Major Indian railway stations to have young guns as station directors

In a bid to improve the image of Indian railways, the ministry has decided to post young Group 'A' officers at major Indian railway stations as 'station directors'. This would improve customer satisfaction while also helping enhance the business activity.

The railway ministry wants to develop major Indian stations as economic and business hubs.

The senior official would be responsible for smooth functioning of the entire area, while keeping an eye on improving passenger experience and boosting commercial activity. Presently, junior promotee officers are appointed as chief station managers, station masters and station superintendents, and they have no control over services provided at stations, like cleaning, ticketing, parcel etc, all of which have different departments responsible for them.

In the first phase, 12 such 'A' category officers will be posted as station directors at stations of high importance, like Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur. They will have more contractual and financial powers, and a cross-functional team of officials departments like traffic, mechanical, electrical and civil.

"Appointment of station directors equipped with powers to give contracts and more financial powers will ensure single-point accountability," said a senior official.

He added, "This will ensure better passenger amenities, vigilant and sensitive customer service, responsive grievance redressal and superior commercial sense."

Image source