Railway workers decry poor state of residential quarters

RAWALPINDI:

The various colonies and settlements of lower-tier workers of the Pakistan Railways (PR) remain in a dilapidated state due to years of neglect, say those living there, with the recent rains making the situation worse.

Mubarak Hussain, a leader of a union of railway workers, said that the problems and difficulties of the railway quarters were increasing daily, with the ceilings and walls of damaged houses caving in and posing a threat to those living there.

So far two roof collapses have been reported from these government quarters. It did not result in any fatality.

Chaudhry Aamir, another office holder of an employees’ union, confirmed that the roof of a house at the Railway Bakery Chowk had collapsed.

“This is the second incident of the collapse of the roof of the railway quarters in Bakery Chowk, he said. “But the railway administration has failed to survey the old houses and or conduct repair work.”

He warned that the quarters remain in a precarious state with the families of the residents at risk.

The problem is most acute in the railway quarters that were repurposed from British era stables and date back to 1912. These stables are 12 foot in length and width with a 10-foot yard in front, a small kitchen and a washroom. Back in the day, it would house a horse and its groom. These stables exceeded one thousand.

There were another 335 houses which were allocated to officers and employees after the establishment of Pakistan.

The stables were along the railway tracks and were handed over the railways which converted these stables to residential quarters for employees of basic pay scale (BPS) four.

These quarters are currently 11 residential colonies of Rawalpindi Railway. They include CDL Workshop Colony, Traffic Colony, Commercial Colony, Locomotive Shed Colony, Construction Colony, Talab Colony and Carriage Colony.

These quarters remain in a dilapidated state with leaking roofs common. The walls are in different stages of wear and tear. The sewage and sanitation system do not function anymore.

There was wild foliage with the area presenting an unkempt look. Residents also said they did not have water, electricity or gas.

According to those living there, the quarters have not been repaired for the last 20 years. The minor repairs that were done were washed away in the rain after two to three months.

Sources in the Divisional Superintendent's Office of Railway Rawalpindi Division said that the divisional superintendent had ordered the survey of the quarters of the railway. Following this, funds would be released and repair and paint jobs would start, they said.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2023.