Work Profile in TRD Depots of Indian Railways - Irtsa.net

Work Profile in TRD
Depots of Indian
Railways
Presented by
E.PECHIAPPAN SSE / OHE / MS

ENGINEERS & STAFF OF
OPEN LINE
SENIOR SECTION ENGINEER
JUNIOR ENGINEER
ARTIZANS (THREE GRADES)

Work Areas
� As In-charge of OHE Depot, Traction Sub-
Station,Remote control Centre, Break Down
Vehicle maintenance, activities in TRD
Organisation.
� As Technical assistants, and Safety Inspectors
in Divisional and Zonal Headquarters.
� As Instructors & Lecturers at ZETTC/AVD.
� As Traction power controllers in Divisional
offices.

DUTIES ,
RESPONSIBILITIES
& REQUIREMENTS
OF
OPEN LINE
ENGINEERS

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES
Depot In-charge In charge
� Responsible for all activities in the Depot.
- Technical, Administrative, Ministerial, etc
and for Effective execution of administrative
policies and plans.
� Maintain Annual maintenance targets an maintenance
schedules.
� Efficient Stores & Material Management.
� Effective Human Resource Management.
� Provide on the job training for trainees, apprentices &
conducting trade test, suitability test etc.

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES Cont..
� Plan for capacity augmentation in Infrastructure,
machinery, plant, material and manpower.
� Preparation of Tender & Liaison with out side
agencies for Out sourcing, technical suitability,
vendor rating, implementation of contractual
obligation etc.
� Preparation of annual M&P and works programme
& maintenance of M&P and related equipments.
� Maintenance of Industrial peace, Staff discipline,
DAR proceedings etc.

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES Cont..
� Ensure safety of Men, Material and Traveling
Public through intensive Supervision and Quality
Control.
� Maintenance of Tower wagons&Break down
vehicles and BD coaches, First aid equipment,
spares, etc.
� “Effective Disaster Management”. Restoring
normalcy during natural calamities and accidents.
� Maintain the integrity and punctuality of Train
services during natural calamities like flood, storm
etc.
� A AC t ti l 20301 l II

TECHNICAL DUTIES
� Maintenance, Repair and Certification of the entire TRD
Installation of Chennai division of southern railways
comprising
– 1758 TKM of OHE
– 27 no of Traction Transformers with protective
switchgears,
– One Remote Control Centre for Safe, Reliable and
Punctual Train operation.
� Planning of maintenance activities of OHE,PSI,RC
equipments.
� Repairing of all BD vehicles,Tower wagons Scheduled
maintenance activities like FC etc.

TECHNICAL DUTIES Cont..
� Preventive Maintenance activities of OHE and PSI
equipments over the section. (Examination and
rectification of each and every component, for any
failures, abnormalities and unsafe condition, which may
endanger the safety of the train.
� Analysis and reporting of component failures.
� Certification of the entire OHE,PSI&RC components for
its overall safety for the 100% ensuring of power supply
to AC Traction.
� Maintenance of all registers with respect to TRD
INSTALLATIONS & maintenance activities.

TECHNICAL DUTIES Cont..
� Maintenance and upkeep of Brake Down
Vehicles,and Tower wagons.
� Planning and execution of re-railment and OHE
BD restoration at accident sites.
� Maintenance activities in OHE , PSI ,RC depots.
� Upkeep of Machineries and plants.
� Monitoring of trial components.
� Prevention and analysis of enroute failures like
OHE snappings, etc .

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS of
OPEN LINE ENGINEERS
� Need to posses the complete technical
knowledge/working knowledge of the Traction installations
as a whole and all its individual components.
� Need to posses the technical knowledge of all the new
new developed TRD components manufactured in the past
few decades till their complete life span.
� Whenever new technologies are introduced, adapt to the
new technology by self-learning.
� Impart training to field staff to update the latest technical
developments in TRD.

ACCOUNTABILITY
� Custodian of all assets including Machineries and
Plant, Stores and other related equipments worth
several crores.
� Subject to Audit by the Divisional Audit Personnel.
� For any failure of the system in train service.
� For incompletion maintenance target of OHE/PSI
components.
� For detention of trains on TRD account
� For any failure in components of the certified OHE.
� For any failure in the Sub-station & RC Equipments.

MULTIFACETED SKILLS & ROLES
� Administrative abilities to manage and run Depots,Substations,Remote
control centre.
� Possess up to date Technical knowledge of various types of
TRD components.
� Managerial Skills to manage the work force to meet the
quality and safety standards.
� Assess the knowledge level of work force under him for
proper distribution of work.
� Ministerial skills to ensure proper recording of the data.
� Technical scrutiny of tender papers for procurement of TRD
components and services.

MULTIFACETED SKILLS ( Cont..)
� Tutor and mentor to educate the work force continuously
to keep up with modernization.
� Complete Knowledge of DAR proceedings to tackle erring
staff.
� Planning for improvements.
� Crisis management for restoration in case of accident or
breakdown.
� Failure analysis and Investigation to find out and rectify
the reasons.
� Maintenance of Tower wagons,BD Vehicles,BD coaches,
First aid equipment, spares, etc.

Duties performed by
Open Line TRD
Engineers during
TRD maintenance

ACCIDENT RELIEF TRAINS
� To be alert on duty round the clock and responding
to the accident / derailment with in 20 min.
� Arranging protection to passengers and their
belongings.
� Render first aid and arrange for medical assistance.
� Restoration of track and traffic within the
shortest possible time.
� Investigation of causes and recommendation for
preventive action.
� Reclamation of assets.

OTHER ACTIVITIES
� Assessment , Procurement and Maintenance of
Machinery and Plants & Tools and Plants.
� Planning ,Procurement ,stocking and issue of items
required for day to day maintenance activities.
� Planning and processing of Outsourcing activities/
services.
�
� Processing ISO certification ,etc.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
� Open- to - sky environment facing hot sun , heavy rain,
storms, cold weather etc.,
� Physical handling and working in the environment
splashed with human excreta and other animal wastes.
�Haphazardly and unscientifically constructed Pit lines
without sufficient working space and facilities
� Exposure / Contact with chemicals and other hazardous
compounds used for cleaning due to parallel execution
of various maintenance activities

WORK ENVIRONMENT Cont..
� Sewage water stagnation due to improper / defective
drainage facilities.
� Insufficient lighting with only the primitive Miner Lamps
to carry out the maintenance during Night.
� Flooded during monsoon.
� Mosquito , Snake Menace.
� Continuous exposure to 25KV AC Power system which is
detrimental to health.
� Exposure to Sulphuric acid in batteries.

WORK ENVIRONMENT Cont..
� The staff engaged in inspection of TRD
installations has to walk a minimum of
1.5 Kms around the equipment and has
to inspect around 1000 vital components
of safety category with in short span of
time by exerting himself by walking and
standing several times.

Constraints
� Insufficient TRD equipments Maintenance
Time
(Due to late running, Interconnection of trains, Bunching of
Trains in both Departure and Arrival, Shunting movements, Cross
movements , etc.)
without sufficient working space and facilities
Absence of proper lighting for Night
examination
(Night Examination carried out with only primitive Miner lamps)
Absence of proper tools, equipments and OHE spares to meet
day- to-day maintenance requirements, like Ladders, Trolleys,
Tower wagons, Vital spares like Splices, End fittings etc.

� Shortage of Staff
Constraints Cont..

� No additional remuneration or Incentive for doing
special works , is provided to motivate for the extra work
load of the special works which is over and above
stipulated work load and norms.

IN SPITE OF ALL THESE PROBLEMS
THE TRD WORKS ARE CARRIED
IN TIME ONLY BECAUSE OF THE
COMMITMENT & SINCERITY OF
THE TECHNICAL STAFF

Impact of Technical
Advancement &
Modernization

Impact Cont..
� Unlike other areas, the benefits of
Technical advancements viz- Improved
component reliability and modern
materials has not reduced the workload
of technical staff.
- The number of components to be examined
and certified during each maintenance has
increased over the years.
- The responsibility of any failure still rests with
the Engineer last certified the TRD equipment.

Impact Cont..
� The advent of modern materials and technology
resulted in manifestation of new type of defects
and problems.
-
� The benefits of technical advancements are
offset by increased Kms and Load.
- Validity of certification increased
- Train composition increased to 60 wagons and 25
Coaches.
- Gross load of wagons increased up to 90 tons

Impact Cont..
� The modern components with advanced
pneumatics and electronic controls demands
more discretion and diversified knowledge
to maintain and repair.

Impact Cont..
� Major change in Infrastructure and
other facilities.
� New technology, materials and system
poses newer problems which need to be
addressed during maintenance without
any prior training or guidance.

RECRUITMENT, QUALIFICATION AND
TRAINING
JUNIOR ENGINEER (GP 4200)
� 50% - Direct recruitment through RRB
3 Years Diploma in Engineering &
1 ½ Years In- plant training.
(Total 4 ½ Years Qualification equal to Engineering
degree)
� VI CPC observation that JE and Clerk are equal since
both have 3 years Qualification is wrong since JE has
total 4 ½ years Qualification.
�� Hence both pay cannot be equal and needs correction.
correction

JUNIOR ENGINEER Cont..
� The Duties and Responsibility of a JE is enormous
when compared to a clerk with whom he is
equated.
� JEs in open line bears highest responsibility in
safe running of trains.
� Have a direct element in running of trains along
with drivers.
� Driver’s function start only after the issuance of fit
by Open line engineer

SECTION ENGINEER / Sr.SECTION
ENGINEER (GP 4600)
� Both scales merged as SSE
� Composition of cadre
– 20% Direct recruits with 4 / 4 ½ years Degree in Engineering
and One year In-plant training
– 80% promoted from Junior Engineers (4 ½ Years total
qualification and 20 to 25 years of Experience)
� VI CPC observation that this category is equal to any
other Bachelor degree holder in arts, science or
commerce is totally wrong.
� SSE with such huge responsibility and accountability and
Office Superintendent cannot be kept in same scale in
any angle of observation

AVENUES OF PROMOTION
� Only one promotion for JE-II/JE- I from 4200
Grade Pay to SE/SSE with 4600 Grade Pay.
� No promotion for SE/SSE with 4600 Grade
pay and must retire in same grade.
� Only about 2% of Technical Supervisors in
Indian Railways get promoted as Group – B
officers.

Even after this analysis submitted
in this study, if one decides that
JE = Clerk
SSE = OS
Then GOD only can save railways
and only GOD need to be
appointed as Pay commission
chairman
Observation by IRTSA