Newssuper Kolkata, 15 Mar 2026
In a significant move to strengthen operational safety and provide meaningful post-retirement opportunities for Ex-Army, Eastern Railway, Sealdah Division has signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” (MoU) with the Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO). This strategic collaboration focuses on the engagement of Ex-Servicemen as Pointsmen at various railway stations across the division.
The primary objective of this partnership is strengthening safety and operations and to address personnel shortages in safety-critical roles while leveraging the exceptional discipline, experience, and professionalism of retired Army personnel. Under the terms of the MoU, 16 Pointsman posts will be filled by candidates sponsored by AWPO. These individuals will play a vital role in ensuring smoother and more secure train operations, adhering to the Railway’s Station Working Rules (SWR) and General and Subsidiary Rules (G&SR). *Pointsmen play vital role to ensure safe train operations by precisely managing track points, their dedication in ground-level safety protocols, makes them backbone of passenger security in railway system.*
This initiative serves as a bridge for Ex-Servicemen transitioning into second careers. To ensure they are fully prepared for their new responsibilities, the selected Ex-Army candidates will undergo 22 days of theoretical training followed by 2 days of practical training provided by the Railways. The engagement is temporary, for a period of one year or until regular recruitment through the Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC) is completed.
The MoU was signed at the Divisional Railway Manager’s office by Divisional authority and Director of Army Welfare Placement Organisation. The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to national service, where the expertise of the Indian Army meets the operational needs of Railways to elevate standards of discipline and safety monitoring across the Sealdah Division.
