The All India Pointsmen Association is demanding the removal of the 12-hour duty roster following the death of a railway pointsman in Nagpur [1].
The demand highlights a growing conflict between railway operational schedules and worker safety. If the union succeeds, it could force a systemic overhaul of how railway staff are deployed across Maharashtra and other regions to prevent fatigue-related accidents.
The union's push for change comes as a direct response to the death of a worker in Nagpur [1]. The association argues that the current scheduling system creates unsustainable pressure on staff members. These long shifts are linked to severe mental and physical exhaustion, which the union said compromises the safety of the entire rail network.
"The catastrophic consequences of severe mental and physical fatigue were painfully demonstrated in Nagpur Railway," the Central Organising Secretary of the All India Pointsmen Association said [1].
The current 12-hour duty roster [1] is the primary target of the association's grievances. The union said the length of these shifts makes it difficult for pointsmen to maintain the high level of alertness required for their roles. Pointsmen are responsible for the critical task of switching tracks, a job where a single error caused by fatigue can lead to derailments or collisions.
Union representatives said that the death in Nagpur serves as a warning for other railway divisions. They are calling for an immediate review of labor hours to ensure that staff have adequate rest periods between shifts. The association maintains that the current roster is no longer viable for maintaining worker health, or public safety [1].
“"The catastrophic consequences of severe mental and physical fatigue were painfully demonstrated in Nagpur Railway,"”
This dispute underscores the tension between the need for continuous railway operations and the physiological limits of human workers. By linking a specific death to the 12-hour shift structure, the AIPMA is attempting to shift the conversation from labor convenience to a matter of public safety, potentially forcing the railway administration to increase staffing levels to allow for shorter shifts.
