Railway Act,1989, prescribes duty hours of 54 hrs on an average in a two-weekly period of fourteen days for staff working under Continuous category. Rule 8 of "Hours of Work and Period of Rest" (HOER),2005 lays down the guidelines of duty hours of 52 Hrs on an average in a two-weekly period of fourteen days per week for Loco Pilots i.e., duty hours are less than max. hrs of 54 for other "Continuous" category employees on Indian Railways.Loco Pilots are also compensated for extra working hours as per the rates specified in Section 132 of the Railway Act, 1989.
Loco Pilots are given Head Quarter rest, Out Station Rest and Periodic Rest as under :
Head Quarter Rest
HQ rest of 16 hours is given after a running staff member reaches their HQ, and periodic rest of 30 hours or 22 hours (as and when due) is provided as per Rule 133 of the Railway Act, 1989. Since periodic rest is also an HQ rest, the requirement for 16 hrs HQ rest is fulfilled during periodic rest.
Out Station Rest
Out station rest is also given when a driver completes his outward journey and it is as under:-
Duty Hrs |
Rest |
For duty less than 5 hours |
Equivalent to the hours of duty performed + 1 hours |
For duty 5- 8 Hrs |
6 Hours |
For Duty 8 Hours or more |
8 Hours |
Periodic Rest
Sections 133 of Railway Act,1989 and Rule 12 of HOER,2005 lays down the guidelines for Periodical rest of Running staff. These stipulates that running staff be granted, each month, a rest of at least five periods of not less than twenty-two consecutive hours each, or a rest of at least four periods of not less than thirty consecutive hours each including a full night.
Based on High Power Committee recommendations, duty hours of Loco Pilots were reduced in 2016. As per these recommendations, SignOn to Sign Off duty of 10 Hrs was reduced to 9 Hrs and also 10+2 Hrs of duties were reduced to 9+2 hours. The running hours of Loco Pilots are meticulously monitored. Except for exigencies, the running hours are maintained.
For improvement of working conditions of loco running crew, following measures have been taken in respect of the Running rooms:
Further, steps and initiatives taken for improvement of working conditions of loco running crew as under:
This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronic & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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PPG/KS/SK