Railway Engineers Regiments (Territorial Army)

Railway Territorial Army (TA) units were raised as an auxiliary force in 1949 under the Territorial Army Act, 1948, to maintain rail communication in forward areas during active hostilities and to carry on essential rail transportations in an emergency during peace time. Railway Engineers Regiments are manned primarily by the serving railway personnel with the help of a small nucleus of permanent staff drawn from the regular Army.

Presently, there are six Railway paid TA Regiments, viz:
i) 969 Railway Engineers Regiment (TA), Jamalpur,
ii) 970 Railway Engineers Regiment (TA), Jhansi,
iii) 1031 Railway Engineers Regiment (TA), Kota,
iv) 1032 Railway Engineers Regiment (TA), Adra,
v) 1101 Railway Engineers Regiment (TA), Chandigarh and
vi) 1105 Railway Engineers Regiment (TA), Hyderabad.

The most important feature of this force is that enlistment to the Territorial Army does not stand in the way of normal vocation of TA Personnel in civil life. It provides an excellent opportunity to imbibe military discipline, develop physique and self-confidence, widen general outlook and also play an important and useful role towards service of the country. The Railway Engineers Regiments (TA) have rendered invaluable service during period of crisis ever since their inception.

The entire expenditure including cost of stores, arms and ammunition (drawn from the Ministry of Defence), pay and allowances of permanent staff, cost of annual training camps, the expenditure on various incentives to Railway Territorial Army personnel such as enhanced daily allowance payable during embodiment in aid of civil authorities, cash awards to recipients of TA Decoration/Medal and extended stay in TA 
service on completion of prescribed period etc. is borne by the Ministry of Railways. During the year 2011 12, the expenditure incurred on six Railway paid TA Regiments was `8.60 crore, approximately.

Annual Training Camps
The Railway TA personnel have to undergo 30 days of mandatory annual training every year to keep themselves physically fit and accustomed with military discipline, arms & ammunition, defence techniques, etc. The annual training camps were duly conducted for the Railway TA personnel of the six Railway TA Regiments during 2011-12.

Recruitment/Discharge
During 2011-12, 480 Railway TA personnel and 1 Officer were inducted into various Railway TA Regiments while 162 Other Ranks (ORs), 12 Junior Commissioned Officers and 1 
Officer were discharged/retired from TA Regiments.

Public Relations
Indian Railways’ PR set up is responsible for disseminating information about various policy initiatives, services, concessions, projects, performances and developmental activities undertaken by the Railways. It plays an important role in building both the corporate and social image of IR. 
Publicity campaigns are launched to educate the rail users on various aspects of railway working including safety and security norms in order to create awareness among the masses. During the last financial year, a special brand building advertisement campaign was undertaken entitled ‘We Deliver’. Special campaigns were also undertaken by IR on revised Tatkal Scheme, need for carrying identity proofs while travelling with Tatkal tickets, information about the various Summer Specials, safety norms at unmanned Railway Level Crossings, hazards of roof top travelling, trespassing of railway tracks, menaces of touts in booking of the tickets, drugging of passengers by strangers on trains and at railway stations, etc. Special TV spots 
were also conceptualized and these social awareness spots and messages have been telecast frequently. 
The Ministry of Railways participated in the ‘India 
International Trade Fair 2011, organised at Pragati Maidan, 
New Delhi. A specially made 3-D Model of Steam Engine
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