Despite an organizational strength of over 12 lakh employees, Indian Railways seems to be having trouble promoting employees to top posts in its hierarchy.
Important posts are currently vacant in several parts of the organization. Two vital Board Member roles in the IR’s top management body, the Railway Board, are vacant for between one and two months. It is unclear what is holding up fresh appointments to these positions.
Railway Board Vacancies
| Post | Vacant Since |
| Member – Traction & Rolling Stock | 1st February 2021 |
| Member – Infrastructure | 1st March 2021 |
| Will Fall Vacant From | |
| Member – Operations & Business Development | 1st May 2021 |
The Member – Traction &Rolling Stock position remains vacant since 1st February 2021. The Member – T&RS is responsible for IR’s locomotive, coach and wagon fleets, production units like CLW, BLW, RCF, ICF and maintenance sheds and workshops. This role is being looked after temporarily by Member – Operations & Business Development P S Mishra.
However, P S Mishra, the Member – Operations & Business Development, himself is set to retire on 30th April 2021. This will leave yet another post vacant starting 1st May 2021.
Member – Infrastructure is another critical post lying vacant since 1st March 2021. despite the government and Indian Railways’ push for completion of a number of capacity expansion, speed and safety upgrade projects. These are issues that fall under the domain of the Member – Infra role.
The responsibilities of these posts are then shifted to their subordinates and supervised by someone with the same rank but looking after another role.
General Manager Vacancies
A similar situation also exists at the zonal level, with several vital General Manager positions being vacant for quite some time.
The role of General Manager, Eastern Railway, has remained open since the incumbent, Suneet Sharma, was promoted to take over as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Railway Board on 1st January 2021. The role is being looked after for now by Manoj Joshi, the General Manager for Kolkata Metro.
Integral Coach Factory, Chennai has also functioned without a full-time General Manager since 22nd February 2021 after incumbent Rahul Jain was posted to the Railway Board as Director General – Safety. GM, ICF’s role now is being looked after by the General Manager for Southern Railway, John Thomas.
| Post | Vacant Since |
| GM, Eastern Railway | 1st January 2021 |
| GM, North Central Railway | 1st January 2021 |
| GM, Integral Coach Factory | 22nd February 2021 |
| Will be vacant from | |
| GM, South Western Railway | 1st April 2021 |
| GM, South East Central Railway | June 2021 |
| GM, East Central Railway | June 2021 |
| GM, West Central Railway | September 2021 |
North Central Railway, headquartered at Allahabad, has also been coasting without a full-time General Manager since 1st January 2021 after incumbent Rajiv Chaudhary retired. Vinay Tripathi, General Manager for North Eastern Railway. is looking after the responsibilities for GM, NCR.
The General Manager of South Western Railway, Ajay Kumar Singh, is set to say his farewell to the zone today by end of day. No replacement has been announced yet.
Such instances have become all too common in the recent past. Fresh appointments to General Manager positions have taken months after the incumbent has left the position. With retirement dates of incumbents known well in advance, shortlisting contenders is unlikely to be the hurdle for the Railway Ministry and the Board.
However, not having full-time personnel manning these posts could slow the organization down at a point when it is trying hard to achieve top speeds.
I had written earlier also, but no action appears to have been taken, or at least the future course of action is not indicated.
Sardar Patel, our first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister did wonders in restoring the Dignity and respect for a new nation. He gave freedom and support whenever needed and the people at higher Administrative ladder did wonders as seen from the books.
We have erected huge statue to remember Patel, but we have to act on the path set by him.
Even Gandhiji encouraged “Healthy Public Opinion” before Independence, which was even admired by the foreigners.
May God save the country by motivating people for the right action. It is said and as per scriptures, “Right is might, not Might is right”.
DGRHS post is also lying vàcant
Railways is a life line of the country. By making it a department of the Government its role is relegated and the responsibilities are diluted which will tell upon the performance in due course.
At least it’s earlier position should be restored and responsibilities clearly identified.