Title - Railways moots biometric attendance system

To keep a check on absenteeism; many projects, including Lakkar Bridge, still hanging fire
Ludhiana:
Even as several projects are hanging fire, the Railways authorities are going overboard in announcing new projects. In the latest, the Railways has proposed to install the biometric system at the Ludhiana railway station to check absenteeism.The biometric system will also be installed at Jalandhar, Amritsar and Beas railway stations in the Ferozepur division.Officials of the Ferozepur division said they had received instructions from the headquarters to install the biometric attendance system.The instructions came at a time when the Railways has failed to complete the ongoing project. The Lakkar Bridge project is still awaiting completion.There are a number of projects which have not seen the light of the day. Five years ago, railway officials proposed to install automatic machines for the platform passes at the entry points of the station. But no such machine has been installed as yet. The visitors have to buy platform tickets from the ticket counter.Another project of bio-toilets was announced around 10 years ago. As per the claims of the railway officials, the project was to keep the tracks clean. But the authorities have failed to initiate steps to install bio-toilets.

"We welcome new projects, but what about the ongoing schemes which are yet to take shape," said a railway employee.

Station superintendent Ravinder Sharma said: "There is a problem when it comes to implementing schemes."