CHENNAI: AS part of the efforts to ensure passenger safety, the railways has given more financial powers to General Managers’ and Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs) across the country so that they can allocate funds for safety-related works rather than seek the concurrence from the railway board for the work.
The order issued by Jeetendra Singh, Executive Director (Electrical) Transformation Cell of Railway Board a week ago, will give a major push to safety on railway tracks as the financial and administrative powers of zonal General Managers to carry out the out-of-turn works have been increased from Rs 12 crore to Rs 50 crore a year.
“Of the Rs 50 crore, Rs 25 crore must be spent on safety-related works, including track maintenance, strengthening of tracks and replacement of tracks. Earlier, the limit was Rs 12 crore a year, out of which only Rs seven crore can be spent on safety-related works,” said railway sources.
Empowerment of DRMs to improve passenger amenities at stations has been increased to Rs 2.5 crore per case from Rs one crore. In addition to this, DRMs and Chief Workshop Manager of ICF, RCF and other units can engage retired railway staff.
The Indian railway network is administrated by 17 Zones with 68 DRMs across the country. Besides, the order also enhances powers for repair of track machines to field level officers. They can hire vehicles upto Rs 5,000 per case to reach the spot in case of emergency or accidents.
Sources said apart from safety works, financial and administrative powers of General Manager and DRMs have been increased with respect to tendering process, station development, providing passenger amenities, maintaining hospitals and schools, regular maintenance works and employees medical benefits,” said sources.
Earlier, even for opening an additional unreserved ticket counter at small stations or allotting a space for new ticket booking counter at non rail head stations required approval from zonal railway General Manager. “Now such decisions can be taken by the DRM himself, in concurrence with finance ministry. In addition, DRM will be a competent authority to sanction the development works at stations executed through corporate social responsibility (CSR) by private and public sector companies. Such works no longer require headquarters or railway board approval, explained a railway official.