Railways fast-tracks process to fill 10 general managers' posts

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to bring in administrative efficiency, the railways has expedited the appointment process for top level posts to fill up 10 vacancies of general managers (GMs) of zonal railways and 50 divisional railway managers (DRMs) in 2015.
The top level appointments in railways were mired in controversy in recent past due to alleged fixing for getting plum assignments, highlighted by the arrest of then railway board member Mahesh Kumar by CBI and delay in filling large number of vacancies.

Soon after taking over, railway minister Suresh Prabhu put in place a transparent mechanism to fill in key posts such as DRM, GM, and railway board members, said a senior official.

In the beginning of the year, in a rare exercise, railways made a record 11 appointments including chairman of railway board and eight gener al managers in a day and the selection was made on the basis of criteria of efficiency and probity , said the official.

The move was to send a positive signal as there is realisation among those at the helm in railways that these posts are cutting edge positions in the transporter and vacancies at these levels are considered as not a good sign and adversely impact administrative efficiency .

Aprivate consultancy firm Deloitte was also entrusted with the task of assessing the staff strength of the transporter and to understand whether the railways requires any reduction in its workforce.

The firm is reviewing number of people required in gazetted-level services. About 18,000 gazetted officers are serving in categories ' A' and 'B' jobs.