Railway Board chief Lohani wrote to staff on safety a day before Duronto Express derailed

A day before the Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express derailed near Asangaon today, newly-appointed Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani wrote a letter to all railway employees asking them to ensure highest level of safety to instil a sense of confidence among the passengers.

He said the Indian Railways has suffered a serious dent in the recent past due to certain unfortunate incidents. Without mentioning the derailment of Duronto Express in Maharashtra or any other recent train accidents, he said such incidents often overshadow the great work that this organisation performs day in and day out.

Lohani asked the employees to resolve to bring about an all-round improvement in the working of the railways for satisfactorily meeting the hopes, expectations and aspirations of the vast multitude.

"Safety shall always remain our principal focus area. We have to always be on our guard to ensure the highest level of safety in train operations and instil a renewed sense of confidence in our esteemed passengers," he said.

Lohani said cleanliness at stations and on trains is another area that is crying for attention and often contributes to the image of the railways. Similarly, he said, the quality of catering and linen on trains is also an area of serious concern. "We have to work in a mission mode to bring about quantitative and qualitative improvements in a very short time frame in these areas, while at the same time not losing sight of the fact that the railways need an overall improvement to achieve total customer satisfaction," he said.

The Railway Board Chairman said the operating ratio of the organisation needs to be brought down considerably. He asked the staff to do not only by reducing expenditure but also by increasing freight loading besides finding other means of non-conventional revenue generation to achieve a spurt in revenues.

Lohani reiterated the importance he attaches to employees of an organisation. "I have always believed in the supremacy of the human resource. For me my employees, not the customers, come first. For, it is my firm conviction, that a contented and happy employee is the prerequisite for the success of any organisation. And this great organisation is no exception," he said, adding that he would, therefore, expect employee welfare to be the core concern of all railway employees.

At the same time, he said, the department has to deal with the evils of corruption, sexual harassment at work places and alcohol abuse while on duty. These are social evils and need to be dealt firmly with an iron hand, he said.

On a personal note, Lohani said he believe in avoiding any frills in the form of bouquets, gifts, lavish celebrations and excessive protocol. "These divert our attention from our primary responsibilities, hard core work and severely damage the organization also. Our focus needs to be on deliverance and deliverance alone. We also have to reform our processes, many of which have, with passage of time, become so complicated that they seriously hamper work. That remaining busy is not deliverance is a thought that also needs to be imbibed," he said.

He made a fervent and personal appeal to "all my fellow railwaymen" to put in their best effort to restore the old glory of "the lifeline of the nation - the great Indian Railways".

He said the post of chairman, Railway Board, is not only an onerous responsibility but also a challenge being the administrative head of the railways. "At this critical juncture when we are facing a serious issue with the image perception of the railways, I expect all my fellow railwaymen to pitch in wholeheartedly to set this perception right. I am sure, with your cooperation, we will be able to achieve and re-establish the pristine glory of the brand Indian Railways," he said.

Lohani sought to remind the employees the glory of the railways. Stating that it is the largest employer in the world under a single management and the wheels on which the nation moves, he said the sincerity, dedication and professional capability of the railway employees, both officers and staff, is unparalleled.

"It is the men on the field who, regardless of their personal inconveniences and hardships, ensure that the wheels of the nation keep moving surely and safely. This is what makes the Indian Railways the most visible symbol of dynamic delivery in our country," he said in the letter which starts with "Dear colleagues" and ends with "Jai Hind".

ALSO READ |

Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani's first order: VIP culture must stop

Landslide caused Nagpur-Mumbai Duranto Express derailment: Railways

Duranto Express derailment: Timeline of rail accidents since 2014

ALSO WATCH | Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express derails in Kalyan, no casualties reported