Fri, 29 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Rs.2bn to maintain 200 train compartments: Union

By

30 January 2017 06:21 pm - 11     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) has decided to pay Rs.2 billion to a private company for the maintenance of 200 train compartments, Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya General Secretary Nadira Manoj said today.

He said that the Department has awarded a tender to a private firm called ‘Tantri Trailers’by ignoring the Ratmalana Railway workshop employees who could have carried out the maintenancework on the compartments.

“If the work was entrusted to the Ratmalana workshop, the workers would have carried out the work at half the cost. A mafia is in control of every inch of Railways. State funds are being misused by the management. Why waste money when we have sufficiently trained human resources,”he asked.

However, when asked, Railway Sub Departmental Chief Engineer, Dilantha Fernando said that the union was misleading the public by manipulating facts.

He said that the maintenance work was handed over to the Tantri Trailers since railways employees had failed to carry them out.

“Many compartments waiting for repairs are abandoned in Dematagoda as the Ratmalana Workshop’s repair outcome is not satisfactory. Our workers are not capable in these kinds of repairs,”he said.

He said the department received hundreds of complaints daily pointing out that the toilets and the interior of the rail carriages were in bad condition. “Especially, the Japan made S8 Power-set trains are in a very dilapidated condition; we could not wait till the workshop completes the repairs,” he said.

Under the tender conditions, firms have to restore the interior, floor and the toilets completely in the train carriage. However, he said that they would not let the firm touch the compartment body or the under frame and those would be undertaken by the Ratmalana Workshop.

Speaking on the matter, Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary Nihal Somaweera said that the ministry had taken measures to refurbish 200 carriages to provide a better service to the passengers.

“The workshop just has a capacity to refurbish 5 compartments per year. But the private firm has agreed to complete the task within 3 years.” He said.

To purchase a new carriage, the department has to spend around Rs.60mn and under the new refurbish contract it could be done at a cost of Rs.10mn.

The firm has to handover five carriages each month and the payment is to be settled monthly. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)


Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 11

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • Loli Monday, 30 January 2017 09:48 PM

    Tantri trailers are a company with a good reputation better than the lazy Govt workers

    Kojima Monday, 30 January 2017 10:13 PM

    Aren't tantri trailers the same guys that make trailers for Ports and the SL Army?

    city Tuesday, 31 January 2017 07:47 AM

    100% correct Sir.my father was in the railway for 36 years and we have witnessed the working capabilities of the railway workshop and other areas.if you want to have a close look please go to the dematagoda yard or to the work shop.good move please go ahead.

    Ajith Tuesday, 31 January 2017 08:03 AM

    This is very good move. Ratmalana railway workshop worker only work only until lunch time. After that play card games. I did my training their.

    Dee Tuesday, 31 January 2017 08:12 AM

    If one looks at the repairs done on the S8 by the 'trained' railway workers, its like repairing a cart. Some hand rails have welding marks jutting out. The workers better run a small dispensary to treat the passesgers cut marks. A roadside baas can do a better job.

    Sameen Jan Tuesday, 31 January 2017 08:32 AM

    Excellent decision

    morajee Tuesday, 31 January 2017 09:26 AM

    Sri Lanka railway workers are very lazy fellows. They will do nothing and try to mislead the public. If the work is given to them they will not be able to complete it even in 2030. There are Unions more than the employees in the SL Railways. Even the new railway track building also should be given to suitable companies. At Kurunegala station SL Railway employees have failed to complete a small extension of 0.5 km even after 3yrs.

    Lonton Tuesday, 31 January 2017 09:29 AM

    Please sell SLR 100% , the bad attitude of this employees , innocent Sri Lanka passengers like us suffer for last over 50 years. Please sell them completely, get rid of this shit in this economy,

    CGR Tuesday, 31 January 2017 09:36 AM

    Miracle of SLR workshop history most workers absent to work but on the attendance book present marked. via DM Android App

    OMG Tuesday, 31 January 2017 02:13 PM

    good decision, well done. Finally some sensible things happening. The RRW will complete the work at half the price but only quarter work and unfinished. Better even spend little more and get the work done properly.

    Joe Wednesday, 01 February 2017 04:08 AM

    There are dedicated workers in CGR but majority have got used to a lazy pattern end of the day get their salary not bothered no targets set for them. Even in the berth booking office there is no hospitality they think the passengers are depending on them.


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H