Staff hard to find,Rae Barelis coach unit on slow track

The ministry had announced a similar,though less attractive scheme,to attract workers to Rae Bareli in 2011 also but that did not find many takers.

The factory has a proposed staff strength of 5,082,but the railways ministry has so far been able to find only 2,516. Of them,1,450 are supposed to have reported to work but in fact no more than 660 are working there as of now.

The factorys foundation stone was laid by Sonia in February,2007,but Phase II and III work is yet to be completed. It includes setting up shell assembly shop,bogie shop,wheel shop,paint shop,machine shop,stores for logistic support,the administrative building,technical training center,hostel,housing,service buildings,shopping and sports complexes.

There is no colony or other arrangements of staff amenities at Rae Bareli. That is why getting people,who are established with their families at other centres,to join here is turning out to be a challenge, a senior railways ministry official said.

Sources said railways minister C P Joshi recently discussed the issue with his officials and directed them to complete the work on schedule.

On paper,the Rae Bareli factory has been assigned the highest-priority thanks to its association with Sonias name. It rolled out its first coach in April 2011 and,once fully operational will,produce around 1,000 LHB coaches a year. Last year,however,due to slowdown in recruitment,it assembled only 70 coaches. Another factory to make forged wheel is also planned to come up near the coach factory.