Title - Clean-up starts at Basin Bridge train care centre

CHENNAI: Workers on Tuesday began cleaning up the Basin Bridge train care centre where a fitter slipped and fell into a pit line on Saturday. He died on Monday."Around 30 labourers started clearing garbage, removing undergrowth and unclogging the channel that drains water from pit lines. They also started desilting a portion of the Cooum river into which drainage channels let out water accumulated in pit lines. The outlets haven't been cleaned properly for a long time," said an employee. Staff at the centre struck work for more than five hours on Monday to protest against the poor conditions.Water accumulates inside pit lines when trains are washed and toilets cleaned using water jets. As the yard is located in a basin area, water does not drain quickly enough. The railways had earlier sanctioned works to improve drainage of pit lines. These works would be completed, said a senior official.Angry employees had on Monday demanded that additional divisional railway manger Anil Kumar not wait for contractors to resume works and wanted him to find private labourers.The train care centre is in a bad shape because of a lack of coordination among various departments which handle different works, say sources. Senior officials had a discussion about responsibility of the undergoing works with Anil Kumar when he visited the centre on Monday to pacify striking workers.

Southern railway chief public relations officer V J Accamma said "cleaning works will be completed in three days. Mechanical department has been entrusted with the work."

Employees check undercarriage of coaches, clean interiors, toilets, repair damaged fixtures and electrical components at the yard before a train is cleared for departure. tnn