Title - SCR to shift loco training centre to new premises

Set up in 1979 near the railway station, trained thousands of loco pilots in it

The shifting of the South Central Railway (SCR) Electric Traction Training Centre (ETTC) began on Wednesday. The ETTC, the only Electric Training Centre in Southern Region, was shifted into the Divisional Integrated Training Centre (DITC), located on BRTS Road. The centre was shifted in accordance to a decision taken by the Railways in accordance to the directions of the High Court to vacate the 7.3 acre in which it is currently located.The training centre, set up in 1979 near the railway station, trained thousands of loco pilots and technicians across the country. Recently, the owner of the land approached the court alleging that SCR was not paying the price and that it should be returned.Responding to the plea, the High Court appointed an arbitrator for settlement of the issue. On June 13{+t}{+h}2013, the court directed the railway authorities to vacate the land within six months or pay Rs. 70 crore as per the market value.

Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday, Vijayawada Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Pradeep Kumar said the SCR management would implement the High Court orders in the given time, and the ETTC would be shifted to the newly constructed DITC “within a week”.

The ETTC was set up as per the guidelines of the Railway Board, with simulator (computed-based control of a locomotive), models of various components in the engine, latest loco models, online trouble shooting, library, computer lab, lecture halls, hostel, mess and sufficient staff, he said. “We imparted training to the loco pilots of Secunderabad, Guntakal, Nanded and Guntur divisions under SCR, East Coast, Southern Railways and South East Railways. Though the capacity of the centre is only 300 candidates we recently gave training to 1,400 candidates recruited in a special drive. This is the largest batch of loco pilots given training at any give time from any of the training centres of the Indian Railways,” said instructor B. Vivekananda. Mr. Pradeep Kumar said that 125 candidates, recruited through Railway Recruitment Board, came from East Coast Railway for loco pilot training on August 28. The ETTC staff would begin classes for them from Thursday. Besides this, refresher courses were given for section engineers and technicians of various divisions, said the DRM.