Prabhu asks Sreedharan to submit transparency report in two weeks

The 'Metro Man' has been given the freedom to co-opt anyone he chooses for working out the required strategies

Union railways minister Suresh Prabhu has asked former Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) chief E Sreedharan to advise on ways to infuse transparency in railways’ systems and procedures. The idea is to streamline the railways’ procurement and tendering process as part of ongoing reforms.

Sreedharan has been asked to give an interim report within two weeks and a final report in two months. The move comes amid railways’ plans to bring private sector participation, invite foreign direct investment , set up a rail tariff authority and renew focus on large freight projects. The ministry had issued an order for formation of the one man committee headed by Sreedharan on November  13. The Metroman, as Sreedharan is called in recognition for his leadership in implementing the  DMRC project in record time, had met Prabhu on Tuesday to discuss the matter. Sreedharan has been given the freedom to co-opt anyone he chooses for working out strategies for general managers and other officials for taking commercial decisions including on the tender process.

Prabhu has already indicated decisions on tender have to be taken at the level of GMs of the railway zones. Helping railways put in place systems for delegation of such responsibilities to GMs is one of the terms of reference of the newly-formed committee. Prabhu has also asked officials to work out a policy for rewarding railways officials for completion of projects on time.