Decentralization of control over the functioning of TIAs

– an experiment done with success

Traditionally, Travelling Inspector of Station Accounts, otherwise known as TIAs, function under the direct control and supervision of Traffic Accounts wing in the Headquarter set up. Even though they carry out inspections at stations/sidings within a defined jurisdiction, all their activities related to planning, execution, reporting, follow up etc. get monitored from the Hqr office.

Primarily, the role of TIA is to supplement the internal checks by the TA office on the station/siding vouchers & returns by checking into the original records kept at the station/siding locations. Any lapses/irregularities frauds/embezzlements detected during such checks are reported to the Divisional Commercial authorities for corrective action under the overall guidance of Hqr set up.

With the changing scenario, IR needs to focus on both revenue management & control at the divisional level like that of the expenditure management & control. For that, however, a re-orientation/realignment is required in IR’s system of working wherein Traffic Accounts will have to form part and parcel of the divisional set up and act as Associate Finance to the commercial functioning and revenue management. There has been much of debate and brainstorming on this issue for long, and the wishful thinking has been doing the round that TA should be decentralized for better revenue management.

The reorganization of IR with the functioning of 7(seven) more new zones seems to have set the ball rolling for the inevitable to happen in near future. Because of the new zones are still dependent of their parent zones for TA related activities except for the TIAs control and supervision.

For the ECoR Hqr at BBSR, the geographical jurisdiction of TIAs extends over three divisions viz Waltair, Khurda & Sambalpur encompassing nearly one hundred odd stations & sidings. As a progressive step towards realizing the futuristic goal of IR i.e revenue management at divisional level, ECoR being a new zone, has taken the lead in implementing partial decentralization on the control of TIAs w.e.f. 1^st June’04 under proper intimation to the Railway Board.

The experimentation has so far been successful. Besides timely action on auction sales, concurrent checks on PRS & SPTM transactions, destruction of obsolete money value books & tickets etc, the divisional administration has been able to take instant action on clearance of station outstanding. More so, the accountability on the part of TIAs has increased manifold directly contributing to their productivity.

Here is the ECoR’s Procedure Order in force that may give the clue to the success of its implementation.