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Informist, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024

--Lok Sabha OKs bill to give more powers to Railway Board

NEW DELHI - The Lok Sabha Wednesday passed the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to repeal the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905, and incorporate provisions related to the board into the Railways Act, 1989. The amendment seeks to grant statutory powers to the Railway Board and enhance its functioning and autonomy.

The 1989 Act provides the legal framework for the operation of the railways in the country. The 1905 Act provides that the government may invest its powers and functions in the Railway Board with respect to any or all railways in the country. The incorporation of the provisions relating to the board into the Act will eliminate the need to refer to two laws, the government said.

The amendment Bill says the central government will prescribe the number of members of the board, their qualifications, experience, and terms and conditions of service, as well as the manner of appointment of the chairman and the members. It adds that the board will be provided with a secretary, and officers and employees, as necessary.

With the passage of the Railways (Amendment) Bill, the decision-making process would be streamlined, the government said, facilitating infrastructure development, technological advancement, and meeting the increasing demand for passenger and freight services.

“The current Bill proposes to simplify the legal framework by incorporating the proposals of the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905, in the Railways Act, 1989,” Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said in the statement of objects and reasons. "This will reduce the need to refer to two laws. Instead, reference will be required only to one law.... The functioning and independence of the Railway Board will be enhanced."

The Lok Sabha was slated to take up the reply to the debate on the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, on Dec. 4, but a commotion broke out just when Vaishnaw was to reply and the proceedings were stalled. Opposition members raised slogans protesting against Bharatiya Janata Party member Nishikant Dubey's remarks aiming to link the Congress with US-based billionaire philanthropist George Soros. The ruling party countered the Opposition's protest by seeking a debate on what it claimed was a question of the "country's security".  End

Reported by Shahid K. Abbas

Edited by Rajeev Pai

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