Railway Board
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This article is about Indian corporation. For the former British board, see British Railways Board.
| Type | Government-owned corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railways |
| Founded | 16 April 1853[1] |
| Headquarters | New Delhi, India |
| Area served | India |
| Services | Passenger railways freight services bus transportation travel agency services parking lot operations other related services |
| Revenue |   106647 crore(US$16 billion) (2011–12)[2] |
| Net income | 9610 crore (US$1.5 billion) (2011–12)[2] |
| Owner(s) | Government of India (100%) |
| Employees | 1.4 million (2011)[3] |
| Parent | Ministry of Railways |
| Website | www.indianrailways.gov.in |
The Indian Railway Board is the apex body of the Indian Railways. It reports to theParliament of India through the Minister of Railways (India).
Contents
[hide]Current members[edit]
It currently has the following members:
- Chairman Railway Board: Arunendra Kumar
- Member Mechanical: Alok
- Member Traffic: Devi Prasad Pande
- Member Engineering: Subodh Kumar Jain
- Member Electrical: Kul Bhushan
- Member Staff: A.K. Mital
- Finance Commissioner: Rajendra Kashyap
- Secretary : H.K Jaggi
Members to be inducted[edit]
- Member Safety
- Member Marketing
History[edit]
British Raj[edit]
In 1901, on the recommendations of Sir Thomas Robertson Committee regarding the administration and working of the railways, an early version of the railway board was constituted, with three members serving on it at first. In 1905, its powers were formalised by Lord Curzon's government. It consisted a Government Railway official, who was the Chairman of the Board, a Railway Manager from England and an Agent of a Company Railway. The Board was placed under the Department of Commerce and Industry of the British Indian Government. In 1921, a reorganisation of the Railway Board was carried out, and a Chief Commissioner of Railways was appointed, who was solely responsible to the Government for decisions on technical matters and for advising the Government on matters of policy. Pursuant to the Acworth Committee's recommendations in 1921, the Railway Board was reconstituted with effect from 1 April 1924. The reconstituted board consisted of the Chief Commissioner, a Financial Commissioner and two Members, one responsible for Way and Works, Projects and Stores and the other for General Administration, Staff and Traffic subjects. In 1929, an additional post of a Member was created and he was placed in charge of Staff matters, so that the Member in charge of Traffic could concentrate fully in transportation and commercial matters. During this time, Frank D'Souza became the first Indian member of the board.[4]
After Independence[edit]
In April, 1951 the post of Chief Commissioner was abolished and the seniormost functional Member was appointed the Chairman of the Board, thus the strength of the Board was reduced to four. In October 1954, the Chairman of the Board was made responsible for decisions on technical and policy matters, with the status of a Secretary to Government in the Ministry of Railways. One more Member was also added and the strength of the Board again became five.[5] In 1988, a new Member was added to look after the Electrical and Signal & Telecommunication aspects of the Railways.
Controversies[edit]
On 14 February 2008, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, admitted to violating Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) regulations by making improper payments from its subsidiary Pioneer Friction Limited, based in Calcutta India, to government officials of the Indian railway board. Payments were made in order to obtain and retain business with the Railway Board and curb taxes.[6]
On 3 May 2013, the CBI arrested Railway Minister's nephew, Vijay Singla for accepting an alleged bribe of 90 lakh (US$140,000), which was part of a larger sum of Rs.10 crore (US$16.2 million) from a middleman on behalf of Mahesh Kumar in return for favour to get appointed as Member (Electrical) of the Railway Board.[7][8][9] Mahesh Kumar was suspended, although the Railway Board clarified that no rules had been bypassed during the appointment of the Mahesh Kumar.[10]
90 lakh (US$140,000), which was part of a larger sum of Rs.10 crore (US$16.2 million) from a middleman on behalf of Mahesh Kumar in return for favour to get appointed as Member (Electrical) of the Railway Board.[7][8][9] Mahesh Kumar was suspended, although the Railway Board clarified that no rules had been bypassed during the appointment of the Mahesh Kumar.[10]Notes[edit]
- ^ "Times Of India". The Times Of India (India). 15 April 2010.
- ^ a b "Railways Fiscal Budget 2012". Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- ^ Indian Railways Year Book (2009–2010). Ministry of Railways, Government of India. 2011. p. 13. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- ^ The Goans of Karachi, have a history of their own Goas of Pakistan. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- ^ Rao, M.A. (1988). Indian Railways, New Delhi: National Book Trust, pp.49-54
- ^ Department of Justice (14 February 2008). "Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation Agrees to Pay $300,000 Penalty to Resolve Foreign Bribery Violations in India". Department of Justice.
- ^ "Bansal's nephew remanded in CBI custody, Congress core group meets". The Times of India. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ Pawan Kumar Bansal's nephew booked by CBI for accepting Rs 90 lakh bribe - The Times of India
- ^ Railway Minister Pawan Bansal's nephew arrested by CBI for allegedly accepting bribe | NDTV.com
- ^ "Mahesh suspended, nephew arrested; What about Pawan Kumar Bansal?". Dainik Bhaskar. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
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