The रायता !  Part-II

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Policies which do not last even three weeks should tell us that it is time for a reset—an experiment was done, and it has failed clearly—Government should cut the losses and withdraw Office Order 58 of 2016

On July 27, we published, “The रायता !” where we brought out how OO 58 of 2016 knocked the fine balance and led to high #failure rate of #locomotives, poor #cleanliness of #stations and #coaches—all the while increasing cost of just about everything.

The #Electrical department was saddled with diesel locos with mandate to reduce diesel running under electrified lines and responsible for manufacturing and operating record number of #electric locomotives to cater for 100% electrified railway lines. While #quality of new electric locos fell as #capacity was not built before massive jump in production, with no capacity created for #maintenance, in-service locomotives also slipped on quality as evident all over #IndianRailways where AC Loco trouble is #1 Factor Affecting Train Operation (#FATO) and has dethroned signal failures.

For electrical department, to be saddled with diesel locomotives with responsibility to reduce diesel consumption and maintenance costs, led to strand by an estimate, an inventory of almost ₹50,000 crore.

Mechanical department on the other hand grabbed Vande Bharats and EMUs—they brought to naught production of non-ac coaches and MEMUs, the staple of #labharthis of the government, while several #VandeBharat kept simply stabled while those running struggle to get passengers (barring on a few routes). While busy in courting a new asset, #Mechanical department took new responsibility from #Commercial and #Medical department, and became #safaiwala.

Confusion abounding, today no one knows who is responsible for swachchhata—the PM’s number one agenda point—all this while expenditure on swachchhata ballooned.

“The रायता !” part-I was devoted to a letter issued by the #RailwayBoard on 25th July, which further clarified how Office Order 58 of 2016 will operate. This just showed why there is mess and confusion all around in working of Electrical and Mechanical departments. This letter also explains why quality of decision making has gone to pits.

OO 58 of 2016 and the letter dated 25th July can be seen here on “The रायता !”.

रायता 2.0

Additional Member Traction issued a detailed note on 31st July raising serious questions on letter of 25th July which was issued by the Joint Secretary/Railway Board. A letter by JS can only be issued if secretary, Railway Board and Chairman had approved the letter.

Now see the following:

Extract of the note of AM/Traction

The note goes on to conclude:

Concluding part of the note of AM/Traction

Perhaps alarmed at the strong language, Railway Board as it is its wont, withdrew their letter of 25th July.

Withdrawing what was subject matter of “The रायता !” we published on 27th July

Still Barking Up the Wrong Tree—Policies with a 3 Week Longevity

Root of the problem of poor decision making by Electrical and Mechanical departments in large measure gets traced to OO 58 of 2016. No matter what calisthenics #RailBhawan do, the ping-pong of #Policy reversals will continue making O&M, the very heart of railway #Safety shaky till things are brought back to age old time tested practices.

This is what IR learnt when it stopped recruitment through Engineering Services Examination (#ESE) and then was compelled to restart it—all this while losing the goodwill of young aspirants.

Policies which do not last even three weeks should tell us that it is time for a reset—an experiment was done, and it has failed clearly—#Government should cut the losses and withdraw Office Order 58 of 2016.

Electrical department should put their house in order by focusing on electric #loco and #TRD reliability, while Mechanical department should solve epidemic problems like uncoupling, jerking, parting, mechanised cleaning of coaches, stinking toilets spilling faecal matter at platform level, wagon and coach maintenance.

While diesel locomotives should be taken over by Mechanical department and keep critical skill set of diesel engines alive, they should leave station cleaning to where it belonged earlier. IR will make enormous savings.

This ill-thought of division further meant complete surrender to the #vendors. Cost of #Madhepura locomotives should teach IR that ‘perfect contract’ is a utopian concept—it survives because no one questions or can question.

Mega contracts where entire maintenance is outsourced is going to cost government dear—both politically and financially.

We again urge the Government to take a look at our articles especially “The Ask” series. One can see links of all six articles of this series here—“The Ask, Part-6: Drop the Facade of Confidentiality of CRS Reports”.