| Concerned Over Growing Outsourcing in Railways, AIRF's National Convention Tomorrow, October 8 | | | Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, Oct 7: Expressing serious concern over the growing outsourcing of core, technical and safety-critical functions in Indian Railways, the All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) will hold its National Convention Against Outsourcing tomorrow, October 8, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Karnail Singh Railway Stadium, Basant Lane, New Delhi. More than 3,000 NRMU delegates from different zones and divisions of Indian Railways are expected to participate.
Addressing a Press Conference at the AIRF headquarters in New Delhi today, General Secretary Comrade Shiva Gopal Mishra said that the Federation is not opposed to modernisation or new technology, but is concerned over the growing use of contractual arrangements in areas such as Track and Signal Maintenance, Loco Sheds, Workshops, Coaching Depots and Rolling Stock Maintenance.
AIRF demanded that before outsourcing Railway activities, sanctioned vacancies should be filled, existing manpower properly utilised, safety implications examined and recognised Federations consulted.
The Federation also referred to the 18-year Operation & Maintenance model at Daud Electric Loco Shed and Railway Board's 149-post Project General Management Services (PGMS) structure while highlighting recent developments related to outsourcing.
"Modernise Indian Railways, but do not weaken its permanent technical workforce. Safety-critical and core maintenance must remain the responsibility of a strong, trained and accountable Railway workforce," added Comrade Shiva Gopal Mishra.
Comrade Mishra also informed that the 78th Annual General Meeting of the Northern Railway Men's Union (NRMU), being hosted by its Headquarters Division, would be held simultaneously at the same venue on October 8, with senior office-bearers of AIRF and NRMU and senior Railway officials expected to participate. He further informed that another National Conference of Act-Apprentices will also be held at the same venue on October 9.
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