Organizational Restructuring of Indian Railways: A Comprehensive Insight

Indian Railways, a vast network comprising a multi-gauge and multi-traction system, runs approximately 11,000 trains every day, with 7,000 being passenger trains. This extensive railway network is administered through a system that has undergone several changes over the years. Understanding the current setup and planned restructuring is crucial for better management and efficiency.

CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

As of 2023, the Railway Board, established in 1922, has undergone significant changes. The Chief Commissioner position was abolished in April 1951, and now the senior-most functional member is appointed as the Chairman of the Board. Here are the current key positions and members:

Chairman Railway Board: Ashwani Lohani Member Traction: Ghan Shyam Singh Member Engineering: M.K. Gupta Member Traffic: Mohd. Jamshed Director General ST (Subordinate Transport): Akhil Agrawal Director General RHS (Rights of Way and Heritage): Dr. Anil Kumar Director General RPF (Rail Protection Force): Dharmendra Kumar Member Staff: D.K. Gayen Member Rolling Stock: Ravindra Gupta Financial Commissioner: A.K. Prasad Director General Personnel: Anand Mathur Director General RS (Research and Standardization): A.K. Goel

PLANNED ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURING

Recent plans for restructuring the Indian Railways aim to enhance efficiency, improve decision-making processes, and integrate various services under a unified command. Specific changes include the merger and reorganization of several central civil and engineering services. Here are the key points:

CADRE MERGER

A significant part of the restructuring plan focuses on merging 8 Central Civil and Engineering Services into a new Central Civil Service called the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS). This merger aims to streamline the organizational structure and eliminate deep-rooted departmentalism.

The Railway Board, currently consisting of 8 Board Members, plans to reduce the board size to 5 Full-Time Board Members. This reduction highlights the intent to create a more efficient decision-making body. The process of reducing the board and merging cadres reflects the ongoing efforts to modernize the Indian railway system.

EXPANDED RAILWAY BOARD

Currently, the Railway Board handles investment proposal sanctions in an expanded form. This expanded board includes the Secretary of the Planning Commission and the Secretary of the Expenditure. However, the proposed changes include the induction of independent members with relevant expertise. These members will be nominated by the government, which could potentially increase the board's strength and expertise.

GLOBAL INSIGHT: FRENCH ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM

To provide a comparative perspective, the French administrative system can offer valuable insights. In France, cadres are merged from a very early stage, right after secondary education. The French system aims to create a unified administrative and technical cadre, similar to what is proposed for Indian Railways. The system begins with the Baccalaureate (Class 12) and continues through specialized preparatory classes leading to entrance exams for prestigious higher education institutions.

These institutions, known as Grande écoles, provide a rigorous education, culminating in a postgraduate degree in engineering. Graduates of these institutions are integrated into the civil and military service. The entire system is merit-based, with education being free up to the master’s level, and only merit matters.

CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

While the French system offers a comprehensive model for administrative and technical cadres, the Indian system faces unique challenges. The merger of Indian Railway cadres into the IRMS requires overcoming the existing silos and departmental attitudes. Although the central objective of increased efficiency and better decision-making is clear, there are concerns about whether the new structure will effectively integrate the talents from various specializations.

Furthermore, the success of this restructuring will depend on the ability of the system to break down long-standing departmental boundaries and foster a collaborative and innovation-driven environment. The judiciary and the general public will closely watch the progress and outcome of these changes.

For more detailed information and up-to-date news regarding the organizational restructuring of Indian Railways, one can refer to the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB).