The Indian Railways is hiring 5,058 ex-servicemen on contracts as pointsmen to address a severe staff shortage. The Railway Board approved this move as a temporary measure until regular recruits join through Railway Recruitment Cells. The general managers of all zonal railways will recruit these ex-servicemen via Central and State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Boards. Their contracts will last until December 31, 2026, with a chance of extension depending on vacancies. A pointsman manually operates track switches and signals to guide trains safely through yards and junctions. They assist the Station Master in shunting and help ensure smooth, accident-free train movement. All hired ex-servicemen will undergo full initial training and receive contract pay. Those who fail training or prove unsuitable will be removed with payment for their training period. The decision has drawn criticism. N. Kannaiah, national president of the All India Railwaymen Federation (AIRF), the largest railway employees' union, warned, “Allowing staff on short-term contracts to operate critical safety systems is a threat to safety. They have no long-term accountability or responsibility. After their contract ends, they leave with full knowledge of signals and other sensitive safety infrastructure.” This recruitment drive follows a serious incident on October 11, 2024, when the Bagmati Express collided with a stationary goods train at Kavarapettai station in Southern Railway. The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) labeled the accident as “sabotage” and raised alarms about insiders' involvement. The CRS advised the Railways’ intelligence wing to boost internal vigilance and strongly recommended reducing contractual staff in safety-sensitive roles. The CRS report stated, “The engagement and exposure of contractual staff for the maintenance and operation of critical safety features and systems must be reviewed as a priority and reduced to minimal in the short term, and to zero in the long term.”