New Delhi: The central government has decided to allow lateral entry of external talent for one senior position in the railway board, reorganize the top decision-making body on functional lines and rework the policy of appointments of GMs and DRMs to eliminate discretion. The ministerial panel, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also decided to reorganize the railway board on functional lines by creating post of member (infrastructure), member (rolling stock), member (traction).

While reserving the post of members for different railway services, the panel also decided to create post of DGs in railway board for three services — personnel, signal and telecom and stores — which don’t have representation as members.

The DRM posts will be distributed as per strength of railway services and posting will be based on service-wise seniority eliminating the possibility of pick and choose.

The ACC has decided to discontinue entry of officers through the Special Class Railway Apprentice Examination (SCRA) in Indian Railway Services for mechanical engineers.

The new policy provides for at least one post of GM for each railway service at any point of time and ensures that officers are posted as GM strictly according to their seniority vis-a-vis the date on which vacancies arise.

The move is significant as several attempts to revamp the railway board as recommended by many high-powered committees in the past were scuttled by the rail bureaucracy and vested interests.