NEW DELHI: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi pulled up railways for slow progress of work like gauge conversion and doubling, Ministry of Railways has now provided monthly targets to all 17 zonal railways and have asked them to shun away from tendency of keeping most of the works for the last quarter.
In a letter to General Managers of all zones, Railway Board Chairman A K Mital said that Railways have set very tough targets for commissioning of new lines, gauge conversion and doubling projects in line with the budget announcements in the Rail Budget 2016-17.
He pointed out that the practice of keeping work till last quarter effects the achievement of targets and this should be avoided keeping in mind the targets set.
The idea behind providing monthly targets is to fix accountability of GMs and ensure that targets are met. Railway in January this year allowed decentralisation of tendering and now GMs have power to decide on tenders.
“The tendency to keep most of the words for the last quarter must be avoided. All zonal railways must set up a system through which the process of finalisation and other inputs required to achieve the targets are reviewed and monitored at the level of AGM,” Mital said in his letter dates June 22.
The Chairman Railway Board (CRB) has asked all GM to intervene if problem are brought to their notice.
“You must also set up a system for periodical monitoring at your level. I shall like to be apprised of the progress achieved,” said the letter.
CRB said that works directorate has already worked out detailed month-wise plans after consultation with all zonal railways and RVNL.
“Needless to say, timeless commissioning of these projects calls for meticulous planning in respect of preparatory works like approval of plans, arrangements of material, fixing of executing agencies, creation of posts for maintenance of new assets, fixing of tentative dates for CRS (Commissioner Railways Safety) inspection,” he said.
CRB said that timelines of these activities have to be so prepared in advance that the final outcome of commissioning of the projects for traffic is accomplished within the deadline.
On the lines of the global corporate objectives, Railways has prepared a list of 18 performance indicators under five subheads -- operational and financial performance, capacity enhancement, capacity utilisation, asset reliability and manpower.
All zones will be asked to furnish details of increase in overall revenues compared to last year, originating passenger traffic and freight and non fare revenue among others.