Railway parcel scam probe on a slow chug

The scam, officers said, ensured that only a fraction of the costly cargo loaded at the station reached the destination stations. The loading agents and railway employees colluded to create fake vouchers and manipulate the process to take out cargo from the consignments.

Sources familiar with the matter said it would be a shame if some employees were merely suspended. The departmental inquiry has been found wanting especially after a vigilance raid found that parcel agents were going about their ‘usual business’ every day.

A visit to the parcel office and inquiries with railway staff revealed that parcels were loaded on to trains by loaders employed by agents instead of loading contractors.

Even officials admit that agents were exploiting the paucity of staff. “Well over 100 loaders would be required for parcel handling at Chennai Central alone. But the loading contractor has less than 40 loaders. The commercial department of the railways have issued identity cards to them,” an official said on condition of anonymity.

The officer attributed manpower shortage to a lack of clarity in the contract conditions, which do not stipulate the minimum or the maximum number of loaders required.

“The contract only suggests that the loading contractor must have ‘adequate’ loaders to ensure that trains are not detained due to parcel loading,” the officer added, admitting that unauthorised loaders engaged by the agents were operating on platforms even now.

“At any given time, you can find at least two dozen loaders of the agents (not loading contractors) on the platform. There are enough laws to remove such unauthorised loaders of agents, but the work might get affected. So, a few staff ignore the unauthorised loaders. The busiest time for parcel handling is from 4 am to 8 am and 4 pm to 11 pm. The work is staggered and hence it is difficult to fix a number,” the officer said adding that they were ready to issue cards to as many loaders the contractor deems fit.

Ironically, it is this leeway the agents have conveniently exploited to load parcels to their convenience. “When an agent loads his parcel himself, he can easily overload the luggage van. Of course, it can be done only with the knowledge of the loading clerk,” a railway source said.