India's Railways reforms: Despite progress elsewhere, restructure of bureacratic architecture remains pending

In the second half of the NDA government’s tenure, Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal seems inclined to complete the unfinished and challenging agenda to restructure and reform the bureaucratic architecture of India’s state-owned transporter In the second half of the NDA government’s tenure, Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal seems inclined to complete the unfinished and challenging agenda to restructure and reform the bureaucratic architecture of India’s state-owned transporter. A note for approval by the Union Cabinet will shortly be moved seeking clearance to amalgamate eight existing railway services — besides the Railway Protection Force and the Railway Medical Services into two verticals: The Indian Railways Technical Service and the Indian Railways Logistics Service. “Much of the current crisis originates from the fragmented structure of the rail bureaucracy — with officials engaged in furthering cadre goals; rather than working to fulfil the organisational goals,” a ministry official said. Suresh Prabhu — Goyal’s predecessor as railways Mmnister — had begun well with the rail restructure plan. With a bench strength of over 13 lakh, the Indian Railways — the world’s fourth largest rail network — has drawn personnel from three different entry points and is split up into five technical cadres and three non-technical services.