3 weeks ago
Eastern Railway GM Gitika Pandey reviews safety with frontline staff
A new boss at a big railway company in India talked to the workers who keep trains running safely.
Her name is Gitika Pandey, and she started her new job on August 1.
She spoke to more than 780 workers through a video call.
She told everyone that safety comes first and that there is a 'Zero Tolerance' rule, meaning no safety mistakes are allowed.
The workers told her about problems they face, like places where trains cross roads without automatic safety gates.
They also said some station platforms go dark when the local power goes out, which can be dangerous for passengers.
The workers suggested fixing the gates or building small tunnels under the tracks instead.
The new boss promised to look into all their ideas and take action.
The workers were happy because they could speak openly, which does not always happen.
This meeting helps make train travel safer for everyone.
Gitika Pandey, who became Eastern Railway General Manager on August 1, addressed over 780 officers and frontline staff via video conferencing on Wednesday.
She announced a strict 'Zero Tolerance' policy on safety-related matters across ER's four divisions.
Staff flagged 15 non-interlocked level crossing gates in the Howrah division and 15 between Topsi and Baraboni in the Asansol division, recommending conversions or subways.
A station superintendent in the Sealdah division reported platform lights at Deula go dark during local power failures.
The outreach programme was praised for letting frontline staff raise operational problems openly with the General Manager.
- Who
- Gitika Pandey, General Manager of Eastern Railway, and over 780 officers and frontline staff from the Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol and Malda divisions.
- What
- A video-conference safety review in which the new GM announced a strict 'Zero Tolerance' safety policy and collected frontline staff's operational concerns and recommendations.
- Where
- Eastern Railway's four divisions - Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol and Malda - via video conferencing.
- When
- Wednesday, following Pandey's takeover as General Manager on August 1.
- Why
- To enforce meticulous compliance with safety rules, strengthen field supervision and resolve grassroots operational bottlenecks.
Key facts
- General Manager
- Gitika Pandey
- Railway zone
- Eastern Railway (ER)
- Took charge
- August 1
- Staff addressed
- Over 780 officers and frontline staff
- Divisions covered
- Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol and Malda
- Safety policy
- Strict 'Zero Tolerance' on safety-related matters
- Non-interlocked LC gates flagged
- 15 in the Howrah division and 15 between Topsi and Baraboni in the Asansol division
- Platform lighting issue
- Deula station (Sealdah division) platforms go dark during local power failures
Quotes
Gitika Pandey
General Manager of Eastern Railway
““Gate is closed” is to be distinctly repeated by gatemen when exchanging private numbers with the station master as a positive confirmation before train movement.”
thehansindia.com
Unnamed staff member
Frontline staff member at Eastern Railway
““Normally, such staff are unable to speak their minds in front of officers, and here they were encouraged to place their problems before the General Manager. This was a proactive approach to identifying grass‑roots operational bottlenecks and resolving infrastructure challenges.””
thehansindia.com











