IRMS entrusted task of transformation of Railways in 21st century India
   Date :23-Sep-2020

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Staff Reporter :
 
Cutting at the roots of departmentalism that dominated the hierarchy, Indian Railways is set for major transformation with Central Government pushing in reforms wherein a corporate outlook would govern the Board henceforth. A new Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) comes into being wherein Chairman Railway Board (CRB) would don the mantle of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) while the portfolio of Members has been tweaked in line with the new vision.
 
The Apex body that would see through transformation of Indian Railways is going to have a CRB-cum-CEO at helm and to assist him in running the lifeline of the nation in top echelons would be four Members, Infrastructure, Traction, Operations and Business Development and lastly Finance. In the new set-up Member (Finance) is a new addition while in the previous set-up the post was held by Adviser in Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) level officer. Within the new set-up the cadre controlling authorities (CCA) assignments were realigned to integrate two or more railway services under one umbrella. Member Infrastructure is allocated cadres of Indian Railway Service of Engineers and Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers. While Engineering service officers overlook tracks and construction works, Signal service officers are now going to play a major role as technology is going to dominate future operations.
 
So integration of two within one Infrastructure would allow liberty of cross movement between two services. The Member (Operations and Business Development) would look after Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) that runs train operations. The addition of business development means integration of marketing with operations to provide smooth functioning. Business development now envelops a major category as Railways look to carve out new models to generate revenue. The Member Traction (Rolling Stock) is going to look after Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME), Indian Railway Stores Service and from October 1 also Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers.
 
The three services integration is aimed at ironing out cross rivalry as stores and Mechanical are important part of maintenance wings and addition of Electrical subsumes over head equipment (OHE), maintenance sheds and other electrical wings. Member (Finance) is going to oversee Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) cadre functioning as Accounts and Audit section that was earlier with the Financial Commissioner. CRB alias CEO is going to be assisted by Director General, Indian Railway Health Service (IRHS); DG (Human Resource); and DG (Indian Railway Protection Force Service (IRPSF), to supervise hospital and medical cadre, personnel officer cadre and that of RPF cadre.
 
The redesigning of apex body is aimed at bringing in cohesion in working and ending departmentalization that was the hallmark of earlier rigorous differentiation that is seen as a major stumbling block in holding back modern practices in administration. The clubbing of various cadres under one Member would further streamline administrative processes down the line as in future the Board might have to integrate various branches for efficient delivery mechanism, said the old timers in the organisation. Further the reorganization basically categorises all railway services in three broad categories, Technical, Non Technical and Marketing leaving no room for any confusion at ground level or in delivery of services as aimed by the Government.