Probe finds irregularities galore at Central
Unregistered Parcels A Daily Affair At The Parcel Office
Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com
Chennai:04.03.2019
Three months after a parcel scam was detected at Chennai Central and subsequently hushed up, an internal 10-day probe by top railway officials has once again detected a host of irregularities at the same parcel office. Sources said the investigation has found that several unregistered parcels enter the platforms and Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been allowing unauthorised outsiders to enter the parcel office. “Many parcels which did not have railway bar code stickers were about to be loaded as part of another consignment. This is one of a modus operandi of overloading scams earlier detected by railway vigilance sleuths,” said a source.
The headquarters commercial branch conducted an inquiry three weeks ago and circulated a report on Friday. Based on the report, the chief vigilance officer of Southern Railway and his officers conducted a review meeting with Chennai divisional railway manager (DRM) Naveen Gulati on Friday. The investigation found that only two RPF personnel man the entry and exit points of Central parcel office. When questioned about the presence of unauthorised outsiders inside the parcel office and platforms, the personnel said their superiors did not give instructions to prevent such unauthorised entry, the report noted.
Rules mandate that leased parcels should be allowed only three hours prior to a train’s departure. However, the team found a consignment of electrical goods on platform 7, a full day earlier. They also found that while booked parcels, which should have been loaded on a train, were lying on the platform, unregistered parcels were found lying on another platform. On February 10, the investigators found a person on platform 4 and 5 moving a trolley with 17 baskets which did not have the requisite permits or bar codes. The chief parcel supervisor was warned about the case.
The investigation found shortcomings in the work of the parcel handling contractor. Only a few labourers were reporting for duty despite the mandated 63 people for every shift. This forced the customers to bring in unauthorised staff. The officers felt CCTV coverage was not adequate and recommended coverage for gate pass counter, entrance gate and delivery office. The probe team has recommended better utilisation of the parcel office, a regular review of all procedures and greater vigilance by RPF.
Unregistered Parcels A Daily Affair At The Parcel Office
Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com
Chennai:04.03.2019
Three months after a parcel scam was detected at Chennai Central and subsequently hushed up, an internal 10-day probe by top railway officials has once again detected a host of irregularities at the same parcel office. Sources said the investigation has found that several unregistered parcels enter the platforms and Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been allowing unauthorised outsiders to enter the parcel office. “Many parcels which did not have railway bar code stickers were about to be loaded as part of another consignment. This is one of a modus operandi of overloading scams earlier detected by railway vigilance sleuths,” said a source.
The headquarters commercial branch conducted an inquiry three weeks ago and circulated a report on Friday. Based on the report, the chief vigilance officer of Southern Railway and his officers conducted a review meeting with Chennai divisional railway manager (DRM) Naveen Gulati on Friday. The investigation found that only two RPF personnel man the entry and exit points of Central parcel office. When questioned about the presence of unauthorised outsiders inside the parcel office and platforms, the personnel said their superiors did not give instructions to prevent such unauthorised entry, the report noted.
Rules mandate that leased parcels should be allowed only three hours prior to a train’s departure. However, the team found a consignment of electrical goods on platform 7, a full day earlier. They also found that while booked parcels, which should have been loaded on a train, were lying on the platform, unregistered parcels were found lying on another platform. On February 10, the investigators found a person on platform 4 and 5 moving a trolley with 17 baskets which did not have the requisite permits or bar codes. The chief parcel supervisor was warned about the case.
The investigation found shortcomings in the work of the parcel handling contractor. Only a few labourers were reporting for duty despite the mandated 63 people for every shift. This forced the customers to bring in unauthorised staff. The officers felt CCTV coverage was not adequate and recommended coverage for gate pass counter, entrance gate and delivery office. The probe team has recommended better utilisation of the parcel office, a regular review of all procedures and greater vigilance by RPF.
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