Families of railway employees stationed in Rayagada held a high-voltage protest at the South Coast Railway headquarters, demanding immediate repatriation to Visakhapatnam and an end to administrative apathy.
- Families of Rayagada-based railway staff protested at SCoR HQ in Siripuram, Vizag.
- Demands include immediate repatriation to the Visakhapatnam division and implementation of Para 9.3 of the DPR.
- Protestors highlighted severe mental agony, educational disruptions for children, and lack of medical care for the elderly.
In a significant escalation of labor unrest, the families of railway employees from the erstwhile Waltair division, currently deployed in the Rayagada railway division, staged a massive demonstration on Monday. The protest took place directly in front of the South Coast Railway (SCoR) headquarters in Siripuram, Visakhapatnam, bringing together women, children, and elderly parents in a collective plea for administrative justice.
The core of the grievance lies in the contentious bifurcation of the railway divisions. Protestors have accused the SCoR and East Coast Railway (ECoR) administrations of systemic apathy, claiming that the transition has left many employees stranded far from their homes. This separation has reportedly led to severe mental distress, with families citing the inability to provide adequate education for children and essential medical care for aging parents as primary drivers of their anger.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this is not merely a logistical dispute but a failure of human-centric administrative planning during the division's restructuring. When large-scale bureaucratic shifts ignore the socio-emotional stability of the workforce, it leads to decreased productivity and long-term institutional resentment. The demand for the 'triangular and pentagonal rotation policy' indicates a desire for a sustainable manpower balance that doesn't penalize senior staff.
The failure to implement the Detailed Project Report (DPR) guidelines during division bifurcation has created a humanitarian crisis within the railway workforce.
The Joint Action Forum of the Rayagada Railway Employee Families has submitted a formal memorandum detailing six critical demands. Central to these is the immediate implementation of Para 9.3 of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which involves inviting options and establishing combined seniority lists to ensure fair repatriation. Furthermore, they are demanding the release of a Joint Procedure Order (JPO) based on the Principal Chief Personnel Officer (PCPO) meeting held on July 24.
The protestors are also calling for the protection of service liens and promotion prospects within the Visakhapatnam division. They have specifically demanded the revocation of unilateral posting orders issued since June 1, 2026, which they claim disregarded the established combined seniority lists, thereby jeopardizing the career trajectories of many employees.
| Current Status | Demanded Resolution |
|---|---|
| Unilateral posting orders since June 2026 | Revocation of unilateral orders; use of combined seniority lists |
| Long-term separation from families | Immediate repatriation to Visakhapatnam division |
| Stagnant rotation policies | Revival of triangular and pentagonal rotation for new recruits |
As the situation remains tense, representatives have warned that protests will be intensified if concrete administrative relief is not provided immediately. They have urged the Railway Board to intervene directly to safeguard the welfare and career progression of the affected workforce, highlighting that the current administrative stalemate is unsustainable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the primary demand of the protesting families?
The primary demand is the immediate repatriation of railway staff from the Rayagada division back to the Visakhapatnam division.
Q2: What is Para 9.3 of the DPR?
It is a specific guideline in the Detailed Project Report that outlines the process for inviting options and creating combined seniority lists to manage employee transfers during division bifurcation.
