Transfer of PRO after revealing the cost of PM Modi’s selfie booth in RTI, know the price
A case of transfer of a Railway officer has come to light after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave information about the actual cost of 3D selfie booth and selfie point.
According to the information, after giving information about the booth in RTI, Central Railway transferred its Chief Public Relations Officer (PRO) Shivraj Manaspure. Manaspure was transferred before the end of his tenure, which usually lasts for two years. Indian Railways had installed PM’s selfie booths at many stations. Let us tell you that the opposition including Congress is attacking regarding the selfie booth.
Social worker of Amravati district asked questions
According to the information, Ajay Bose, a social worker from Badnera in Amravati district, had filed an RTI application in five zones seeking information about the amount spent on making selfie points. He wanted information related to these in Central Railway, Western Railway, Southern Railway, Northern Railway and North Western Railway.
Manaspure is a 2011 batch IRTS officer. He took charge as CPRO in May. He was transferred from Mumbai headquarters without giving any reason on 29 December. Swapnil D Neela has been appointed in his place.
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No information about new posting
According to TOI news, Manaspure has not even been informed about his new posting. Along with this, before the transfer order of Manaspure, the Railway Board had issued an advisory on December 28 asking all GMs and DRMs to be careful while dealing with the information sought under the RTI Act.
In December, Bose had received different replies from railway divisions regarding the number of 3D booths. Except Central Railway, none of the divisions responded to the question regarding the cost of making temporary and permanent booths. Many boards did not even answer the questions. Ajay Bose got information about a total of 187 booths under this, out of which more than 100 were in the Hindi belt of Northern Railway.
Cost of temporary booth Rs 1.25 lakh
According to RTI, Central Railways says that temporary selfie booths have been installed at 30 stations and permanent selfie booths at 20 stations in five divisions – Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune, Bhusaval and Solapur. The cost of each temporary booth at the Class-A station was Rs 1.25 lakh.
Cost of permanent booth 6.25 lakh
Whereas the cost of permanent booth at Class C stations was Rs 6.25 lakh. Bose says the information from Central Railway was provided by Deputy General Manager (PIO-HQ) Abhay Mishra, but the CPRO has been removed. However, Neela denied that Manaspure’s transfer was due to answering the RTI. Declined to comment, calling it a ‘top level decision’.
Manaspure has received the honor
Manaspure is known for its better image. He had a good stint as Senior Divisional Commercial Manager in Bhusaval Division. During this period, he was honored for his special efforts in increasing the earnings of Railways and combating ticketless travel and theft. This award was given by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on December 15, 2023 in Delhi. Now the sudden transfer has shocked.
