Mumbai: Central Railway’s (CR) Mumbai division motormen are once again planning to stage a silent protest from May 4th, citing increased pressure due to the recent installation of cameras under the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in motorman cabs. However, a senior Central Railway official, when approached, said, "Talks are ongoing with the union. We hope the issue will be resolved amicably."

According to sources, the number of services on Sunday will be relatively fewer, so the agitation is not expected to have a major impact . But if it continues on Monday, it is likely to affect suburban services.

A message written in the motormen’s lobby by agitated staff states: “One Motorman, One Duty from 4th May,” indicating that they will work strictly by the rulebook and will not perform any additional duties or overtime. This move, though not an official strike, is expected to lead to delays and potential cancellations due to a shortage of staff.

The Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh (CRMS) has demanded that the administration either take immediate steps to address the hazardous working conditions or consider deploying an Assistant Loco Pilot (ALP) in the motorman’s cab to share responsibilities and enhance safety.

In a letter addressed to the Divisional Railway Manager of the Mumbai Division on May 2nd, Central Railways, the Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh (CRMS) Loco Running Staff Branch has raised serious concerns over the recent installation of cameras under the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) in motorman cabs.

The letter, penned by Anil Dubey, Secretary of the CRMS Loco Running Staff Branch, highlights growing dissatisfaction among motormen over surveillance measures that, they claim, undermine their integrity and working conditions.

“It has been noticed that apart from the cab walls, cameras are also being installed right in front of the motorman. Cameras are typically used in areas prone to theft. This gives the impression that the motorman is under suspicion despite working with honesty and dedication,” the letter states.

The union also expressed strong opposition to the instruction requiring motormen to call out signal numbers using hand gestures. As the motorman works alone in the cab, there is no one present to acknowledge these signals, making the process ineffective and distracting.

“Repeatedly calling out signals alone, without acknowledgment, may disrupt concentration and compromise operational safety,” the letter adds.

The letter emphasized the challenges of navigating the complex signal systems of the suburban section, adhering to safety protocols, managing changing brake power due to crowded stations, and facing constant stress from track trespassers and commuter issues.

Additionally, the union pointed out that the audio-visual alerts from the ADAS system add to the sensory overload in an already high-pressure environment. “It is unfortunate that the motorman is also disturbed by the continuous unpleasant audio-visual sounds,” the letter noted.

"Several motormen posts remain vacant in the Mumbai division, resulting in the current staff being burdened with extended hours," said a motorman. Although motormen are paid for the overtime, a representative of a prominent motormen’s union stated that the increasing workload and administrative pressure have made working conditions difficult.

When contacted, a motorman, on condition of anonymity, said, “The administration is putting a lot of pressure on us and issuing showcause notices even for negligible and minor issues. This is affecting not just our work but also our mental and personal lives.”

Over 1,800 suburban services are operated by Central Railway (CR) on weekdays, and nearly 38 lakh passengers use these services daily.