Opportunities are Aplenty

What is unique about the Indian Railways network? What are the different services under the Railways?

The unique features are:

International links with Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. IR is the largest employer with more than 14 lakh employees. It carries 1.4 crore passengers and 16 lakh tonnes of goods every day. It has 7000 stations to manage train movement. It is the lifeline of the nation's economy and livelihood. It is one of the largest railway systems in the world under a single management. It is five times more energy-efficient and four times more efficient in land use vis-à-vis other transport service providers. Net social service obligation borne by IR in 2006-07 is assessed at R3,739.62 crore.

The different services are:

a) Civil Services - Indian Railway Accounts Service; Personnel Service; and Traffic Service

b) Engineering Services - Indian Railway Service of Engineers; Signal Engineers; Mechanical Engineers; Electrical Engineers; Stores Service

c) Medical Services - IR Medical Service

d) Central Police Force - Railway Protection Force Service.

Are there adequate numbers of good railway officers in the country?

IR has a reasonable number of officers. However, to face the challenges ahead, it needs to create a corporate environment by creating positions for qualified architects and chartered accountants and develop executive environment by creating more positions at the lower managerial level, which will turn the Railways from being a highly hierarchical organisation to a flat one.

What are the kind of work opportunities a Railway officer gets?

Railway officers are finding many opportunities in Government of India assignments, public and private enterprises, especially committed to the areas of transport, infrastructure, logistics and communication. The fact is that the challenges Railways provides its officers will enable them to take any demanding assignments in corporate areas. Many officers, over the years, have migrated to infrastructure and logistics sectors and have also taken up roles in consultancy and advisory firms.

What are the challenges before the profession?

Railways has faced many operational and infrastructural challenges. The reputation of Railways as a ‘safe service' has recently been partially tarnished. The accidents have taken place due to technology, infrastructural and human failures. Railways need to work on modernisation, manpower upgradation, automation, augmentation of the freight operation information system (FOIS), adaptation of ERP solutions, and focus on core areas and promote public-private partnership.

 

Author: Pranab Ghosh (HT Horizons)

Date: 7th October, 2010

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