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Mumbai Local News: Lady Welders of Matunga CR Workshop Leading the Way

Central Railway (CR) general manager Naresh Lalwani visited Matunga Carriage Workshop for the inspection o­n March 20, 2023.

Mumbai Local News: Lady Welders of Matunga CR Workshop Leading the Way
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Central Railway (CR) general manager Naresh Lalwani visited Matunga Carriage Workshop o­n March 20, 2023. During the inspection of Heavy Corrosion Repair (HCR) Shop, Naresh Lalwani interacted with the two teams of lady welders responsible for the repair of battery boxes in both AC and non-AC railway coaches.

The two teams, named Team Durga and Team Ahilya, discussed their work with Naresh Lalwani. The two teams, each consisting of four lady welders, are currently involved in the activity of overhauling of battery boxes, which ranges from their repair to complete fabrication.

The complete gamut of their operation is undertaken at the battery box section of HCR, where they independently work o­n the cutting of corroded components, fitting, welding and their painting. Team Ahilya, is led by Rajubai Talekar, the first woman welder of Matunga workshop appointed in 1990 at the workshop. Talekar took the initiative of learning the complex activity of welding and has since inspired other ladies to learn the ropes of the trade and follow suit. She has been working as a welder for the past 20 years.

The names of the ladies involved in the arduous and technically complicated task of welding are Rajubai Talekar, Suchita Shete, Swapnali Thorat and Snehal Sawardekar of Team Ahilya; Ranjana Wayale, Pooja Singh, Vidya Jagtap and Sangeeta Tripathi of Team Durga

The teams’ inception took place o­n March 8, 2022, and ever since they have been solely and completely responsible towards their work. They serve as a constant reminder of strength of will and the fortitude of women.

Lalwani visited the Heavy Corrosion Repair shop where he inspected the Newly Modified High Speed Automobile Carrier Coaches (NMGHS) with Ball Transfer Unit (for smooth movement of materials) and Boulder Special Coach used for working o­n ghat sections especially to control falling boulders.

He inspected and appreciated the efforts put in for the newly furbished Boulder Special Crew and Equipment Coach. This coach has a slid-resistant roof platform for the activity of tunnel sounding, wider end and side openings for easy loading and unloading, chequered sheet for anti-slip and higher durability, better lighting and ventilation, provision of box seats and robust tool racks and provision of lavatory-cum-bathrooms with bio-tanks to ensure ease of working in the tough conditions of ghats.

At Matunga Workshop, the General Manager visited the Roof Mounted Package Units (Units providing air-conditioning at a controlled uniform temperature in LHB coaches) testing facility and newly constructed Integrated Dispatch, Lifting and Inspection (IDLI) shed where Periodical Over Hauling of LHB coaches are carried out. He also visited the LHB bogie shop, where he inspected the Assembly line of LHB trolleys. The General Manager also inspected the Traction Motor shop, Wheel shop and Roller Bearing Assembly shop.

Lalwani watched a presentation o­n Workshop activities by Chief Workshop Manager, Matunga and met representatives of recognised Unions. He also inaugurated a Canteen for employees, an Auditorium for Cultural and other events and also watched a cultural presentation of folk dance by artistes of Matunga Workshop.

Sunil Kumar, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer, Rajesh Arora, Principal Chief Engineer, R L Rana, Principal Chief Materials Manager, Rajnish Kumar Goyal, Divisional Railway Manager, Mumbai Division, Vivek Acharya, Chief Workshop Manager, Matunga Workshop, and other Head of Departments and Senior Officers of Central Railway were also present during the inspection.

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