(1) The Central Government may, for the purpose of the efficient administration of the Government railways, by notification constitute such railways into as many Zonal Railways as it may deem fit and specify in such notification the names and headquarters of such Zonal Railways and the areas in respect of which they shall exercise jurisdiction.
(2) The Zonal Railway existing immediately before the commencement of this Act shall be deemed to be Zonal Railways constituted under sub-section (1).
(3) The Central Government may, by notification, declare any unit of the railways engaged in research, development, designing, construction or production of rolling stock, its parts or other equipment used on a railway, to be a Zonal Railway.
(4) The Central Government may, by notification, abolish any Zonal Railway or constitute any new Zonal Railway out of any existing Zonal Railway or Zonal Railways, change the name or headquarters of any Zonal Railway or determine the areas in respect of which a Zonal Railway shall exercise jurisdiction.
Simplified Explanation
Section 3 of the Railways Act, 1989 outlines the framework for the creation, modification, and dissolution of Zonal Railways in India. This section is important for understanding the administrative structure of the railway system, particularly how railways are divided into regions for better management. Here’s a detailed explanation of each sub-section:
Sub-section (1): Constitution of Zonal Railways
- The Central Government has the power to create Zonal Railways for efficient administration.
- By issuing a notification, the government can divide the Government Railways into various zones, specifying:
- The names and headquarters of each Zonal Railway.
- The areas under the jurisdiction of each Zonal Railway.
- This allows for decentralized management, enabling each zone to focus on the specific needs and operations of its assigned geographical area.
Sub-section (2): Existing Zonal Railways Before the Act
- This sub-section ensures continuity by stating that any Zonal Railway that existed before the commencement of the Railways Act, 1989 will be treated as if it were constituted under the new provisions of the Act.
- Essentially, any zones created earlier are not affected by the introduction of the new framework and will continue to operate as they were.
Sub-section (3): Research and Development Units
- The Central Government can, through a notification, designate any railway unit involved in activities like research, development, designing, construction, or the production of rolling stock (like trains, wagons, locomotives) and other railway equipment as a Zonal Railway.
- This provides flexibility for the government to ensure that specialized railway units, especially those working on technology and infrastructure, are adequately managed under the Zonal Railway framework.
Sub-section (4): Modification or Abolition of Zonal Railways
- The Central Government has the authority to make significant changes to the structure of Zonal Railways:
- It can abolish a Zonal Railway if necessary.
- It can create new Zonal Railways by merging or splitting existing zones.
- It can change the name or headquarters of a Zonal Railway to improve its administration.
- It can also redefine the areas of jurisdiction of each Zonal Railway to ensure that operations are more efficient or better aligned with evolving needs.
- This flexibility ensures that the railway administration can adapt to changing demands and improve service delivery.
Conclusion
Section 3 provides the Central Government with broad powers to structure the railway administration by creating and modifying Zonal Railways. These changes are aimed at improving the efficiency of the system by organizing railway operations into manageable units with specific areas of responsibility. The flexibility to establish, modify, or even dissolve Zonal Railways helps the government maintain a responsive and efficient railway network that can adapt to the evolving needs of the country.
