Zee News

New Delhi, Aug 3: The Railway ministry has decided to provide laptops to all its officers in order to promote IT culture and reduce paper work.

"The laptops have already given to senior officers at joint secretary level. Now, it has been decided to provide it to all our officers at director level and above," said a senior ministry official.

The ministry would spend about Rs 930 crore in the current fiscal year in information technology-related activities out of Rs 31,000 crore budget. The Planning Commission has suggested spending about three per cent of its budget on IT projects.

Currently, only 2,000 senior officials have been given laptops while there are about 14,000 officers in the railways.

"Laptops would be provided in phases as we are in the process of finalising the procurement process," said the official.

Whether to review the inspection report or issuing some order on track alignment and repairing the wagons, instant decision can be taken through the net. One can also access the data instantly without waiting for the report to be placed before him or her and so by providing laptops, the time gap in taking decisions would be reduced, he said.

It is not only officials but even the supervisors are to be equipped with laptops in the next phase as per the ministry's e-governance plan.

"Those supervisors who are involved in field duties are being considered for laptops," added the official.