Union asks for more rakes, personnel for Purple, Orange Lines

Time of India

a day ago

Kolkata: The Pragatisil Sramik Karmachari Union has urged Metro Railway to add rakes and traffic personnel for the Purple and Orange lines, which are set to extend operations now that they are equipped with the advanced signalling system.
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On behalf of the INTTUC-affiliated Metro workers' union, general secretary Samir Bera wrote to Metro's chief operations manager. With no fresh recruitment and staff members continuously being transferred out of the North-South (Blue) line, the situation is worse for the truncated Purple (Joka-Majerhat) and Orange (New Garia-Ruby) lines. "The launch of the Yellow Line and the Green Line's last leg is imminent.
We welcome the opening of new lines. Unfortunately, the workforce is dragged from the Blue Line, which is already reeling under an acute staff shortage," wrote Bera. Union vice-president Subhasis Sengupta said, "So many extensions but there aren't enough rakes, motormen, or traffic personnel to operate them."
In a report titled "Lone rake pulls Purple Line ops, normal services from today", TOI highlighted the rake and manpower personnel issues. Until April, the Purple line offered 18 services at 50-minute intervals. Following the signalling upgrade, 44 services were added from May 9, and the six-hour services doubled. However, a single rake continued to run up and down the 8-km corridor, while another remained on standby.