Title - Sonia's visit plan speeds up rail coach factory recruitment

LUCKNOW: The 'expected' visit of All India Congress Committee supremo Sonia Gandhi to her constituency Rae Bareli in November has put Railways in an overdrive to start the recruitment process in Lalganj. Railways got an order about a fortnight ago to begin the process of providing employment to those whose land was acquired for the coach factory and officials have more than swung into action. Not only have they notified the recruitment process in shortest duration but also called up applicants for medical examination."The screening is on. Eligible candidates will be given the job," said Janardan Singh, senior divisional personnel officer, Lucknow, Northern Railway (NR). Some 1,450 candidates are to be given jobs in railways, as part of the compensation package for land acquired for the Rae Bareli coach factory. Railways acquired some 541 hectares for the factory, out of which 283 hectare was taken from private land owners. Lucknow division might give jobs to at least 1,000 persons. Sources in railways link the speedy recruitment process to Sonia Gandhi's "expected" visit to Rae Bareli in November. Sources said a team of railway staff has been sent to Lalganj to cut down time taken in recruitment formalities. Recruitment, otherwise, takes time in notification of the process, inviting applications, sorting them and sending notices to applicants in case their applications are not complete.

But at Rae Bareli things are moving really fast. Officials in Lucknow division also take the recruitment process as a blessing in disguise, considering the division has about 4,000 vacancies. Most of the applicants would be accommodated in group-D jobs, but the qualified ones will be employed in signalling, electrical and other departments, depending on eligibility. "Women applicants will be accommodated fairly," said Singh.

He also said recruitment was an ongoing process. In case of families not meeting the age criteria, recruitment can take place at an appropriate time. Rae Bareli coach factory has already been delayed by at least three years.It was approved in the supplementary railway budget 2006-07. The foundation stone of the factory was laid by Sonia Gandhi on February 13, 2007. The land acquisition started on August 10, 2007. Land lease deed was signed with UP government on January 16, 2009. The construction of the boundary wall of the factory started on January 27, 2009.

The delay has also escalated its cost over a period of time. The factory was to come up at an estimated cost of Rs 1,685 crore.