Title - Funds crunch hits DRM office work

The work of the new Divisional Railway Manager's (DRM) office at Raja Bahadur Mill Road is progressing at a snail's pace for want of funds. The project was announced in 2006 with an estimated expenditure of Rs 8.5 lakh and a stipulated time frame of two years. Currently, the DRM and other offices are housed at a building near the Pune railway station.

A railway official said barring first two years there has been a lot of trouble in getting funds for the project. The work had to be halted between 2010 and 2012 as there was no fund allotment during this time, he added.He said over 50 per cent work has been completed. With Rs 3 crore each allotted in 2012 and 2013 budgets, the work on the project has gathered steam, he said.

The DRM office has over 500 employees working at more than 15 section offices and branch offices, with a daily footfall of 200 visitors.

The new building will house offices of DRM, Divisional Commercial Manager, IRCTC, Railway Engineers and PRO along with conference and meeting rooms, open areas and parking space.

Harsha Shah of Railway Pravasi Group blamed the railway board for the delay in projects in the state.

"The work should have been completed in a year. This would have pushed the ambitious plan of making the Pune railway station a world class station as the shifting of offices would have provided the much needed land for the station. But the railway board is not providing funds. The board announces projects and forgets them. Also, general manager and DRM's of the railways change after a few years and they hardly care about the projects," said Shah.

Railway spokesperson Y K Singh said the project will be completed in 5-6 months.