Worried by accidents, Rly panel bats for more power to DRMs

New Delhi: Taking stock of the series of derailments this month, the draft report of a committee set up by Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu recommends that divisional railway managers (DRMs) be more empowered to take decisions, particularly in emergencies.

The committee, 'Making Divisions as Strategic Business Units', was constituted by Prabhu in June to finalise a process by which more financial and executive powers are delegated to DRMs so they are able to handle day-to-day operations more effectively.

It is expected to submit its final report to the minister next month, a senior official said.

A DRM heads the organisation at the division level and is primarily involved with the running of trains, customer interface and maintenance of railway assets.

According to the draft report, DRMs should be fully empowered to grant blocks -- stopping or diverting trains till work on the tracks is over -- for up to three hours.

"No questions should be asked on regulation of trains for maintenance blocks," the committee has recommended.

The three-hour time frame has been suggested, sources said, to ensure that the block does not effect running of trains on other connected divisions.

The suggestion from the committee headed by Director General, Personnel, comes days after the Kalinga Utkal Express derailment in Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh on August 19 in which 23 people were killed. The DRM of the Delhi division was among those sent on leave.

"The committee is working to enable DRMs to concentrate more on safety, customer satisfaction, transportation business, customer interface, generation of revenue, operation and maintenance of assets.

"We are also working to see that they are relieved of procedural rigmaroles," an official in the ministry said.

The committee has suggested in its draft report that full flexibility be given to DRMs to utilise their revenue grant across 'minor head' and 'primary head' within the overall spending limit given to the division.

It has also recommended that DRMs should have the power to make emergency procurements so that safety related issues are addressed quickly.

"The system of procurement through stores depot to be modified to address gap in availability of safety items in sufficient quantity, affecting reliability and safety of assets," the committee said.

New Delhi: Services of 13 railway employees were today terminated for gross negligence that led to the August 19 train derailment in which more than 20 people were killed. Among those sacked are 11 gangmen, one ironsmith and a junior engineer, the railway ministry said. All of them were workers in the Kathauli section where the accident took place when 14 coaches of the train jumped the rails. "The railways has terminated the services of 13 employees under Section 14 of the discipline and appeal rule," said Northern Railway spokesperson Neeraj Sharma. Under this section, the services of any rail staff found guilty of gross negligence can be terminated without an enquiry.