R N Malhotra Named New Rly Board Chairman

The Railway Board today got two new faces and a new chairman. R N Malhotra, member (Engineering), was elevated to the post of chairman. He has replaced Ashok Kumar.

While IIMS Rana, general manager of Eastern Railways, has come in place of Malhotra as member (Engineering), and Northern Railway general manager S Dhasarathy is new member (Mechanical). K B Sankaran, member (Mechanical), retired from the service today.

With today's developments, the board has seen three changes in the posts of members (who are equivalent to secretaries to the Union government) in as many months.

Even the new incumbents would get just a few months at the top, prompting calls from experts for fixed tenures of Railway Board members.

There has been four chairmen, two financial commissioners and three incumbents at the post of member (mechanical) between 1995 and 1997. The last 15 months have seen four financial commissioners.

Most of the present seven board members got a longer tenure after retirement age was increased from 58 to 60 years in 1998.

Several expert bodies, including McKinsey and the World Bank had advised the Railways to change the system and have three-year terms for board members, sources said, adding, till that happens, "we would see new faces every year on the board".

"Often, the board member simply bides his time and does not take uncomfortable decisions as he is aware he would not be at the post for long and has no stake in the organisation's future. Similarly, there is apathy towards working on new schemes and the corporate plan of the Railways goes haywire," a senior official said.