From foot massagers to meditation rooms, the Eastern Railways have upgraded the retiring rooms for loco and assistant loco pilots. This development came after the massive train mishaps in recent years raised several questions regarding the mental and physical health of the loco pilots.
Speaking with India Today TV, Kaushik Mitra, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Eastern Railways, said, “The comfort of our loco and assistant loco pilots is of utmost importance to us. These arrangements have been made so that they can relax amid their hectic schedule. We are upgrading crew lobby rooms, converting those to AC, so users can get hotel ambience. We are abolishing dormitories in crew lobby rooms and putting in two beds per room. Rooms are separate for ladies and male railway staff.”
"Apart from that, there are dedicated rooms for meditation. We have appointed trainers for yoga for the loco pilots," he stated, adding that loco pilots would also be trained about the caution and railway maintenance on that section. That briefing will take place during their rest in the upgraded crew lobby.
At present, there are as many as 26 crew lobbies across Eastern Railways, most of which have both crew booking and waiting facilities.
Apart from the meditation room, crew lobbies are now fully air-conditioned, with biometric check-in, an RO water filter and cooler, cubicles for uninterrupted rest, food counters, and separate retiring rooms for women staff. Besides all this, educational videos and simulating modules are also available in the crew booking lobbies and restroom complex to upgrade their working knowledge.
In Eastern Railway, such facilities are available at all major stations, including Howrah, Bandel, Bardhaman, Azimganj, Rampurhat, etc. in Howrah Division; Sealdah, Kolkata, Dum Dum Junction, Naihati, Ranaghat, etc. in Sealdah Division; Asansol, Jasidih, Madhupur, Dumka, etc. in Asansol Division; Malda Town, Bhagalpur, Jamalpur, Sahibganj in Malda Division.
