Operational Safety Concerns Arise as Railway Board Faces Top-Level Vacancies

Naveen Gulati, currently the Director General (HR) of the Railway Board, has been given the additional responsibility of Member (Infrastructure) after Anil Kumar Khandelwal's retirement. The Indian Railway S&T Maintainers’ Union (IRSTMU) has raised concerns about operational safety due to delays in appointing successors for key positions.

Naveen Gulati, Director General (HR) for the Railway Board, has been assigned additional duties as Member (Infrastructure) following Anil Kumar Khandelwal's retirement, according to a recent order from the Railway Board.

The order states that Gulati will handle both roles until further notice. The post of Additional Member (Signal) has also been vacant since July 1, 2023, when Rahul Aggarwal was redesignated as Special DG (S&T) and subsequently retired on September 30.

The Indian Railway S&T Maintainers' Union (IRSTMU) expressed concerns that delays in filling high-level vacancies jeopardize operational safety. Safety experts echoed these concerns, highlighting the critical nature of the Signal and Telecom departments. IRSTMU noted that while Gulati is a capable and respected official, his dual responsibilities could divert attention from ongoing infrastructure projects crucial for safety.

(With inputs from agencies.)