Command and control structure of discipline

Draconian order was issued without due consultation by ambitious CRB

Dual Control is the worst prescription for any organization & exists nowhere in the World

AMs committee should also consider the points given in this write-up before preparing their final report

‘Railway Samachar’ got this write-up from a source of social media related to Indian Railways’ Electrical and Mechanical department’s internal rivalry trying to get upper hand upon each other. But whoever has written this matter is very easy to understand the inter-departmental rivalry and departmentalism going on in Indian Railways from a long time. ‘Railway Samachar’ producing this matter for both department’s officers and employees with all other departments to read and see what is going on. And the four members of AMs committee constituted by Railway Board on 19th March 2019 may also consider the points given in this write-up before preparing their final report. -Editor

1. Indian Railways is a highly specialized Government organization working, on one hand as a ‘Commercial Enterprise’ and on another hand as a ‘Social Arm’ of Government, visible all across the length and breadth of Nation. Technology infusion has been the hallmark of success, as development vehicle of Nation. Therefore the number of disciplines have evolved, based on a different kind of specialization, required to manage various technologies, economically and effectively. One of the major consideration has been to Indigenise these technologies based on domain knowledge, experience, and expertise.

Mechanical and Electrical disciplines have been evolved, in last around 100 years, to deal with these specialized systems and technologies, and developing expertise, experience and domain knowledge. According…

* Member Electrical in charge of Electrical discipline evolved to deal with EMU, MEMU, Trainsets, Electric Locos, and Traction Installations. Airconditioning & Train lighting of Coaches and Static Electrical Installations, EIG functions as per law of the land.

* Member Mechanical in charge of Mechanical discipline evolved to deal with Wagon’s, Coaches, Diesel locos, DMU, Production Units of coaches and Diesel Locos, Biofuel research organization, services in trains, etc.

These disciplines have developed requisite expertise, experience and domain knowledge in the span of 100 years, to deal with these specialized systems and technologies, and to take Railways forward, as a ‘Nation’s Development Vehicle’. This approach and discipline ensured maximum asset utilization, asset performance, and indigenization.

2. Suddenly, draconian order 58 of 2016 was issued without due consultation, by ambitious CRB (1st timer from IRSS discipline, having hardly any knowledge of system) mainly to get an extension. He redesignated Member Electrical as Member Traction and Member Mechanical as Member Rolling Stock, and changed their roles and responsibilities as follows, in a most artificial manner, ignoring expertise, experience, and domain knowledge gained over 100 years. (Incidentally, this CRB was later unceremoniously removed for poor performance and this utter confusion).

This Draconian order created utter confusion and translated into ‘Failed Management Model’ considering the following facts and effects.

a. This order takes Railways to ‘Generalization’, totally ignoring specialization, expertise, experience and domain knowledge developed over 100 years, the backbone of Indian Railways. This is dooming Indian Railways and ‘Nations’ Development’. Contrary to this, Indian Railways has created two additional posts of Members, to ensure optimum utilization of Domain Knowledge and Specialization.

b. Dual Control is the worst prescription for any organization. This exists nowhere in the World. This slowly poisons the organization and ultimately leads to the death of the organization.

c. Electrical Systems i.e. EMU, MEMU, Trainsets, TL & AC of coaches were successfully introduced in Railways by Electrical Engineers. These assets were developed, maintained, operated indigenized in the past so many years by Electrical Engineers, having experience, expertise and domain knowledge. (Mechanical Engineers do not have experience, expertise and domain Knowledge of these Electric systems and technologies.)

d. Electrical Systems works on 25KV Traction Systems. EIG inspection as per ‘Electricity Act’ is to be done at every stage of production, maintenance, operation, and Indigenization, by Electrical Engineers. Electric Engineers are only qualified, as per law and have sufficient experience, expertise and domain knowledge, to effectively manage these assets and ensure public safety. In fact, as per law 25KV High Voltage installations are to be managed only by Electrical Engineers.

e. Safety particularly electric fire has been totally compromised in this draconian order, for staff on job and public at large. No system in World including Indian Railways can afford such compromises on safety norms and issues.

f. Metros, which are similar to EMU, MEMU, and Trainsets, TL & AC of Coaches, are being produced, maintained and operated by Electrical Engineers. There is no Mechanical Engineer’s, as they don’t have Expertise, Experience and Domain Knowledge.

g. Order 58 of 2016, envisaged not to disturb the field level organization in divisions and up to SAG level in Zonal Railways and similarly up to ED level in Railways Board. Contrary to these instructions, changes have been/are being made to transfer activities from Electrical to Mechanical disciplines at Divisional, Zonal and Board Level, leading to chaos in the organization, which is resulting into Sharp Deterioration of Performance and Safety. Infusions of New technologies have a sharp decline.

h. Domain knowledge, expertise, and experience gained over the years are going as waste, which no organization can afford, particularly Indian Railways.

i. These orders are in contravention to the Law of the Land, i.e, provisions of Electricity Act, Regulations, Railways Act and Codal provisions, hence violative of Law of Land. In fact, as per codal provisions all Electric assets i.e. EMU, MEMU, Trainsets, Electric Locos, TL & AC in Coaches shall be managed by Principal Chief Electrical Engineer, who is also Electrical Inspector to Govt. Of India.

j. Further, Barring IRSEE and IRSME cadres, no change in organization structure of IRSSE, IRTS, IRSE, IRAS and IRPS cadres have been done. Hence Board’s order is discriminatory and against provision enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution of India. In fact, all these disciplines including IRSEE & IRSME have been evolved in the past 100 year’s, to meet technology needs and have developed requisite expertise, experience, and Domain Knowledge. Therefore no change is warranted in responsibilities and duties.

k. Over the years, recruitment in Electrical discipline has been done keeping in view of Electrification and covering, EMU’s, MEMUs, Trainsets, and Metros, etc. systems in the country. Board’s order 58 of 2016 is going to create an imbalance in Cadre structuring and optimal utilization of staff and officers according to skill, experience, expert staff, and domain knowledge.

3. It may be appreciated that ‘Circutious Failed Management Model’ of control contained in Boards’ order 58 of 2016, is one of the most confusing prescriptions for any organization, nowhere seen or practiced in the World.

In view of above, it is suggested and recommended that Organization Structure including duties and responsibilities of Member Traction (earlier Member Electrical) and Member Rolling Stock (earlier Member Mechanical), as existed prior to draconian order 58 of 2016, should be restituted. Diesel locos a phasing out activity may continue with Member Traction and Member Rolling Stock, as;

* Diesel Loco Maintenance and operation with Member Rolling Stock.

* Diesel to Electric Loco Conversion at DMW Patiala with Member Traction.

* Electric Loco Production at DLW Varanasi with Member Traction.