Railways come under flak over creation of new zones
The Railway Ministry did not adhere to criteria laid down by experts in creating new zones and divisions whose performance leaves much to be desired, a parliamentary standing committee has observed.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: The Railway Ministry did not adhere to criteria laid down by experts in creating new zones and divisions whose performance leaves much to be desired, a parliamentary standing committee has observed.
Though seven new zones were created with the objective of improving the efficiency of the system, no specific review has been undertaken by the railways to assess as to what extent the intended objective has been achieved, the standing committee on Railways Ministry said in its latest report.
Even the zonal officers have not been appointed even after four years after the creation of new zones, it said.
The committee has observed that the performance of most of the new zones in execution of new line projects, route electrification and gauge conversion leaves much to be desired.
Another startling fact observed in two new zones is that no route electrification appears to have been done in North Western Railway though it had total 5453 km route while in South Western Railway just 157 km have been electrified as against its 3111-km of total route.
It has also noted that though improvement in operating ratio is cited as an indication of efficiency improvement in the railway zones from 2003 to 2006, it does not depict the correct picture.
"Part of the improvement is stated to be on account of changes made in the accounting system," the committee observed.
Though seven new zones were created with the objective of improving the efficiency of the system, no specific review has been undertaken by the railways to assess as to what extent the intended objective has been achieved, the standing committee on Railways Ministry said in its latest report.
Even the zonal officers have not been appointed even after four years after the creation of new zones, it said.
The committee has observed that the performance of most of the new zones in execution of new line projects, route electrification and gauge conversion leaves much to be desired.
Another startling fact observed in two new zones is that no route electrification appears to have been done in North Western Railway though it had total 5453 km route while in South Western Railway just 157 km have been electrified as against its 3111-km of total route.
It has also noted that though improvement in operating ratio is cited as an indication of efficiency improvement in the railway zones from 2003 to 2006, it does not depict the correct picture.
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"Part of the improvement is stated to be on account of changes made in the accounting system," the committee observed.
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