REPORT ON ALL INDIA TIAS’ CONFERENCE HELD AT VISAKHAPATTNAM ON 4^TH & 5^TH JANUARY,2002

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In the present scenario when IR is steadily losing market share to road and other modes of transport, the role of TIAs needs reorientation as ‘conscience keepers’ of Railways. Besides their traditional role of keeping constant vigil in plugging the leakage of revenue, the TIA should also play his role as a catalyst in expeditious recovery of outstanding amounts due to the Railways, and assist the administration in attracting new additional traffic within his jurisdiction.

With the above objective in mind, Traffic Accounts Branch of S.E.Railway organised the first ever All India Railway TIAs’ Conference at Visakhapatnam on 4^th & 5^th January,2002. Around 200 delegates from all zonal railways including Metro and Konkan Railways attended the two-days long conference at Hotel Daspalla, Visakhapatnam. There were about 100 invitees from Trade and Industries, commercial & operating branches of South Eastern, Eastern & South Central Railways, who too actively participated in the deliberations and discussions during the conference.

Shri U.V.Acharya, Advisor (Finance)/Rly.Board delivered the key note address in the inaugural session. Shri D. Lakra, FA & CAO/S.E.Rly, Shri N.Krishnamurthy, FA & CAO/S.C.Rly, Shri Joyanto Roy, CCM, S.E.Rly, Shri V.N.Tripathi, DRM/Waltair /S.E.Rly were the other dignitaries to address the gathering on the inaugural day. The Customers meet-cum-Interface session provided a congenial platform for the representatives of major industries and trade to have valuable interactions with railways. The subsequent sessions viz., Interactive session (Comml. & Traffic Accounts), Workshop session and In-house session (for TIAs of all zonal railways) were quite lively in terms of participation. Shri Ravi Prabhat, FA&CAO/WST/S.E.Rly, Shri S.K.Behera, CCO/S.E.Rly, Shri N.V.S.Reddy, Dy.CAO(T)/SC Rly, Shri Vijay Kumar, Dy.CAO(T), E.Rly, Shri J.N.Jha, CFTM(I&S) /S.E.Rly,Shri K.V.R.Murthy, CPRO /S.E.Rly & Shri C.R.Swain, Sr.DCM/Waltair, S.E.Rly acted as panellists-cum-moderators during the discussions and deliberations. Shri V.N.Tripathi, DRM/S.E.Rly & Shri Ravi Prabhat,

FA&CAO (WST)/S.E.Rly summed up the conference proceedings in the Valedictory session on 5^th Jan,2002(AN). The lively interactions among the delegates and invitees no doubt resulted in many thought-provoking suggestions & recommendations to improve the financial health of IR through the proactive role-play by TIAs.

The conference as such received wide acclaim from many quarters including local press and media. The feedback received from the participants was quite encouraging for the organisers. However, the one that needs a special mention, is the feedback received from no other than our Chief Guest for the occasion – Shri U.V.Acharya. Extract of the letter sent to the organisers reads as follows.

“The entire programme was a singular success. It was definitely an innovative and daring effort worth taking up by the other FA&CAOs of the Indian Railways. I am indeed happy to witness the zest and enthusiasm shown by the excellent team of organisers in making this effort memorable”

The Organizing Committee will shortly bring out a booklet containing deliberations and suggestions of the said conference.

S.K.Pattanayak

Dy.C.A.O.(T)/S. E. Railway