LAYYAH, March 8: Three city railway crossings are being reportedly manned by six gatemen instead of nine, which is mandatory to ensure safe passage for trains and regulate traffic.

Pakistan railways is getting Rs81,000 per month for salaries of nine gatemen of three crossings of layyah city from the Punjab highway department. But railways is paying around Rs17,000 to six gatemen which is Rs2,800 per month for each gateman.

Under the rules, the highway department pays Rs27,000 as salaries for three gatemen to perform eight-hour duty on each crossing. But the railways has six gatemen to look after the three crossings and each gateman performs 12-hour duty.

The railway system in Layyah was launched in 1890. Initially, there was no railway crossing on any part of the track owing to very thin traffic. In 1940’s, the first crossing known as Chobara Road railway crossing was established which is situated in the heart of the city and westward traffic pass through it. Later, four crossings were set up in north and south of the Chobara Road. These are Chandiyawala, Bypass, Canal Colony and Sugar Mills level crossings.

When contacted, assistant engineer Sikandar Abbas said each gateman (scale-II) was paid Rs2,800 salary per month.

“Gatemen are deputed according to the number of trains and as the railway traffic is low, so two gatemen on each level crossing are sufficient instead of three,” he said.