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NEW DELHI: Railway minister Suresh Prabhu has set up two committees in line with the promises made in his maiden rail budget last month, including Innovation Council 'Kaya Kalp' headed by former Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata to suggest ways to turn around the ailing organisation.
The other committee, under former DIPP secretary Ajay Shankar, has been set up to revamp ministry's PPP (public private partnership) cell to get private investment. The PPP Cell is critical for the growth of Indian railways since getting funds for new projects has become a challenge. Shankar had earlier worked with Prabhu in power ministry as joint secretary and later additional secretary.
"Shankar had played a key role in preparation and enactment of the Electricity Act, 2003. He had formulated the rules and policies under the Act and also conceived rural electrification project when Prabhu headed the power ministry in Vajpayee government," a government official told ET.
Getting Tata, on the other hand, was somewhat of a coup for Prabhu. "It is his personal rapport with the industrialist that worked for railways," the official said. Kaya Kalp — literally meaning transformation — was announced by Prabhu in the railway budget and he had hinted at the time that a "big name" will head it. The minister had already broached the subject with Tata before the budget but had not got a confirmation.
Tata visited Prabhu on Tuesday at the minister's Rail Bhawan office in Delhi and gave his consent to head the committee. Tata had in 2009 refused to head an advisory board to suggest ways to turn around the national carrier Air India. Then aviation minister Praful Patel had reportedly approached Tata but the business leader declined. Railway ministry officials said former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai is likely to join the Kaya Kalp council as a member. Prabhu had roped in Rai to suggest ways to introduce transparency in the working of railways, especially its finances.
Rai, who has been working in his "personal capacity" and not taking any remuneration from the railways, will get an official status if he becomes part of the Innovation Council. The council will also include the general secretaries of the two major railway unions.
The officials said Prabhu is looking for innovative suggestions from these committees. "It will be easier for him to implement these ideas if they come as suggestions. If they come from within the railways, they are bound to get stuck in bureaucratic processes," an official said.
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Nice .... Mr. Tata has good managerial experience and a spotless reputation.
The other committee, under former DIPP secretary Ajay Shankar, has been set up to revamp ministry's PPP (public private partnership) cell to get private investment. The PPP Cell is critical for the growth of Indian railways since getting funds for new projects has become a challenge. Shankar had earlier worked with Prabhu in power ministry as joint secretary and later additional secretary.
"Shankar had played a key role in preparation and enactment of the Electricity Act, 2003. He had formulated the rules and policies under the Act and also conceived rural electrification project when Prabhu headed the power ministry in Vajpayee government," a government official told ET.
Getting Tata, on the other hand, was somewhat of a coup for Prabhu. "It is his personal rapport with the industrialist that worked for railways," the official said. Kaya Kalp — literally meaning transformation — was announced by Prabhu in the railway budget and he had hinted at the time that a "big name" will head it. The minister had already broached the subject with Tata before the budget but had not got a confirmation.
Tata visited Prabhu on Tuesday at the minister's Rail Bhawan office in Delhi and gave his consent to head the committee. Tata had in 2009 refused to head an advisory board to suggest ways to turn around the national carrier Air India. Then aviation minister Praful Patel had reportedly approached Tata but the business leader declined. Railway ministry officials said former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai is likely to join the Kaya Kalp council as a member. Prabhu had roped in Rai to suggest ways to introduce transparency in the working of railways, especially its finances.
Rai, who has been working in his "personal capacity" and not taking any remuneration from the railways, will get an official status if he becomes part of the Innovation Council. The council will also include the general secretaries of the two major railway unions.
The officials said Prabhu is looking for innovative suggestions from these committees. "It will be easier for him to implement these ideas if they come as suggestions. If they come from within the railways, they are bound to get stuck in bureaucratic processes," an official said.
_________________________________________________________
Nice .... Mr. Tata has good managerial experience and a spotless reputation.
