Preface

Summary

This book is a sequel to my paper titled ‘In Pursuit of a Productive Relationship’ for a seminar on ‘Management of Change in Railway Business’ organised jointly by the International Union of Railways (UIC) and Indian Railways in November 1990 in Delhi. The paper basically dealt with the relationship between Indian Railways and the Government of India. It only concretised the issues involved. It did not offer any suggestions except that since this subject has never been really examined, except in passing by a couple of committees, there was an urgent need to have it examined in depth as a single term of reference by a committee of experts. A single term reference is required because of the complexities and all-round sensitivities involved in such an exercise – particularly in view of the changed economic environment, the developments in the transport sector and the role which can be played by Railways in the economic and social lives of the people. Unfortunately, neither any such committee has been set up nor has the issue been examined by any expert in as much detail as called for. ‘The Expert Group on Indian Railways: Indian Railway Report: Policy Imperatives for Reinvention and Growth’ popularly known as the Rakesh Mohan Committee Report (2001) did touch upon it. But in a limited way. Perhaps because like other committees on Indian Railways, it dealt with many other issues. And like so many other recommendations of so many other committees, the recommendations of the Rakesh Mohan Committee too were put on the back burner.

My tenure with Indian Railways in various capacities in the Accounts department as a member of the Indian Railway Accounts Service, a stint on a generalist's post as Additional Divisional Railway Manager in one of the larger Divisions of the Railways, teaching assignment with the Railway Staff College (now National Academy of Indian Railways), Vadodara which is the apex training institute for officers of Indian Railways, assignments with Rites which is a consultancy company of Indian Railways and IRCON which is a construction company of Indian Railways as well as couple of assignments abroad gave me unique opportunities to look at Indian Railways from different angles, both as an insider and as an outsider.