Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has outsourced the operations and maintenance (O&M) of Phase 2 to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for 12 years. This decision means that CMRL will not be directly hiring permanent staff for this phase. Instead, DMRC will recruit contract employees from different parts of the country.
This move has raised concerns as CMRL has not enforced two key hiring clauses for Phase 2. These include Tamil language proficiency and adherence to the Tamil Nadu state reservation policy.
Construction and Operations Timeline
The Phase 2 project covers a total of 118.9 km across three corridors. Construction is currently ongoing, and the first segment between Poonamallee and Porur Junction is set to open in December this year.
On April 2, CMRL issued a letter of acceptance (LoA) to DMRC, confirming that the latter would handle operations for the three corridors:
- Corridor 3: Madhavaram Milk Colony to Siruseri SIPCOT II Metro
- Corridor 4: Lighthouse to Poonamallee Bypass
- Corridor 5: Madhavaram Milk Colony to Sholinganallur
Additionally, DMRC will oversee maintenance at three depots located in Semmencherry, Poonamallee, and Madhavaram.
Chennai Metro Outsources Phase 2: Concerns Raised
Stakeholders have criticized the decision, arguing that it excludes Tamil Nadu residents from employment opportunities. The former vice-president of the Dakshin Railway Employees Union (DREU), R Elangovan, pointed out that DMRC has already inquired with its Delhi-based staff about relocating to Chennai. Since contract hiring will take place nationally, Tamil Nadu residents may have limited job opportunities.
Elangovan also highlighted that since O&M has been outsourced, Tamil language proficiency and state reservation policies will no longer be applicable. He added that a similar hiring pattern was followed for Phase 1, where contract-based employment was prioritized over permanent recruitment.
Hiring Policies for Phase 1 vs Phase 2
During Phase 1 recruitment, Tamil proficiency was a requirement in three areas: reading, writing, and speaking. Additionally, reservations were provided for different categories, including General, BC, BC Muslims, MBC, SC, and ST.
However, with Phase 2 being outsourced to DMRC, these criteria have been bypassed. Critics argue that this could lead to a significant reduction in employment opportunities for local residents.
The Way Forward
As the Chennai Metro outsources Phase 2, questions remain about the future of employment policies in the metro sector. With DMRC taking over operations, it remains to be seen how hiring will unfold and whether local concerns will be addressed.
For now, the focus remains on completing construction and ensuring Phase 2 becomes operational as per schedule.
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