As railways services merged, officers worry about seniority, career progression

Uncertainty over promotions and career progression have begun to worry officers as the railways announced big ticket reforms in the national carrier by merging its cadres and departments.

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the organisational restructuring of the railways through unification of the existing eight Group A services into one central service -- the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS). Ministry officials said the move was required as there was huge "departmentalism" that delayed many projects.

The government has, however, said that clarity on the issue will emerge when a committee of secretaries and a panel of ministers take a call on the policy to decide on around a total of 8,200 officers.

Some officers, however, point out that the announcement of the mergers should have been made after firming up the policy.

Senior officials also claimed that while the government has said the idea behind the move was to end departmentalism, it would in actuality create two silos .