Special officer to coordinate between railways, agencies

Maharashtra will get a senior railway officer on deputation who will coordinate with the railway and state agencies for quicker completion of infrastructure projects. The Railways have given in-principle approval to the state government's proposal for the creating the post of commissioner for railway transport who will coordinate between the numerous government bodies.

The position, which will come under the ambit of the state transport ministry, will be filled by a high ranking officer on deputation from the railways while his salary would be borne by the state government.

The state has been informed by the Railway Board that it would soon receive a written approval to its proposal.

A commissioner for railway transport in the state government would be a first for Maharashtra and second in the country. At present, Rajasthan is the only state to have such an post, said a senior railway official.

"In Rajasthan, the post was created two years ago and has been occupied by Ashwin Kumar, a senior administration grade railway officer. In Maharashtra, too, a senior administration grade officer from the railways will be selected and deputed to the state government," said the official.

The commissioner for railway transport will operate from the office provided by the state government and also have an office in the railways.

The need for such a post was felt as key infrastructure projects of the state government that either intersects or overlaps railway jurisdiction have been inordinately delayed owing to lack of coordination between the various government agencies.

Several major projects of railways are being undertaken in the state or are in the pipeline as they find its mention in the Budget.

ALSO READ

Campus placements: IIT Bombay targets 100 companies in phase-II

‘Babasaheb Ambedkar a prisoner of caste politics, his relevance will grow’: Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh president Prakash Ambedkar

From anger to anguish

We deal with birth and death daily, but some deaths leave a void, say doctors