Top Indian Railway officers who till date enjoyed full protocol and deployed Railway staff to facilitate their movements at stations and on trains, will not be able to enjoy the similar privilege anymore. To add to their woe, senior officers at the Railway Ministry and Zonal headquarters will now have to remain on duty even on Saturdays.
The newly appointed Chairman Railway Board Ashwani lohani on Friday ordered that officers visiting stations alone or travelling with their families should not be entertained by railway personnel even if they are Railway Board Members, General Managers, or other top rung officials.
The order said that as part of the maximum courtesy senior officials could be received at stations by the Deputy Station Superintendent of the station and that too not without permissions of the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM).
"DRM may decide about distinction between officers by sending station in-charge of Dy.SS on duty," said the directive. .Incidentally, outside his office chamber at the Rail Bhavan has put a note saying no one should bring any bouquets or gifts for him in his office. Asking the employees and officer to focus on work, he has directed that no musical extravaganza and glitzy celebrations should accompany any railway function.
The new CRB also banned officers from mentioning their names on plaques while inaugurating or commissioning railway related projects across the country.
lohani, who has earlier served as DRM Delhi Division, also said that during any exigency and emergency, he and his office can be directly contacted. In his last stint as CMD at Air India, lohani ended the tradition of huge protocols enjoyed by the Air India officials and dignitaries for decades.
Meanwhile speaking for the first time after a big shake up in the Railway board, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu indicated that he suggested the name of Ashwani lohani as Railway Board Chairman to the Prime Minister. "Welcoming @Ashwanilohani and Thanks to PM for agreeing with suggestion to have him to steer rail board to implement launched initiatives," tweeted Prabhu.