Railway employees demand separate, affordable parking stand at Tatanagar

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Aug 11: A fresh demand has emerged from railway employees at Tatanagar station, seeking a separate and more affordable parking stand for their two-wheelers. The move comes after the monthly parking fee was hiked from Rs 60 to Rs 300 following a new tender allotment to a private contractor.

Krishna Mohan Prasad, General Secretary of the OBC Railway Employees Union (South Eastern Railway), has written to the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Chakradharpur Division, urging him to take immediate action. According to Prasad, employees who commute daily from Tatanagar to other stations for duty are facing significant financial and logistical challenges due to the current parking arrangement.

“Earlier, the stand was managed by railway employees themselves with mutual cooperation and the cost was minimal,” said Prasad in his letter. “Now, with the fee increased fivefold, it is becoming difficult for many to afford.”

Employees have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the current system and are calling for the existing stand to be handed back to railway staff or for a new stand to be allocated exclusively for employee use. “We are not against paying a fee, but it should be reasonable. Rs 300 per month is unjustified,” said an agitated staff member.

In a separate development, the Tatanagar station is set to enhance its passenger communication with the installation of a large LED screen at the main entrance. A Chennai-based firm has secured the contract through a recently concluded tender process. The screen will display safety messages, important updates and advertisements.

Railway officials believe the initiative will improve information delivery. “The LED screen will be a vital tool in keeping passengers informed and ensuring safety protocols are followed,” said a railway spokesperson.