IS INDIAN RAILWAYS’ STAFF FACING SHORTAGE OF WALKIE-TALKIES? RAILWAY BOARD STEPS IN TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION

To all its zones and divisions, the Railway Board has issued instructions to overcome shortages and ensure proper maintenance of VHF (Very High Frequency) handsets, also called walkie-talkies.

For the safe operation of trains, it is a crucial communication medium among drivers, guards, station masters, and other officers engaged.

Before the instructions of the Board, many written complaints about the “pathetic condition” of VHF sets and their shortages were raised by safety category workers to their respective department heads in various zones and divisions.

The Railway Board, in April 2022, advised its zones to procure Very High Frequency handsets for crew along with other measures to overcome the shortage of quality walkie-talkie sets.

It has been observed that some Railways are facing a shortage of VHF sets for staff, said the Board in a letter dated June 26. The Board gave various instructions to ensure the availability of quality VHF sets.

“A JPO (Joint Procedure Order) may be signed between S&T (Signal & Telecommunication) and Electrical and Operating departments at SAG (Senior Administrative Grade) level for issue of VHF sets to crew, maintenance/repair of VHF sets, safe keeping of VHF sets, dealing with defective VHF sets, batteries, spare batteries and chargers,” the Board said while underlining the need for proper maintenance of VHF sets.  

5-watt VHF sets will be treated as lobby equipment across all zonal railways, said the Board.

The crew lobby in-charge will give only fully charged 5-watt VHF sets and one fully charged spare battery to the staff members, the Board added.

The useful life of the battery is one year for the VHF sets used for the staff as per the Board’s letter dated 19.08.2010, it added.

(With inputs from PTI)

2024-07-05T07:56:28Z dg43tfdfdgfd