Railway Board Members redesignated

Press Trust of India | New Delhi August 4, 2016 

In a major restructuring, the railways today changed the designation of Board Member (Mechanical) and Member (Electrical) while redesignating them as Member (Rolling Stock) and Member (Traction), respectively. 

Besides, the responsibilities of both the Members were also modified with redistribution of work as part of the reform measures being undertaken by the railways to end the "turf war" between them and bring a transformation in the national transporter.

Railway Member (Mechanical) Hemant Kumar is now Member (Rolling Stock) and Member (Electrical) A K Kapoor has become Member (Traction), according to a railway notification. 

Railway Board Member (Engineering) is likely to become Member (Infrastructure) in the next round of restructuring process. 

Railway Board has been restructured on functional lines with a view to making working smooth and seamless, a senior Railway Ministry official said, adding, "There were some overlapping areas which were creating hindrance and causing turf war among various directorates." 

In a major shift in allocation, Member (Traction) will have now responsibility of all locomotives -- diesel and electric, while Member (Rolling Stock) will be responsible for all coaches, including Trainsets and electrical maintenance of entire coaching stock. 

Member (Traction) has been given fuel management, including all forms of conventional and non-conventional energy generation. 

Redistribution and change in designation have been done as part of the proposed restructuring of Railway Board to ensure smooth functioning of the railways. 

Officers of the relevant directorates in the Board will continue to discharge their responsibilities but their administrative control as per modified areas of responsibility 

Will be placed under Member (Rolling Stock) or Member (Traction) accordingly, said a senior ministry official. 

However, there will be no change at divisional levels. 

As part of the ongoing restructure, the railways will appoint an Advisor from outside for resource mobilisation and development. 

Also, a post of Director General for signalling and telecommunication wing will also be created. 

At present, Railways has Director General-rank officers in RPF and health service.