On Wednesday, a group of locopilots met with Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi at Parliament House. The locopilots raised their demands and concerns during the meeting. Rahul Gandhi arranged for them to meet Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Gandhi and the locopilot delegation then went to the Railway Minister’s office.
Rahul Gandhi’s Social Media Post:
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw listened to the locopilots and promised to address their concerns. After the meeting, Rahul Gandhi posted on social media (X): “The locopilots met again at Parliament House. They repeated their demands for better rest and basic facilities in the cabins. Ensuring the safety of millions of passengers is very important and their request is completely fair. The locopilots had a chance to meet the Railway Minister, who promised to address their issues. I will ensure that solutions are implemented for the safety of passengers.”
Improvements in Indian Railways Since 2014:
In response to Rahul Gandhi’s post, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that Indian Railways has improved a lot since the Congress era. He noted that facilities for locopilots have been upgraded since 2014. Vaishnaw assured that more improvements will be made in the future. He stressed that they are hardworking people and that locopilots are a crucial part of the railway system.
Vaishnaw also pointed out that there have been significant improvements in locopilots’ working conditions over the past ten years. From 2014 to 2024, 558 air-conditioned running rooms have been built, compared to none during the Congress period (2004-2014). Additionally, 7,075 air-conditioned cabins and 815 washrooms have been added, among other facilities.
In summary, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw defended the government’s progress in improving conditions for locopilots and promised continued efforts to enhance their welfare.