FC’s New Year Message dated 11.1.2005

 

 

            I greet all of you in this Platinum Jubilee year of IRAS and do hope that the year turns out to be financially vibrant for the organization as well as professionally rewarding and personally satisfying for the IRAS fraternity.

 

            In the aftermath of the great tragedy that struck the southern part of the country, relief and rehabilitation measures are to be given top most priority and I entreat all of you to provide necessary support and assistance.

 

            The system is reaping the benefits of general buoyancy in economy, rationalization effected in the tariff structure and the sustained drive against leakage! I am happy to share with all of you, the excellent performance on the freight front exceeding targets in volume, lead and earnings! The originating freight earnings to end of December, 2004 are well above Rs.1000 crore over the budget proportion.  Passenger earnings show a growth of nearly 7% over last year and on par with the target!  With this trend, the budget estimates are likely to be surpassed!

 

            Yet another milestone will be achieved when electronic payment gateway is commissioned shortly.  This will greatly facilitate prompt settlement and reduce cash handling.  It will be a boon, as a further clearance of outstanding under Traffic Suspense relating to Badarpur Thermal Power Station will materialize.

 

            The thrust during the current year will be on augmenting the capacity to meet the incremental loading anticipated during the ensuring financial year.  Investment decisions will be focused towards this goal.  Modernization plan lays emphasis on increasing the speed of Mail/Express trains in Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Chennai routes to 150 kmph and the good trains to 100 kmph on  the high density golden quadrilateral and its diagonals! Need to provide appropriate inputs to achieve these will receive attention!  Completion of sanctioned works for installation of Anti-Collision Device, in the wake of the unfortunate collision near Mukerian (Pathankot), which claimed a  lot of lives, should receive top most priority.

 

            On the service front, I am glad to inform that Regional seminars are planned throughout the year to enable wider dissemination of information relating to fiscal discipline and accounting road map.  `Propriety, Proficiency and Productivity’ being the IRAS motto, it will be our endeavour to deliberate on the issues covering these core areas during the seminars. It is heartening that more and more IRAS officers are being picked up for Director level postings under Central Staffing Scheme.  With the operationalization of Centralized Training Academy for Railway Accounts (C-TARA) training will receive further impetus.

 

            I am greatly impressed by the various initiatives taken by officers at all levels, which get reflected in the PCDOs. Continued and sustained efforts are called for during the current year too, particularly in internal check, field inspection and introduction of AFRES and PRIME.

 

            I convey my best wishes for a happy, bright and prosperous New Year to you and your family.

 

            With best wishes,

 

 

                                                                                                            Yours sincerely,

 

                                                                                                                   Sd/-

 

                                                                                                (Vijayalakshmi Viswanathan)