Indian Railways announced new Catering Policy - 2010

Railways’ New Catering Policy 2010

A new Catering Policy 2010 of Indian Railways has been introduced w.e.f. 21st July, 2010 which has revised policy guidelines regarding management of mobile as well as static catering units.

The management of providing onboard catering services to the railway passengers on Indian Railways is now to be done by the Zonal Railways instead of IRCTC, in a phased manner.

During the current year from January to 20th July, 2010, a total number of 687 complaints have been received regarding sub-standard food and contaminated water.

Number of Complaints received from North Zone i.e. Northern Railway, North Central Railway, North Eastern Railway and North Western Railway is 257; from West Zone i.e Western Railway, Central Railway and West Central Railway is 105; East Zone i.e. Northeast Frontier Railway, Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway, South East Central Railway, East Central Railway and East Coast Railway is 180; South Zone i.e. Southern Railway and South West Railway is 113 and South Central Zone i.e. South Central Railway is 32.

Following steps are taken to maintain quality of food and mobile as well as static units:-

1. Modernization of base kitchens and cell kitchens where food is prepared for onward transmission to mobile unit.

2. Conducting special drive on premium trains and base kitchen.

3. Conducting 3rd party audit by reputed agencies.

4. Customer satisfaction surveys.

5. Web enabled complaint management systems.

6. Toll free number to lodge complaint.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways, Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

Railways provide more facilities for Physically Handicapped Persons

Facilities for Physically Handicapped Persons

The number of orthopedically handicapped/paraplegic persons traveling on concession tickets in reserved segment during the year 2009-10 is approximately 9.84 lakh. Indian Railways have been manufacturing passenger coaches with specially designed compartments and toilets for wheel chair borne passengers. Facilities for ramp etc. for ingress/egress are not available in the current designs of coaches.

Facilities already exist for provision of wheel chairs at stations. This service is provided free of cost, duly escorted by coolies (on payment) as per present practice. Zonal Railways are also attempting to provide ‘Battery Operated Vehicles for Disabled ad Old Age Passengers’ at railway stations through commercial publicity route.

All major railway stations have been provided with ramps at exit/entry. Ramps and pathways have also been provided at the end of the platforms at all major railway stations to facilitate inter-platform transfer for physically challenged passengers. Provision of ramps at remaining stations is undertaken by Railways in a phased manner.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways, Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
PIB

Internet facility feasible in trains - Railway Minister

Internet Facility in Trains

Trial run for provision of Internet facility has been conducted only in Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express.

A satellite based system with Wi-Fi distribution in coaches was tried on experimental basis and was found to be technically feasible.

A pilot project for internet facility in three rakes of Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani Express has been considered and has been included in the Railway Budget 2010-11.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways, Shri K.H. Muniyappa in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

Ministry of Railways is developing ‘Single Window Commercial Portal’

Railways Developing a Single Window Commercial Portal to Enhance Passenger Convenience

In a move to enhance passenger convenience and ensure hassle-free ticket booking, the Ministry of Railways is developing a ‘Single Window Commercial Portal’ which is envisaged as an e-commerce platform integrating a wide gamut of commercial activities. To develop a Single Window Commercial Portal has been a well deliberated decision taken more than two years ago and is aimed to augment the e-ticketing services in addition to other activities under the single window e-commerce platform. Such options already exist in aviation sector where there are stand alone ticketing portals as well as parent platforms where travellers can subscribe to other Umbrella/Value added services offered by the carriers. As and when adopted, the additional portal services of Railways will supplement the existing services so as to cater to the increased passenger traffic as well as the demand for e-ticketing given its flexibility.

Constant innovation, process improvements and use of contemporary technology has been a conscious step of Indian Railways towards increasing the ease of ticketing in general and e-ticketing in particular. The Ministry of Railways has recently taken several measures in this direction, which include liberalized norms such as acceptance of more number of ID-proofs and extension of e-booking facility 24X7 (except for one hour down time which is mandated for maintenance). In addition, restrictions have been imposed with respect to blocking access to agent during the peak hours i.e. 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the morning. Moreover, special drives and checks have also been intensified to curb touting activities. These measures have been undertaken to ensure that genuine travelers can avail the services and the measure is not directed against a particular entity.

Indian Railways is also adopting a number of measures aimed at proliferation of not just e-ticketing but also ticketing in general such as use of Mobile Ticketing Vans, appointment of Jansadharan Ticket Booking Sewaks, Automatic Ticket Vending Machines and tie-ups with Banks and Post Offices.

PIB

Combined Medical and Engineering entrance examination for CBSE students

Single Entrance Exam for Medical and Engineering

There is a proposal with CBSE to integrate the All India Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Examination which is conducted for the 15% merit positions for the Medical/Dental Colleges of India, and the All India Engineering Entrance Examination which is being conducted for various Engineering and Architecture Institutions including National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology) (IITs, IIITM & IIITDM), self-financed deemed Universities/Universities/other Central Government/State Government funded institutions, State/UT Institutions.

The candidates seeking admission to different courses would be spared the bother of appearing in multiple entrance examinations. The time by which the combined entrance examination is to be introduced depends on the consent from other stakeholders including Directorate General of Health Services and Medical Council of India.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Smt. D. Purandeswari, in a written reply to a question, in the Lok Sabha today.
PIB

Railway Employees may be permitted to revise their initial option (Ruel-6) upto 31 12.2010

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(RAILWAY BOARD)
******

S.No.PC-VI/216
No.PC-VI/2010/I/RSRP/5

RBE No.102/2010
New Delhi, dated 22.07.2010

The GMs/CAOs(R),
All Indian Railways & PUs
(As per mailing list)

Sub:-      Railway Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008 – Revision of option exercised under Rule 6 of Railway Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008.

          In accordance with the provisions contained in Rule 11 of the Railway Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008, where a Railway servant opts to continue to draw his pay in the existing scale from the 1st day of January 2006 and switch over to the revised scale from a date later than the 1st day of January, 2006, his pay from the later date in the revised scale is required to be fixed under Rule 11(i) of the Railway Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008. As per Rule 5 of these Rules, this option to switch over to the revised pay structure from a date later than 1.1 2006 is available to a Railway Servant :

(i) who elects to continue to draw pay in the existing scale until the date on which he earns his next or any subsequent increment in the existing scale or until he vacates his post or ceases to draw pay in that scale.

(ii) who has been placed in a higher pay scale between 1.1.2006 and the date of notification of these Rules on account of promotion, upgradation of pay scale etc, the Railway servant may elect to switch over to the revised pay structure from the date of such promotion, upgradation etc.

          2. As per Rule 6(1) of Railway Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008 the option in the format appended to the Second Schedule was required to be exercised within three months from the date of issue of these Rules,

          3.Further Rule 6(4) provided that the option once exercised shall be final. The Staff Side has represented on this issue and have requested that the first option exercised may not be treated as final keeping in view the new system of pay band and grade pays and those employees may be allowed to revise their option if the option is more beneficial to them.

          4.On further consideration and in exercise of the powers available under Railway Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008, the President is pleased to decide that in relaxation of stipulation under Rule 6(4) of these Rules employees may be permitted to revise their initial option upto 31 12.2010 if the option is more beneficial to them. The revised option shall be intimated to the Head of his Office by the Railway servant in accordance with the provision of Rule 6(2) of the Revised Pay Rules, 2008.

          5. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Directorate of the Ministry of Railways

  

(Hari Krishan)
Director, Pay Commission II
Railway Board.

www.indianrailways.gov.in