Railways
With 62.4 thousand kilometers of rail length and approximately 7,026 railway stations spread through India the Indian railway system is the largest in Asia and ranks second in the world after the leader USA. The total route length is over 62.3 thousand kilometers. This most widely used transportation system in India carries nearly 3500 million passengers and 370 million tons of freight thereby generating employment for nearly 16.5 lakh employees (one of the largest employment generation by a single civil department) to handle its operation.
After a modest beginning in April 1853 with only a 35 km rail stretch from Bombay to Thane in Maharashtra the Indian railways have made remarkable progress in attaining the number two status in the world and has become one of the biggest employer in the country in its various departments. Now comprises nine zones - ¨ Central Zone with headquarters in Mumbai, ¨ Eastern Zone with headquarters in Calcutta, ¨ Northern Zone with headquarters in New Delhi, ¨ North Eastern Zone with headquarters in Gorakhpur, ¨ North-East frontier Zone with headquarters in Guwahati, ¨ Southern Zone with headquarters in Chennai, ¨ South-Central Zone with headquarters in Secundrabad, ¨ South-Eastern Zone with headquarters in Calcutta, ¨ Western Zone with headquarters in Mumbai – provides career options for various level headed by a General Manager.
The aspirant who wants to join railways can opt for a career in any of the two broadly classified areas i.e., technical and non-technical services that include:-
Non-Technical Services:-
- Indian Railways Traffic Services- Group A
- Indian Railways Accounts Services- Group A
- Indian Railways Personnel Services- Group A
- Indian Railways Protection Force- Group A
- Railway Board Secretariat Service Group B
Technical Services:-
- Indian Railway Services of Engineers (Civil)
- Indian Railway Services of Electrical Engineers
- Indian Railway Services of Signal and Telecommunication Engineers
- Indian Railway Store Services
- Indian Railway Medical Services
Besides these technical and nontechnical services, aspirants can also join as Engine Drivers, Ticket Collectors, Goods guards, ASM, etc.
To make a career in Railways the aspirants have to take either the SCRA exam or Railways Recruitment Board exams held from time to time to select a wide variety of personals. Persons with the required qualification and good physical and mental health, ability to spend long periods away from home, sense of responsibility, capacity to interact and work with all kinds of human beings, discipline, and the required traits can apply for this exam and make their career in this interesting field.
As far as remunerations are concerned the starting salaries for Group B employees are in the range of Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 per month with pension benefits in addition to other facilities provided to the government employees according to the post and position held by the individual employee. Besides these basic perks railways employees get a lot of allowances including housing, health care, and education for their children, free railway passes to travel all over the country as well as provision for staying in the railway guest houses. As the railways are expanding by adding new routes every year there will continue to be a demand for all categories of personnel with skills to meet the challenges of the future. Thus aspirants can consider railways as a good option for career building in the near future.
Description of some of the Services and Career options for youngsters in them are:-
Roadways
Roadways are the more intricate and closely knit of the two ( the other one is railways) modes of surface transport systems of every country and especially developing countries of varying demographic conditions like India where road transport is the most convenient and easily accessible transport system. The Indian Roadways play a crucial role in connecting the different parts of India. After independence, there has been extensive development of the network of roads across the length and breadth of India. With approximately 3.314 million kilometers of different kinds of road length India can boast of the largest road networks (3.314) in the world.
Today, alternative modes of transport are on the anvil. Yet Road transport is still the dominant mode of transportation - both for moving goods and passengers. India has a huge network of roads comprising National Highways, State Highways, Major District Roads and villages, and other roads. While the Railways handle only 40% of the freight and 20% of the passenger load, 60% of the goods and 80% of passenger movement takes place through roads. It is anticipated to further increase in the foreseeable future. Going by these fact spurt increase in the career opportunities in various technical and nontechnical departments of the different kinds of roadways modes cannot be denied in the near future. Personnel with the traits like a responsible attitude, good time-keeping skills, pleasant personal manner; a clean criminal record, ability to read and speak English and local language at a reasonable level, good verbal communication skills, and good eyesight (at least 20/40 without sight aids, and ability to see colors) and hearing can adopt driving of various commercial vehicle both at national and international level as their profession.
Besides various clerical and official jobs in the departments of private and public transport companies like one can also opt for various driving options like a bus driver, taxi driver, truck driver, Cab driver etc which are quite in demand not only in India but also in the countries like USA, Canada, Australia, and various Arab countries.
To be a bus or truck driver Heavy Vehicle driver training is offered in most metro areas and is essential training if you want to work in the field. Regardless of whether you wish to work as a city bus driver, a school bus driver, or an interstate bus driver, a qualification from a reputable driving school is required to obtain a valid license from the licensing authority of the area to drive the vehicle. Learning to drive a bus is very different from driving a car or other variety of automotive transport.
There are also some restrictions on epilepsy and diabetes sufferers when it comes to coach and touring bus positions. Here are a few other important requirements:
1. You must hold a current license for a car and be an experienced driver. Also, you must tour and coach drivers for a number of years.
2. You need to contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles in order to complete your necessary paperwork. This often includes a medical form, which your doctor will have to complete. The primary medical tests will involve hearing and vision. Some governments require you to be endorsed and to undergo a written test first. This may involve a set number of hours of bus driver classes, which cover Department of Transport road rules, safety regulations, company work rules, and safe driving practices. Interpersonal skills and ticketing may also be discussed.
3. With a learner’s driving license in hand join some heavy vehicle schools that provide training including learning the practical skills of driving a bus/truck.
4. Some governments require you to sit an additional written test along with a practical driving test.
Once you pass the test, you will be fully qualified and able to apply for positions for driving a bus or any other heavy vehicle like a truck, etc.
Besides being a heavy vehicle driver one can also go for commercial car driving or taxi driving as these personnel are also in great demand nowadays. For taxi driving an aspirant must possess an LMV driving license in almost the same way as one can have an HMV license. Whereas those who want to drive heavy infrastructure building machinery like Road Roller driving, Combine driving, Crane driving, etc. have to go for the specific type of license required for that particular vehicle.
As far as remuneration of the personnel involved in road transportation are concerned those who are working in the public transportation companies like State Roadways etc get a good pay scale along with other benefits like medical, house rent, overtime, bonus, etc. however these thing varies from state to state and company to company. Those involved in the taxi or car driving at least in the developed countries are also handsomely paid for their services.
Thus those who have a passion for driving for long hours and love to travel a lot can have a career in this ever-adventurous field of Roadways and can earn along with full job satisfaction.
