Organizational restructuring of Indian Railways approved by the Central Cabinet

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Existing 8 group ‘A’ services of Railway now become a single Central Service called “Indian Railway Management Service”

Central Government has approved a transformational organizational restructuring of the Indian Railways, said in a press release issued by the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) today.Unification of the existing eight group ‘A’ services of the Indian Railways into a single central service called ‘Indian Railways Management Service’ (IRMS).

Unification of the services will end ‘departmentalism’, promote smooth working and functioning of Railways, expedite decision making, create a coherent vision for organization and promote rational decision making.

Railway Board will no longer be organized on departmental line, and replaced with a leaner structure organized on functional lines.

Railway Board to be headed by Chairman, Railway Board (CRB) who will be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with 4 Members and also some independent Members.

Unification of the Railway services has been recommended by various committees for reforming Railways.

Reforms undertaken with overwhelming support and consensus of Railway Officers, at a two-day “Parivartan-Sangoshthi” held on 7th & 8th December, 2019 in New Delhi.

The modalities and unification of the Railway services will be worked out in consultation with DoPT and the support of Alternate Mechanism appointed by Cabinet in order to ensure fairness and transparency.

Government today approved a transformational organizational restructuring of the Indian Railways. The historical reforms will go a long way in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making Indian Railways the growth engine of India’s Vikas-Yatra.

Opinions:

“This is going to be a disaster and will cause utter confusion and bring in more inefficiency and IAS type culture of more bureaucracy. Railways is a special subject like Army and needs to be managed as such”, said S. S. Khurana, retired Chairman, Railway Board..

“It is like merging the Corps of Engineers, EME, Signals, Artillery and Infantry just because somebody does not like departmentalisation. Departments are like specialists in Medical profession or in ISRO etc.”, Mr Khurana said.

“Very bad decision taken by the govt, said retired Member Engineering S. K. Vij. He say, Technical nature of Railways not understood by the Minister. Yes, reduction in number of cadres and departmentalism killing, is called for, but turf holding has its useful role too. IAS induction as CEO in addition will surely destroy Railways faster. Try to save Railways by resisting it even now”, he said in a sad manner.

“The complete fabric of Indian Railways will change. Departments like Traffic, Personnel and Accounts will get doomed”, said retired Member Electrical, Railway Board Ashwini Kapoor.

“This will be a worst decision.. Railways is highly technical department, non engineers can not do technical job and will destroy core strength of Indian Railways. Correct decision will be to abolish non technical recruitment and let technical people manned technical posts also. This way core strength will be stregthened. Railway is finished by non technical and non professional people like Personnel and Accounts who has no stake but obstruct every decision”, given this opinion by a retired HOD of Engineering department R. P. Saxena.

“Is not it implementation of Vivek Debrai committee’s recommendation? If so, RPF, Medical and Schools will be merged under Home, Health and HRD ministry. Further, from a reliable sources, it could come to know that Govt is going to merge both RPF and RPSF and run under DRM and GM, it confirms Debrai’s recommendations”, said a RPF inspector.

“It will be a catastrophe to Railways. I think sooner or later Railway will follow the route of BSNL. But, what the existing Unions are doing? They are also playing dubious role and indirectly helping Govt to go with their subversive agendas”, this opinion given by a Inspector of RPF..

In the letter issued by Ministry, not a single line is mentioned on security or RPF. Moreover, Government has clearly mentioned about the implementation of Rakesh Mohan and Bibek Debroy Committee’s recommendations who in their reports suggested for deleting security department from Railways and its merger under MHA. So, time has come out for giving Golden check to Railways. We are going through our ‘achchedin’, he said..

But a big question arise here that How the Railway officers/Employees/and recognized Unions are taking these changes??

Three Months extension to the CRB!

As per reliable sources, CRB file for three months extension sent to PMO. Interview of 3 IAS officers carried out to appoint CEO as per above by March 2020. Two IAS officers of 1988 batch and one of 1987 batch officer interviewed as yet.