Kochi: After a wait of over a year, finally there is some relief for hundreds of railway staff waiting for quarters.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is all set to begin the construction of a multi-storied quarters building at the Ernakulam Marshalling Yard next month.
And for the first time, the quarters for Group ‘D’ staff will be more spacious than the usual congested one. “This may be for the first time across the country that the quarters for Group ‘D’ staff are being build outside the railway specification.
Usually a single railway quarter is 550 sq ft area while the new one will be 950 sq ft. Though the railways opposed this initially they have given nod later,” said a senior officer.
As per the initial pact entered by the KMRL and the railways, the former has to pay nearly Rs 21 crore as compensation for using railway land to lay metro tracks besides reconstruction of 92 staff quarters.
A total of 19 families were asked to move out from the present quarters building. Though it was promised to construct a new quarters building at the eastern entry side, the same didn’t happen for long.
“We’ve sorted out all pending issues and the DMRC will start construction of the quarters at the Marshalling Yard by demolishing two abandoned blocks there. The 19 families vacated have been rehabilitated already,” said Ernakulam Area Manager Rajesh Chandran.
Meanwhile, the railway staff wanted the metro authorities to set up a rest room for loco-running staff too. “At present the retiring room of the locopilots at South is located very close to the metro construction site.
Proper rest is vital for locopilots who will be affected once the construction activities start,” said P Unnikrishnan, divisional president of Southern Railways Mazdoor Union.
