IndiaPosted at: Oct 7 2026 9:53AM


Railways restructure track workforce, establish new Track Technician cadre

New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) Indian Railways has announced a major restructuring of its Permanent Way workforce, merging existing artisan staff into a new Multi-Skilled Track Technician (MSTT) cadre.
The new four-tier structure includes provisions for recruitment, promotion, and specialised training.

The Railway Board has directed all Zonal Railways and Production Units to implement the restructuring, reorganising the Permanent Way (P-Way) artisan workforce into Technician (Track) grades from Pay Levels 2 to 6.
This decision follows recommendations from a committee formed on February 27 to review the merger of existing P-Way artisan cadres. The Railway Board consulted with AIRF and NFIR before finalising a two-phase implementation plan.
The order has the approval of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Board.
Four-tier Technician (Track) cadre
In Phase I, the existing P-Way artisan cadre and its employees will be merged into the MSTT cadre.

The new structure will include Technician (Track) Grade III at Pay Level 2, Grade II at Level 4, Grade I at Level 5, and Senior Technician (Track) at Level 6. The seniority and grading of employees in the merged cadre will be determined in accordance with the Indian Railway Establishment Manual.
The reThe restructuring offers a clear progression route through the Technician grades, leading up to Junior Engineer (Permanent Way), subject to eligibility requirements. Direct recruitment through RRBs
A key change is the introduction of 25% direct recruitment through Railway Recruitment Boards for Technician (Track) Grade III at Pay Level 2.
Another 50% of Grade III posts will be filled through promotion based on seniority and suitability, assessed by a trade test. The remaining 25% will be filled through the Limited Departmental Competitive Examination from eligible feeder categories.
Track Maintainer-IV, Track Maintainer-III, and eligible Level-1 assistants from the Engineering Department will be included in the feeder categories, subject to prescribed service and educational requirements.
Technician (Track) Grade II at Level 4 will be filled entirely through promotion from Grade III, based on seniority and suitability. This requires passing a trade test and completing at least two years of regularGrade I at Level 5 and Senior Technician at Level 6 will be filled through promotion from the preceding grade, subject to two years of regular service and assessment under prescribed criteria.
Senior Technicians at Level 6 will be eligible for promotion to Junior Engineer (P-Way) under both Departmental Promotion and LDCE quotas, provided they meet the required educational and service qualifications.quirements.
ITI qualification prescribed for direct recruits
For direct recruitment to Technician (Track), candidates must have Matriculation/SSLC and an ITI qualification from an NCVT or SCVT-recognised institution in specified technical trades.
Eligible trades include welders, fitters, electricians, electronics mechanics, instrument mechanics, mechatronics, diesel mechanics, motor vehicle mechanics, machinists, machinist-grinders, and others.
Candidates with Matriculation/SSLC who have completed Act Apprenticeship in a specified trade are also eligible.
MSTT strength may rise to 15-25% of Track Maintainer cadre
Under Phase II, In Phase II, the Railway Board has permitted the total strength of the multi-skilled Technician (Track) cadre to increase to 15% to 25% of the sanctioned Track Maintainer cadre.centage can vary by division depending on traffic density, working conditions, and functional requirements. It will be determined by the respective Zonal Railways.
The order, however, protects the immediate promotional opportunity of existing Track Maintainers.
All Track Maintainers eligible for promotion on the order's issue date will be given one opportunity for promotion within their existing cadre. After these promotions, any remaining vacant posts will be transferred or redistributed to the new Technician (Track) cadre as required.
New cadre gets 20:20:30:30 grade distribution
For now, the Railway Board has set the following grade-wise distribution: 20% of the MSTT cadre at MCM/Senior Technician Level 6, 20% at Technician-I Level 5, 30% at Technician-II Level 4, and 30% at Technician-III Level 2. This can subsequently be reviewed and aligned with the pattern adopted for other artisan cadres after the ongoing cadre restructuring exercise is finalised.
Special training in welding, track machines and safety
The restructuring introduces a multi-skilling training component.
Training modules will cover welding, blacksmith work, operation of small track machines, personal and worksite safety, and track protection. Specialised training in Alumino-Thermit welding of rails will be provided at the Thermit Portion Plant in Lucknow or the Thermit Welding Training Centre in Vijayawada, along with field-based on-the-job training.
The Railway Board has also directed that CRIS incorporate the new Technician (TracThe Railway Board has directed CRIS to incorporate the new Technician (Track) category into the Railways' Human Resources Management System to support cadre management, transfers, redistribution or surrender of posts, and category changes.xisting P-Way artisan cadres and implement the provisions in accordance with the Board's instructions.
The order is signed by Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Director/Establishment (N), Railway Board.
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Tags: #Railways restructure track workforce# establish new Track Technician cadre
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