The Railway Ministry on Thursdasy announced that it is likely to increase the vacancies for Assistant Loco Pilots and Technicians from 26,502 advertised earlier to nearly 60,000.

“The Ministry had earlier announced the recruitment for 26,502 such posts in February. More than 47 lakh candidates applied to take the recruitment examination. The notified 26,502 vacancies are likely to be increased to about 60,000,” a Ministry statement said.

The Indian Railways is likely to recruit more than one lakh personnel on various posts in the current financial year through the Railway Recruitment Board.

The Ministry said that maximum care has been taken to allocate centres to the candidates in the same or nearby cities for the recruitment test which will be held soon.

“More than 71 per cent candidates, that is, nearly 34 lakh candidates, have been allocated centres within 200 km of their hometowns. About 99 per cent candidates with disabilities, and women, have been allotted centres within 200 km of their hometowns.”

Around nine lakh candidates from Bihar, 9.5 lakh from Uttar Pradesh and nearly 4.5 lakh from Rajasthan applied for the recruitent exam. “Interstate movement of some candidates is inevitable,” the Ministry said.

“It was ensured that candidates who had applied early are accommodated in their own or nearby cities and states whereas those who applied late had to be moved out,” it added.