Description

Indian Railways is more than a transportation system; it is one of India’s most significant public institutions, connecting people, regions, markets, and communities while contributing to the country’s economic and social development. This book presents a comprehensive study of Indian Railways through the perspectives of history, administration, organisation, public service, and institutional effectiveness. Tracing the evolution of railways from the colonial period to their transformation into a vast national institution after Independence, it examines their role in nation-building, regional development, public service delivery, and national integration.
With special reference to the Ajmer Division of North Western Railway, the study explores railway administration through the perspectives of passengers, employees, and administrators. It examines passenger services, punctuality, safety and security, cleanliness, amenities, employee welfare, working conditions, organisational support, and administrative practices. Based on empirical evidence collected from 300 passengers and 300 railway employees, supplemented by field observations, interactions with railway officials, official reports, government publications, and academic literature, the book provides a grounded understanding of the strengths and challenges of railway administration.
“Beyond the Tracks” views railway effectiveness through the wider lens of public administration, Governance and institutional functioning. It demonstrates that an effective railway system depends not only on infrastructure and train operations, but also on the quality of administration, employee experience, passenger satisfaction, organisational practices, and the institution’s ability to respond to changing in public expectations.

About The Author

Dr. Abhilasha Sharma is an academic, researcher, writer, and educator specializing in Public Administration and Political Science, with over eleven years of experience in teaching and higher education. She is currently an Assistant Professor at JECRC University, Jaipur.

She holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration from Mohan Lal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, and is a Gold Medalist in M.A. Public Administration. She has also received a Doctoral Fellowship from ICSSR, New Delhi. Her research interests include Public Policy, Administrative Reforms, Governance, Organisational Behaviour, and Institutional Effectiveness, with significant research on Indian Railways and public administration.

Her work combines empirical research with a strong commitment to understanding public institutions and contemporary governance in India