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.
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