2018 changes at the divisional level cause of conflict between the Electrical and Mechanical departments. Older structure back in force
The Railway Board has decided to put a full stop on the ongoing one-upmanship between the Mechanical and Electrical departments of Indian Railways over train-sets.
In a meeting held on June 7, 2019, the Board decided to revert to the original office order issued in 2016.
In 2016, top-level restructuring was implemented in the Railway Board. Accordingly, Member – Mechanical was re-designated as Member – Rolling Stock, overseeing every activity related to carriages, wagons, and train sets such as Mainline Electrical multiple units (MEMU), Diesel-Electric Multiple units (DEMU) and Electrical Multiple Units (EMU or local trains as they are called in Mumbai).
Member-Traction, the new name for Member-Electrical, became the designated authority in charge of all locomotives – Electric, Diesel including production and maintenance of locomotives.
No changes at the divisional level were proposed in 2016. However, an office order in 2018 mooted major changes at the divisional level.
Orders issued in May 2018 proceeded to implement several changes in reporting and cadre control of staff in the Mechanical and Electrical branches between the Member – Rolling Stock and Member – Traction. This aggravated an age-old rift between the two branches.
Important Decisions
To get rid of the ongoing tussle between Electrical and Mechanical branch officers, the Railway Board has clearly outlined roles and responsibilities as follows:
- General Managers of Production Units manufacturing EMU/MEMU/Train sets will now have to involve their respective Principal Chief Electrical Engineers (PCEE) in design/procurement/specifications of all electrical subsystems including propulsion system.
- The PCEE will be responsible for all safety-related electrical equipment onboard the train.
- Train sets shall be maintained in EMU/MEMU sheds. Newly built car-sheds will be managed by Electrical branch officers.
- At the Railway Board level, the Executive Director – Electrical Engineering (General) will report to Member – Rolling Stock on matters pertaining to EMU/MEMU/Trainsets.
- Technical decisions pertaining to propulsion technology in EMU/MEMU/Trainsets will be taken by the Member – Rolling Stock in consultation with Member – Traction.
In the 2016 order, at the level of all Zonal Headquarters, the order mandated that Higher Administrative Grade(HAG) / Senior Administrative Grade officers (SAG) level officers would continue to be responsible for they did earlier.
However, their reporting structure was modified as per their responsibilities – for instance, a Chief Electrical Traction Engineer (CETE) of EMU/MEMU wing (SAG level) will now report to the Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer (HAG) level. Similarly, the Chief Motive Power Engineer (CMPE), in charge of Diesel Locomotives would report to the Principal Chief Electrical Engineer (PCEE).
Reorganisation of RDSO
In another important decision taken on 7th June 2019, the Railway Board has directed the Director-General of Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) to rationalise the organisational structure of RDSO by 5th August 2019. This will help RDSO act as a facilitator for the induction of new technology.
