Staff call for repair work at marshalling yards

KOCHI: The marshalling yards in Ernakulam that comes under the Thiruvananthapuram division are yet to get a facelift, even after money for the maintenance has been sanctioned in the Railway budget. “Though lakhs of rupees have been sanctioned for the maintenance of the marshalling yards, even a single stone has not been turned in the name of repair,” railway sources said. “The working facility at the  yards are a great concern. And the officials who come for inspections are least bothered about the problems faced by the employees,” they said. According to sources, the two marshalling yards - at Irumbanam for repair of goods trains and the Ernakulam Marshalling yard - for repair of passenger trains are  facing the neglect from the railways. The third, the diesel loco shed meant for the repair of diesel engine trains which are comparatively lesser in number is also in the same plight. But the worst affected is the Ernakulam marshalling yard.“The security at the yards is a question that the railways have to consider. In the past, lack of maintenance have resulted in injuries to employees,” an employee at the yard said. Broken and wobbly walkways, uneven slabs, leaking sheds and loose railings where the boggies are placed for repair are proving to be a danger zone for the employees who work at the shed.And when the rains pour in, the situation is worsened. “The roofs are leaking and this leakage results in the flooding of the repair area,” the employee added. Also, lack of proper lighting system in the maintenance yards is proving to be another security issue. “There are days when we have to work with a single light. A few months ago, an employee had tripped and fallen,” he said.Constant oil drippage onto the platforms is also causing nightmares for the staff. “It is high time some repair and maintenance is taken up,” the staff said. But the officials have reputed this allegation by the staff. “Every month, repair work is being done for the maintenance of the yards,” said Venugopal S, railway official.