Politicisation of Technical Work-Minister Sir What is Your Take?

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On 27 August, 2024, we published: “Khandelwal-Sense at Work: An Expensive Fastening System from Small Vendor Base-Atleast not for Railway Safety” which brought out how #AKKhandelwal used trust of Minister to publicise a particular proprietary rail #fastening-system.

After our publication this was put on hold. Mr #Khandelwal then retired.

However, we learnt that three teams will travel to #Europe to study fastening systems.

Caption: Composition of three teams for studying fastening system

What hits you hard are following observations by a former Member Engineering (#ME) who was shown this list (we have suppressed the names):

  1. Why Executive Director Public Grievances of Minister of Railways (#EDPGMR) included in all three teams?
  2. What would #SrDSTE/LKO do in the team to UK?
  3. Why the teams are light on #RDSO officers?
  4. What is experience of #Director of Railway Board on technical aspects of fastenings?

Few months ago another senior officer of Minister’s Cell was in a #Eurasian-country on official duty.

Readers may recollect our earlier story where we published that then #Advisor to the #Minister was getting #specifications of #VandeBharat changed. When Executive Director, Coaching, #RailwayBoard brought this on file—he was shunted out from #RailBhawan to #SERailway, Kolkata the very next day. When his Boss, then #MTRS, Rahul Jain defended his ED, he was sent on long forced leave.

So question, which a retired #GM asked why are officer’s of #MRCell getting involved in technical decisions? If #EDPG is so keen to do technical work, why should he not be posted to #RDSO/Lucknow? Are such plans not indicating #political influence on #technical matters? Would technical officers who are substantially younger than EDPG to MR not get influenced or not have courage to express their opinion?

#Minister sahab should see how his #credibility is being undermined!

It is now learnt that the Ministry of Railways is organising to depute senior level delegation to some of the developed railways overseas to identify and select a #fastening_system alongwith to study the #Track_maintenance system.

The delegation is being headed by Mr #VikasJain ED(PG), who is working as an assistant and associate to the #RailMinister. Ministry of Railways have planned 3 different group of officers visiting different European countries for assessing the track systems in the advanced railways systems.

It is understood that Mr #VikasJain shall be heading all the 3 groups, with a pre-decided agenda to identify and recommend a particular type of fastening system.

From the public appearances of the Railway Minister and senior personnels from the Railways it would appear that the decision on the #fastening system is being personally monitored at the highest level in #IndianRailways.

The #MemberInfra area at present is not from #CivilEngineering department and thus is not being involved. It is no guess that the shots are being called at the behest of the highest authorities through #EDPG without any cognisance to the factual local ground condition and technical considerations for track.