Development Of Indian Railways

Author:Nalinaksha Sanyal
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Railways, India, history
Published: 1930-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

In 1909 the post of Director of Railway Construction was abolished and the appointment of Chief Engineer with the Railway Board was created for the purpose of advising the Board on technical matters.

In January 1914, it was felt, that in order to give adequate attention to commercial and financial considerations, the Railway Board should include one Member with experience in these matters. The former practice of selecting members of the Railway Board from men of large railway experience only was therefore modified. This arrangement, however, was altered in 1920 and again the former practice was reverted to. The post of Financial Adviser to the. Railway Board was then created.

? Mackay Committee Report, pp. 23-26.

During the War certain necessary modifications had to be made in the central controlling machinery to cope with the increased government traffic, both civil and military. In September 1916, a war branch of the Railway Board's office was formed, but in the following March it was absorbed into the Indian Munitions Board and the Adjutant-General's branch. In 1917, a Controller of Traffic was appointed to take such steps, on behalf of government, as were found necessary for the most economical use of the limited transport available, and to control traffic in the best interests of national and general purposes. In July 1918, a Special Member of the Railway Board was added for the war period, and an elaborate system, for the control of traffic, through the issue of '' Priority Certificates'' by responsible officers of government, was instituted, to meet the abnormal situation. 1 This control was gradually relaxed, and in September 1919, the Controller of Traffic terminated his work and the Priority Certificate system was abolished.

The problem of supply of wagons to the collieries had become so acute that a special coal indent system had to be introduced in January 1917. In November that year a Coal Controller was appointed to work out the system. In April 1919, the post of Coal Controller was abolished, but a Coal Transportation Officer continued to work with the Railway Board till 1921.

The Acworth Committee thoroughly re-examined the working of the Railway Board in 1921, and found most of the evils complained of by the Mackay Committee to still continue. There was constant interference, by the Government of India as well as by the Secretary of State, in the details of railway management, and the Railway Board had frequently to apply to these authorities over matters of trifling importance. 2 Moreover, there was shown

1 Railway Administration Report, 1918-19, Vol. L, Ch. III. * Acworth Committee Report, p. 40,

POLICY, FINANCES, MANAGEMENT, ETC., 1903 TO 1924-25 249

a complete inability of the Railway Board to shape the financial policy of the railways. The following recommendations were made:

(i) That a new Department of Communications responsible for railways, ports, and inland navigation, road transport and telegraphs, under a Member of Council in charge of Communications, should be created;

(ii) that under this Member should be the Railway Commision with one responsible Chief Commissioner, assisted by one

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