Task Force to give suggestions to improve productivity in Railway Operations, manufacturing and other departments on Indian Railways -reg.
Railway Board,
New Delhi
Dear Sir.
Sub: Task Force to give suggestions to improve productivity in Railway Operations, manufacturing and other departments on Indian Railways -reg.
Ref: Railway Board's letter No. 2014/INFRA/TF/IPRO dated 24/12/2014 and 31/12/2014.
We convey our suggestions vide Annexure to this letter to enable the Task Force to give serious consideration.
DA/As above
Copy forwarded to the Executive Director/IR, Railway Board, New Delhi for information and necessary action.
Copy to the General Secretaries of Affiliated Unions of NFIR.
Media Centre/NFIR
Copy to File No. IV/NFIR/SR/2014/HLRRC.
Copy to File No. IV/NFIR/FDI/IR.
1.1 Special priority should be given for ensuring “throughput” so as to avoid detention to trains, thereby path on Railway tracks will be available for running additional services and at the same time rolling stock could be utilized to optimum level and equally expenditure on fuel can be brought down considerably.
1.2 Almost all passenger carrying trains are presently kept at signals due to non- availability of platforms. Additional platforms should be constructed or new terminals be opened for prompt reception and despatch of trains. Presently due to detention at signals, image of Railways is adversely affected and equally man hours and engine hours are wasted. These are required to be addressed.
1.3 Unnecessary movement of empty wagons be avoided and at the same time empties be supplied promptly for meeting the demands. At present on some Zones, empty wagons are run for hundreds of kilometres for the purpose of loading. A thorough review is needed.
1.4 The existing wagon capacity should be utilised for loading at least up to the extant of 80% against present “loaded to total of 65%”.
1.5 The Zonal Railways which have potential to increase the freight loading, should be provided the required assistance.
1.6 A thorough study needs to be done with regard to Zonal Railways where Operating Ratio is poor and steps taken for improving the efficiency levels.
2. Stores
2.1 Supply of raw materials/spare parts should be ensured in order to prevent cannibalization.
2.2 Quality material, spare parts should procured for quality performance of assets instead of resorting to lowest tender system.
2.3 Procurement of machinery and assets may be resorted to only when the same are really required for the system.
3. Civil Engineering Works
3.1 Priority should be given for doubling and laying of third and fourth lines wherever the Tracks are over saturated. There is no need to have “Bullet Train” as such a project would cost heavily to the Nation and the Railways.
3.2 The funds allotted for construction of new lines may be frozen and study be conducted to assess whether such lines are really required at this juncture.
4. Human Resources Development
4.1 The employees belonging to safety categories (Running etc.,) are to be utilized for the duties of the post they are expected to perform, instead of posting them for performing other miscellaneous duties.
4.2 For maintenance of new services/assets, new posts should be created without delay and without insisting on matching surrender. Whenever new services are introduced, the required number of posts should be created simultaneously for manning these services.
4.3 Staff belonging to Safety and Operational categories should be imparted periodical training/refresher courses for upgrading their skills in the areas of working.
4.4 Adequate resting and Running Room facilities should be ensured for availing adequate rest by the staff so that they could take up duties without wastage of man hours. Outstation detention be minimised so that staff can reach back their Head Quarters, avail rest and get ready for working.
4.5 Disciplined, work oriented and dedicated staff & supervisors should be motivated in the form of incentive for achieving good results.
4.6 Management-staff relations should be ensured through frequent interactions/meetings, sharing each others concern/view points with the aim of building oneness at all levels for achieving extraordinary results.
4.7 Working of RRBs should be reviewed for ensuring that panels are made available for promptly filling vacancies in Running and Safety categories. A mechanism should be evolved for ensuring that these vacancies are filled up atleast within seven days of their occurrence.
4.8 Pursuant to the inputs given by the NFIR to the Railway Board regarding scrapping of New Pension Scheme in Railways, a d.o. letter on 29th March 2014 was sent by the former Railway Minister to the Union Finance Minister seeking exemption of railway employees from the purview of New Pension Scheme and to cover them under Liberalized Pension Scheme. This needs to be pursued further for securing approval. The decision on this would encourage new entrants to work for the system with greater commitment.
4.9 The existing system of obtaining Railway Board’s approval relating to certain staff issues needs to be reviewed for delegating powers to the GMs/DRMs.
5. Medical
5.1 Powers for recognition of Referral Hospitals for referring the cases for specialised medical treatment may be delegated to the GMs of Zones/PUs.
5.2 Contracterization of cleanliness activities in trains and station premises has failed as complaints from rail passengers continue. Earlier CMEs/CMDs were managing these activities with the support of departmental staff. Thorough review of the existing policy is required to be done on priority. Reports also reveal that there are instances of Contractors giving work to sub-contractors and workers deserting the work resulting departmental staff thrusted this additional burden. These are required to be addressed.
5.3 Dual control of Health Inspectors between Medical and Commercial Departments has been a failure.
There is strong justification to create new Department/structure with the nomenclature Public Health Department from the existing strength with proper hierarchy at divisional, Zonal and Railway Board’s levels to oversee and ensure cleanliness and also to fulfil the obligations of Food Safety Act, since adopted by the Railway Ministry.
6. Catering in Railways
Travelling public have been bitterly complaining against the Railways on supply of sub-standard food items by the contractors.
The Departmental Catering should be strengthened and the catering staff (formerly in Railways) presently working under IRCTC should be posted back to the Railways.
7. Bed rolls supply and AC staff escorting trains At first place, the activities of bed rolls supply and AC Staff escorting trains should not have been entrusted to private vendors and the jobs should have been retained with the department as outsourcing these activities is leading to lack of security of travelling public and is giving scope to anti-social elements, unauthorised hawkers to entrain the coaches and helpless Ticket Checking Staff have not been able to control mainly due to unbearable workload being handled by them.
8. Miscellaneous
8.1 The existing defective policies in respect of ticket fare needs to be reviewed. For example a platform ticket costs Rs. 5/- whereas minimum fare for a journey of 20 km has been fixed at Rs. 2/-.
8.2 The Railway projects where the expected rate of return is less than 23% may be shelved in the interest of Railways.
NFIR
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEWDELHT- 110055
Affiliated to :
lndian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
lntemational Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)
National Federation of Indian Railwaymen
3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEWDELHT- 110055
Affiliated to :
lndian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
lntemational Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)
No. IV/NFIR/HLC/FINANCIAL HEALTH/IR
Dated: 05/01/2015
The Secretary (E),Dated: 05/01/2015
Railway Board,
New Delhi
kind attention: Shri Vijay Kumar, EDME(INFRA).
Dear Sir.
Sub: Task Force to give suggestions to improve productivity in Railway Operations, manufacturing and other departments on Indian Railways -reg.
Ref: Railway Board's letter No. 2014/INFRA/TF/IPRO dated 24/12/2014 and 31/12/2014.
We convey our suggestions vide Annexure to this letter to enable the Task Force to give serious consideration.
Yours faithfully,
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary
(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary
DA/As above
Copy forwarded to the Executive Director/IR, Railway Board, New Delhi for information and necessary action.
Copy to the General Secretaries of Affiliated Unions of NFIR.
Media Centre/NFIR
Copy to File No. IV/NFIR/SR/2014/HLRRC.
Copy to File No. IV/NFIR/FDI/IR.
“Annexure”
1. Railway Operations1.1 Special priority should be given for ensuring “throughput” so as to avoid detention to trains, thereby path on Railway tracks will be available for running additional services and at the same time rolling stock could be utilized to optimum level and equally expenditure on fuel can be brought down considerably.
1.2 Almost all passenger carrying trains are presently kept at signals due to non- availability of platforms. Additional platforms should be constructed or new terminals be opened for prompt reception and despatch of trains. Presently due to detention at signals, image of Railways is adversely affected and equally man hours and engine hours are wasted. These are required to be addressed.
1.3 Unnecessary movement of empty wagons be avoided and at the same time empties be supplied promptly for meeting the demands. At present on some Zones, empty wagons are run for hundreds of kilometres for the purpose of loading. A thorough review is needed.
1.4 The existing wagon capacity should be utilised for loading at least up to the extant of 80% against present “loaded to total of 65%”.
1.5 The Zonal Railways which have potential to increase the freight loading, should be provided the required assistance.
1.6 A thorough study needs to be done with regard to Zonal Railways where Operating Ratio is poor and steps taken for improving the efficiency levels.
2. Stores
2.1 Supply of raw materials/spare parts should be ensured in order to prevent cannibalization.
2.2 Quality material, spare parts should procured for quality performance of assets instead of resorting to lowest tender system.
2.3 Procurement of machinery and assets may be resorted to only when the same are really required for the system.
3. Civil Engineering Works
3.1 Priority should be given for doubling and laying of third and fourth lines wherever the Tracks are over saturated. There is no need to have “Bullet Train” as such a project would cost heavily to the Nation and the Railways.
3.2 The funds allotted for construction of new lines may be frozen and study be conducted to assess whether such lines are really required at this juncture.
4. Human Resources Development
4.1 The employees belonging to safety categories (Running etc.,) are to be utilized for the duties of the post they are expected to perform, instead of posting them for performing other miscellaneous duties.
4.2 For maintenance of new services/assets, new posts should be created without delay and without insisting on matching surrender. Whenever new services are introduced, the required number of posts should be created simultaneously for manning these services.
4.3 Staff belonging to Safety and Operational categories should be imparted periodical training/refresher courses for upgrading their skills in the areas of working.
4.4 Adequate resting and Running Room facilities should be ensured for availing adequate rest by the staff so that they could take up duties without wastage of man hours. Outstation detention be minimised so that staff can reach back their Head Quarters, avail rest and get ready for working.
4.5 Disciplined, work oriented and dedicated staff & supervisors should be motivated in the form of incentive for achieving good results.
4.6 Management-staff relations should be ensured through frequent interactions/meetings, sharing each others concern/view points with the aim of building oneness at all levels for achieving extraordinary results.
4.7 Working of RRBs should be reviewed for ensuring that panels are made available for promptly filling vacancies in Running and Safety categories. A mechanism should be evolved for ensuring that these vacancies are filled up atleast within seven days of their occurrence.
4.8 Pursuant to the inputs given by the NFIR to the Railway Board regarding scrapping of New Pension Scheme in Railways, a d.o. letter on 29th March 2014 was sent by the former Railway Minister to the Union Finance Minister seeking exemption of railway employees from the purview of New Pension Scheme and to cover them under Liberalized Pension Scheme. This needs to be pursued further for securing approval. The decision on this would encourage new entrants to work for the system with greater commitment.
4.9 The existing system of obtaining Railway Board’s approval relating to certain staff issues needs to be reviewed for delegating powers to the GMs/DRMs.
5. Medical
5.1 Powers for recognition of Referral Hospitals for referring the cases for specialised medical treatment may be delegated to the GMs of Zones/PUs.
5.2 Contracterization of cleanliness activities in trains and station premises has failed as complaints from rail passengers continue. Earlier CMEs/CMDs were managing these activities with the support of departmental staff. Thorough review of the existing policy is required to be done on priority. Reports also reveal that there are instances of Contractors giving work to sub-contractors and workers deserting the work resulting departmental staff thrusted this additional burden. These are required to be addressed.
5.3 Dual control of Health Inspectors between Medical and Commercial Departments has been a failure.
There is strong justification to create new Department/structure with the nomenclature Public Health Department from the existing strength with proper hierarchy at divisional, Zonal and Railway Board’s levels to oversee and ensure cleanliness and also to fulfil the obligations of Food Safety Act, since adopted by the Railway Ministry.
6. Catering in Railways
Travelling public have been bitterly complaining against the Railways on supply of sub-standard food items by the contractors.
The Departmental Catering should be strengthened and the catering staff (formerly in Railways) presently working under IRCTC should be posted back to the Railways.
7. Bed rolls supply and AC staff escorting trains At first place, the activities of bed rolls supply and AC Staff escorting trains should not have been entrusted to private vendors and the jobs should have been retained with the department as outsourcing these activities is leading to lack of security of travelling public and is giving scope to anti-social elements, unauthorised hawkers to entrain the coaches and helpless Ticket Checking Staff have not been able to control mainly due to unbearable workload being handled by them.
8. Miscellaneous
8.1 The existing defective policies in respect of ticket fare needs to be reviewed. For example a platform ticket costs Rs. 5/- whereas minimum fare for a journey of 20 km has been fixed at Rs. 2/-.
8.2 The Railway projects where the expected rate of return is less than 23% may be shelved in the interest of Railways.
