Railway Board Resolves Service Disputes Following Waltair Division Restructuring
Officials are finalizing a framework to protect seniority and promotion rights for staff affected by the South Coast Railway Zone formation. Trade union leaders anticipate imminent orders to facilitate transfers between Visakhapatnam and surrounding sections.
Addressing Personnel Disruption After June 1 Reorganization
The establishment of the South Coast Railway Zone on June 1 triggered significant administrative shifts, splitting the former Waltair Division into the Visakhapatnam and Rayagada divisions. This transition left a large number of employees stationed in the Kottavalasa-Kirandul and Rayagada sections—stretching across Odisha and Chhattisgarh—concerned about their ability to return to Andhra Pradesh and the stability of their career progression.
Seniority Safeguards and Transfer Frameworks
A high-level meeting convened by the Railway Board in New Delhi on July 24 focused on resolving these service anxieties. According to reliable insiders, the Board is currently drafting a policy to freeze and protect the pre-reorganisation seniority of erstwhile Waltair Division staff up to a specific cut-off date. This measure aims to prevent administrative setbacks for veteran personnel during the transition.
Key issues under review include:
- Establishing a transparent mechanism for promotions within the newly defined zones.
- Processing mutual transfer requests for staff moving between Visakhapatnam, Rayagada, and Khurda Road.
- Ensuring equitable placement for employees currently working in neighboring states who seek to return to their home regions.
Union Advocacy and Next Steps
Senior trade unionist Chalasani Gandhi expressed confidence that the Railway Board will issue fair directives shortly. Gandhi noted that balanced solutions are being developed to reconcile the interests of workers across the different geographic sections. He advised the workforce to maintain composure while advocacy efforts continue to solidify these administrative protections into official policy. The goal of the ongoing negotiations is to ensure that the split of the division does not result in the loss of earned status or transfer rights for the affected railway personnel.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
