Information Management Issue

India

Performance Audit on Crew Management System Union Government, Railways

Year Published: 2015

Language: English

Sector: Transport

Issue: Information Management

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Crew Management System (CMS) was introduced over Indian Railways (IR) to manage crew assignments to various trains and to improve efficiency in crew operations, their monitoring and compliance with safety requirements and to improve financial management. CMS project was sanctioned by IR during 2005-06 and was expected to be completed by 2010. In Indian Railways, CMS was planned for implementation at 747 lobbies/locations. It was targeted for integration and implementation as one of the modules of Freight Operations Information System (FOIS) by 2010. As on 31st March 2015, it was rolled out in 372 lobbies which include two training locations and one testing location at CRIS Headquarters. The extent of achievement of the objectives of CMS was evaluated in Audit and the aspects relating to IT application controls, IT security, continuity of the organization’s business, contracting issues, project management/monitoring and change management were also reviewed. The study has revealed that the CMS has failed to fully achieve its objectives

Weblink :
https://www.cag.gov.in/content/report-no-47-2015-performance-audit-crew-management-system-union-government-railways

Summary/Highlight:

The major audit findings are as under:

  • Non-updation/Improper feeding of master data of crew, crew family details, routes, loco holding detail and lack of validation controls led to inaccurate inventory of crew, routes, loco holding, thus, defeating the very purpose of effective monitoring of crew. [Para 2.1.1 to 2.1.8]
  • Crew members were booked without ensuring their competency in all respect of the prescribed criteria. Inconsistencies were noticed in data pertaining to assignment and scheduling of crew. Abnormal delay was noticed in approving crew sign on/off activities. [Para 2.1.9 to 2.1.14]
  • SMS facility was not actively in use for crew booking. Mileage statements generated through CMS were incorrect and could not be directly used for payment. Manual records were being maintained simultaneously at lobbies resulting in non-achievement of objective of making the lobbies paperless. [Para 2.2.1, 2.3.1 & 2.3.2]
  • Data relating to training/tests for crew was not correctly updated. MIS generated for monitoring crew training were not giving actionable information. Dummy loco numbers were used for validating crew competency for loco which raises suspicion as to the deployment of competent crew. Crew members were booked in excess of the prescribed duty hours. [Para 2.4.1 to 2.4.3, 2.4.6]