2 The term “such other duties” has been detailed in Sections 22 to 24 of the Act and covers
the following:-
- sanctioning the opening of new railway lines after inspection on behalf of the Central Government;
- sanctioning the execution of
all works, including new works, affecting the safety of running lines;
- when, after inspecting a line already in use or
a rolling stock already authorised, the Commissioner is
of the opinion that their continued
use will be attended with danger to the travelling
public, he may report his opinion to
the Central government, who may then order the closure
of the line or the discontinuance of the use of rolling stock; and
- to inspect such a closed line
and sanction its re- opening for carriage of passengers
and also report to the
Central Govt.on the fitness for use of discontinued rolling
stock.
3 Functional duties, including field inspections,
of a Commissioner of Railway Safety,
are amplified, among other technical publications, in the;
- General Rules for all open lines of railways in India including Metro Railways;
- Rules for the opening of a Railway or Section of a Railway for the public carriage of passengers;
- Indian Railways Code of practice for the Engineering department;
- Indian Railway Way, Bridge and Signal Engineering Manuals;
- Schedules of Dimensions;
- Conference Rules of the Indian Railway Conference Association;
-
Statutory Investigation into Railway Accidents Rules, 1998
- Railway (Notices of and Inquiries into accidents) Rules, 1998
4 After its separation from the Railway Board
in May, 1941, a post of Chief Government Inspector of Railways, later designated
as Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety, was created to enable the Central
Government to exercise “effective technical control”.
4.1 The Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety
directs the activities of the Organisation and is responsible for advising
the Central Government in all matters relating to
Railway Safety, recruitment of officers, postings and promotions, budget
and expenditure etc. The Chief Commissioner deals principally with:-
- Matters appurtenant to Field Inspections and statutory inquiries into accidents;
- Inspection Reports of Commissioners of Railway Safety;
- Reports of statutory inquiries held into accidents by the Commissioners.
After careful study he forwards his considered opinion
to the Controlling Ministry and the Railway
Board with such recommendations as he considers necessary;
- Railway Board’s suggestions pertaining to corrections or
amendments to General Rules, Rules for Opening of a Railway,
Schedule of Dimensions, the P. Way, Bridge and Signal
Engineering Manuals, Procedures for inquiries into accidents,
Codes of Practice for Engineering Works and other publications; and
- Preparation of the Annual Report
on the working of the Commission of Railway Safety and its placement in each
House of Parliament.
- All the Technical publications indicated in para above
including orders issued by Railway Board from time to time.
4.2 Field duties of the Chief Commissioner
of Railway Safety consist of inspections of sections of
Railways, visits to the Railway Headquarters and Divisional Offices, Railway
installations and Circle Offices. If considered necessary by him, he
may himself hold inquiries into important accidents.