The committee, headed by Metro Man E Sreedharan, set up for delegating tendering and commercial powers to General Managers submitted its interim report to Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday. Besides, the Railway Minister separately informed the lok Sabha that the Centre is trying to integrate the role of Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) for better coordination and safety of rail passengers and property.
Railway Ministry officials said that the interim report was to be submitted by Sreedharan within two weeks of the constitution of the committee and that time limit has been adhered to. The final report is expected within three months.
Prabhu had tasked Sreedharan to set up procedures of accountability in all tendering processes of the railways. “The committee has been tasked to suggest a set of procedures to be followed in tendering processes so that transparency and accountability are ensured. Emphasis on these dual criterias in the tendering processes by the Minister of Railways will give a quantum jump to the efficiency, transparency and implementation of railway projects and bring in an overall improvement in the system of working,” said the Ministry official.
Further, seeking to enhance safety of passengers and protect its assets, the Centre had written to the States seeking operational control of GRP, RPF but is facing opposition from at least 17 States, Prabhu informed the lok Sabha.
As of now, GRP comes under the control of the State Governments, while the Railways pays 50 per cent of the amount spent on salaries of GRP personnel. The RPF comes under the control of the Railways. law and order is a State subject, he pointed out. The Ministry, however, plans to set up its own forensic lab which will be linked to the main labs functioning under the Home Ministry.