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Thursday, May 14, 2015

In reality check, railway officers told to travel second class

 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. "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 zones together for inspection," he added.

Source:-The Economic Times

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