Ministry prepares schedule for Railway Officers to travel like Ordinary Passengers – in Gen./Second Class Coaches

Ministry prepares schedule for Railway Officers to travel like Ordinary Passengers – in Gen./Second Class Coaches

Suresh Prabhu asked the Railway Board Members to make weekly visits to various Railway Zones and see the conditions in which the Railway Officers are working in the field. They have been specifically asked to shun their Luxury Saloons that they generally use to travel and go in the second/general class compartments

New Delhi: Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has planned to observe the Narendra Modi-led government’s first anniversary by sending his officers out in the field.

Sensing a strong disconnect between the Railway Officers – especially the ones making Policies at Rail Bhavan – and the users of the state-run enterprise, Prabhu has asked them to move out of their airconditioned offices to see the ground situation.

The Ministry is preparing a schedule for the officers to travel all over the country like ordinary passengers – in Second Class, and sometimes have to also travel in Unreserved/General Compartments to understand the plight of the passengers as well. “They have been asked to shun their luxury saloons that they generally use to travel and go in the second class. It is only when they experience the hardships faced by common passengers that they will probably come up with better policies,” revealed a senior government official.

Prabhu’s plan is not limited to exposing officials to the plight of passengers. He has also asked the Railway Board members to make weekly visits to various zones and see the conditions in which the railway officers are working in the field.

“There are several problems that the railway officials and other staff face during operations. The running rooms for the drivers are in a very bad state. The junior staff – like trackmen, trolley men, gatemen and watchmen; all responsible for safe operations – work in extremely poor conditions,” said the official, requesting not to be named. “So the entire railway board including the Chairman will visit the Railway Zones together for inspection,” he added.