Title - Bribery scandal has tarnished Railway image: Union leader

VIJAYAWADA: The recent bribery scandal involving a top Railway Board officer has tarnished the image of the Government-run transport behemoth, a rail union leader said today.

"The (bribery) incident was worst of its kind in Railway's history and has tarnished the image of the entire organisation," All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) General Secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra said here.

The Government should take steps to bring transparency in top level postings and announce the appointments at least two months in advance, he told reporters here.

Early this month, former Railway Minister P K Bansal's nephew and a few others were arrested by CBI in a case involving alleged payment of bribe for fixing a top Railway Board position. Railway Board member Mahesh Kumar, who was suspended and later arrested, was a key figure in the scam.

Mishra demanded the Railway Ministry fill the existing 2.5 lakh vacancies to improve efficiency of the transport undertaking, particularly with regard to passenger services and safety.

He sought constitution of the 7the Pay Commission to revise the wages of Central Government and Railway employees.