A day after assuming office, newly appointed Railways Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani cracked the discipline whip through a series of orders to all Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs).To begin, he strictly ordered to end to the tradition of distributing bouquets, gifts and ‘buttering’.
Seniors employees of the Railways have been asked to report for work on all Saturdays and the practice of putting up nameplates of officers has been discontinued. Lohani was appointed Railway Board Chairman on Wednesday soon after his predecessor A.K. Mittal stepped down from the post.
Mittal took this drastic step after Uttar Pradesh witnessed two train derailments within five days; where 10 coaches of Kaifiyat Express heading towards Delhi derailed after colliding with a dumper near Auraiya district and over 20 people have been injured.
Lohani has earlier also served as Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Delhi Division; Director, National Rail Museum; and Chief Administrative Officer, Rail Alternate Fuel.