Chennai Central gets first-ever station director

Rail travellers are just one step away from getting a one point solution to their travel woes at the landmark station, which would be the first in Southern Railway (SR) zone to get a station director, a post exclusively created by the Centre recently to decentralize power and optimize passenger service at Chennai Central like  A1 stations. 

Dr Rajesh Chandran, the 2009 batch IRTS officer would be the maiden station director of Chennai Central, reliable railway sources told DT Next. Area manager of Ernakulam division till last week, the MBBS graduate turned IRTS officer Rajesh is expected to assume office in a week after undergoing a short induction course. 

Promoted to the level of senior divisional commercial  manager, the to be station director who has been physically inspecting the station since Thursday evening, would head all departments, unlike now when staff and field officers of over half a dozen departments have been reporting to their respective department heads. This paper had broken the story about station directors in the rank of senior divisional commercial managers (junior administrative grade) replacing station managers in all A1 class stations. 

“Appointment of station directors will minimize bureaucratic red tape. From sweepers to signal and mechanical engineers, and even ticket booking clerks, everyone will report to the station director, who’s grade will be the same grade as senior division commercial or operations manager. 

Grievances related to every department will be handled at the level of the director. It would increase efficiency,” explained a SR officer requesting anonymity. However, the normal operations like revenue handling and administrative works would rest with respective departments. 

“Quality and service part of all departments at Central station would be the preserve of the station director. Only the controls at Central have been decentralized so expedite travellers grievance redressal,” the railway officer added. 

Chennai Egmore and Madurai stations in Tamil Nadu are among the 63 A1 stations, where station directors would be posted like Chennai Central station before the end of the year.