Proposal to increase manpower by 47,637 in railways approved: minister

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan today told the Parliament that the proposal to increase manpower by recruiting 47,637 people in railways has been approved.

In reply to lawmakers' queries, the minister said that at present there are 1,460 employees working in the Ministry of Railways, against the sanctioned manpower of 2,516 in the commercial department.

The number of vacancies here is 1,056 (42%).

"Recently, an approval has been received for the new manpower structure of 47,637 people of the railways," the minister said in a scripted answer.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury presided over the question and answer session of parliament.

In reply to another question, the railways minister said that at present, the railway has 283 locomotives, of which 191 are meter gauge and 92 are broad gauge.

The total economic life span of 175 (61%) including 132 meter gauge engines and 43 broad gauge engines has passed.

Currently, work is underway to procure 100 meter gauge and 40 broad gauge new engines under various projects, the minister said.

Responding to a question, the railways minister claimed that the number of railway accidents is gradually decreasing, adding that a total of 145 train accidents took place in 2020.

On the other hand, as of September 2021, 106 accidents have taken place.