No. NFPE/MH/RIII/Closure/AM-1/W21/W27/33/2020-21
Dtd 18-11-2020
To,
The Chief Postmaster General,
Maharashtra Circle,
Mumbai 400001
Sub: - Regarding the proposal of Gujrat Circle for closure/ discontinuation of three RMS/ Transit sections i.e. AM-1, W-21 and
W-27 running under the western railway line in Gujrat & Maharashtra Circle
- Views of service Unions/ Associations-reg.
Ref: CO. No. Mails/
H-1/ Orders/VIII/III Date: 12/11/2020
Respected sir,
This union is very much thankful to your honour for
inviting comments/views on the proposal of Gujrat Circle for closure/ discontinuation of
three RMS/ Transit sections i.e. AM-1, W-21 and W-27 running under the western
railway line in Gujrat & Maharashtra Circle.
Very firstly, it is brought to notice of your honour the
proposal moved by the Gujrat circle is unrealistic and moved during the slack
period due to CORONA-19 pandemic when the mail flow minimized. It is also
observed that while moving the proposal the workload before the pandemic and
during the pandemic as well as geographical and commercial importance of
Ahmedabad and Mumbai cities not taken under consideration.
This union will like to pay attention to your honours on
traffic of last years mail flow.
|
Date |
W-21 IN |
AM-1 IN |
W-27IN |
W-3IN |
|
01-11-2019 |
763 |
531 |
306 |
546 |
|
02-11-2019 |
837 |
321 |
233 |
371 |
|
03-11-2019 |
447 |
451 |
381 |
491 |
|
04-11-2019 |
570 |
478 |
228 |
960 |
|
05-11-2019 |
681 |
747 |
321 |
818 |
|
06-11-2019 |
691 |
346 |
275 |
598 |
|
Total |
3989 |
2874 |
1744 |
3784 |
|
Average |
665 |
479 |
290 |
630 |
Because
of the proposal of Gujrat circle at Point no. 7 i.e Advantages in terms of Mail arrangements.
a.
By closure of Sections, all mails will be transmitted
through available Road Transport Network of Inter and Intra Circle. Processed
Mail will be expediting through Road Transport Network in accordance with set
timings and without relying upon the fixed timing, with suitable schedules, delivery
within Gujarat can be ensured within 24/48 hrs of booking based on destination.
b.
There will be benefit of flexible timing of dispatch
without relying on Section s fixed timing
c.
By implementing Road Transport Network, with suitable
schedules, delivery within Gujarat can be ensured within 24/48 hrs of booking
based on destination.
Following
facts are also brought to honours kind perusal, please.
1.
The Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara are the most growing and developing cities
hence there is commercial corridor developed between Mumbai Maharashtra as well
as rest of India and there is heavy traffic during the normal period and there
is no guarantee of maintaining the scheduled time of RTN due to heavy traffic. At
present due to lockdown, there is no traffic hence RTN runs smoothly but in peak
hours and rainy season MMS schedules will be delayed which will be resulted in a
delay in public mail. RTN will surely be affected by traffic and other
environmental factors whereas trains are running as per schedule time whereas
the railways are maintaining the schedule time daily and there is a guarantee
of conveyance of public mail in a specific period.
2. As regards the flexible timing of RTNs, how
it is expected that RTN will carry cent per cent mail with delivery advantages
of 24/48 hours of booking of articles. While considering the time table, how RTN
may be run after processing of all mail for Maharashtra and other sections.
Some time should be required to fix because the RTN will be run from one
destination to another destination and finally reach last destinations means there
is no surety of connection of all mail without fixing time table of RTN
schedule and time table is not assumed on RTN will run at flexible time and
reach the destination on scheduled time it is unrealistic and chances of delay
of public mail.
3.
It is also seen that Gujrat circle says that by implementing Road Transport Network, with suitable schedules, delivery
within Gujarat can be ensured within 24/48 hrs of booking based on the destination
is not understood because Gujarat Circle is the
most business (public cum corporate mail procuring) generating Circle. Surat,
Vadodara, Ahmedabad & Rajkot are the business hub cities surrounded by
GIDCs, Industries and factories. Gujarat State is playing a prominent role in the
gross economy and manufacturing of goods amongst the nation. A large number of
volume of mails 1st class, 2nd class, Parcel mails, Speed
Post, Regd. Mails are exchanged intra Gujarat Circle and inter circles between
Gujrat to Maharashtra, A.P., Telangana, Tamilnadu, Kerala & Karnataka. Also
large number of Registered Newspaper publishers post a large number of RNP
copies meant for delivery to inter and intra circles. Exclusively more than 500
publishers only in Ahmedabad posting their articles in Patrika Channel
Ahmedabad in usual due posting date. Similarly, there are numbers of publishers
posting their articles in all other RMS offices en-routed in Saurashtra Express
& Saurashtra Mail & Viramgam
Passenger railway line. Gujarat is connected only by these three trains for the
conveyance of bags for inter circle and for intra circles i.e. Maharashtra,
A.P., Telangana, Tamilnadu, Kerala & Karnataka. So all the mail vans
running on these trains on various beats in different sections from Mumbai
Central TMO to Rajkot are justified to accommodate all mails/bags adequately
and smoothly. Means while taking proposal of closure or discontinuation of any
section we should consider the ground reality and transmission of mail
throughout Postal Circles other than Gujrat circles being transmitted by
sectional trains.
4.
Your honour is well known that 90-seater bogie is sanctioned for W-3 IN/Out
however at present railway authority is providing 40 seater for 2 days and 30
seater for 2 days. Through RTN limited mail bags i.e. approximately 350 bags
can be carried whereas through RMS section nearby 1200 bags can be carried. Nowadays
only uploaded mail from NSH and other mail is being carried out through RTN (receipt
200 to 250 approx. & Despatch 150 to 200 approx.) and maximum mail is being
transmitted by available sectional trains. Now due to restoration of situation step
by step the mail flow is being increased day by day. It is also brought to
notice of your honour that there are limitations for carrying the mail by RTNs
due to limitations of segregation of mails for a various destination for
loading and unloading of mail even though the SOP issued for how to mail
arranged at RTNs. Due to its limitations, the mail is required to unload at a various
destination and again load to RTN and it is the time-consuming and laborious
job required at all RMS offices and there is always cases happening of over carrying
and back routine of public of mail and caused in the delay of public mail.
5. The Gujrat circle will be deputed to other
needy units in Gujrat circle but running RTN in place of RMS sections will
increase the workload for MMS units of Maharashtra circle or from the RTN will
be run. The drivers and Mail guards are required to post on MMS Schedules. All
workload could not be managed with one RTN schedule at least three to four RTNs
required to cope up of all workload considering the workload before COVID-19. Two
drivers are being posted for RTN of Mumbai to Ahmedabad & back and required
to perform duty more than 40 hours duty including steering duty plus halt.
There are no specific orders of counting of drivers whereas single duty is
counted for drivers even though they are absent from the headquarter for 40 hrs
and counting of 20 hrs duty is an injustice to them. It is not understood that
whose duty would be considered when unfortunate events of accident and
causality are not clarified till the date when single duty is being counted
when both drivers are available on RTN at a time. There is no proper arrangement for rest in
RTN vehicle and required to be seat along with another driver who drives the
vehicle. The mail guard is not being deputed or posted in the vehicle by giving
the reason for social distancing means the duty to Mail Guard is also required
to shoulder driver also. There is no saving of manpower or any other cost
because drivers and Mail guard are required to be posted on RTNs and there is the
expenditure of Food Bill/TA bill, Maintenance of vehicle etc. also involved.
Since the utilization of staff for needy offices is not a justified reason for the
closure of any Sections but there can be a way of fill up the unfilled vacancy
by way of recruitment because the introduction of new RTN is required to
additional manpower of drivers by the way of creation of posts due to new
concept of RTN. There is a requirement of insurance of vehicle and drivers
also. Since the Ahmedabad Mumbai Road is a national highway there is heavy
traffic and required to develop service stations for maintenance of RTN
vehicles to handle all unfortunate and daily unwanted situations.
Since while moving proposal
Gujrat circle has not given considered the mail flow other than Gujrat Circle
as well as delivery advantages of mail to other circles. There are certain
limitations of RTN functioning for loading, unloading mail where more than two
destinations involved for a consignment of mail. The Gujrat circle has accepted
that
a)
Mail volume is very high i.e. total 800 to 900 bags receipt/dispatch
in OUT & IN trip of AM-1 Transit Section. So One DMMS is not adequate in
place of AM-1 Transit Section for conveyance of all mail bags.
b)
Due to shortage of space in DMMS, station wise heaping
arrangement of mail bags is not possible. So, receipt & dispatch of all
type of bags is very difficult and delay for receipt & dispatch of bags.
c)
If closure of Transit Section, Railway authority may be
vacant RMS offices situated at Railway Station.
The
above reasons given by Gujrat circle are also applicable to other sections and
required additional number of RTNs to manage the workload. The sections are essential
to cope up of work since there is no guarantee of daily maintenance of scheduled
time table by RTN and delivery
advantages of public mail for postal circles other than Gujrat and mail for
Gujrat Circle.
It
is, therefore, requested to please take proper steps for the favour of dropping
the proposal of closure or discontinuations of three sections under reference
to save RMS offices situated at Railway stations and in the interest of speedy
transmission of public mail. My union will remain highly thankful to your kind
honour for doing the needful to stop forcefully closure/discontinuation of
three RMS/ Transit sections i.e. AM-1, W-21 and W-27 running under the western
railway.
With
warm regards,
Yours sincerely,
(A
B Shivtare)
Circle
Secretary
AI RMS
And MMS Emp. Union Gr C
Maharashtra Circle