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The fact that organisational intranet is of immense utility and its usage will benefit us all, is an accepted truth. Most of the officers who do not bother to log on railnet, have been using Internet regularly. So what can be the likely reason for the woefully low Railnet usage?
Surely, one cannot attribute lack of appreciation or understanding of the technology, as a reason for low utilisation of Railnet. To my mind, while a better understanding of the technology is required, there are other issues that are needed to be addressed.
1. Railnet connectivity is restricted to only JA grade officers and above. In our organisational set up, JA grade and above employees form a miniscule percentage of the workforce. So, the percentage of Railnet usage vis-a vis employee strenght is bound to be very low.
2. This select group of Railnet users are mostly involved in administrative affairs. Thus, at best, the Railnet can be used for expediting Administrative matters only. But even here, the input processes that are used for decision-making at administrative level are outside the scope/connectivity of Railnet. Most of the input documents, files, vouchers, ledgers etc are in paper document/hard copy and we are required to maintain the records in paper document/hard copy and in original. Under these circumstances, the utility of Railnet even in administrative matters becomes restricted.
3. The bulk of the workforce of IR are at Operational level. Our stations & the various depots. Also, the workforce is distributed across a large area (unlike in workshops/PU). Railnet is not provided for at this level and so Railnet cannot be used at the level where it can be most effective.

Railnet usage is low because the authorised users (JA grade and above) do not feel the need to log on to it. Unless the work processes are modified to suit the Railnet usage, it would not help. Lets take a very simple example; In NHPC, leave is sanctioned on intranet. But in Railways/govt, the copy of the sanctioned LAP application is to be attached in the personal file and the leave record is to be maintained in paper form/hard copy only. Even if one sanctions leave on Railnet, a hard copy of the sanctioned leave will still be required. What can be the possible motivation for using Railnet even in such cases.
To improve the Railnet usage, we will have to expand the Railnet to the operative level. But that may not help immediately. We would also need to bring the work processes in an IT environment. The MIS project (monitored by MIS Directorate) for the nominated departments, if implemented fully, with the connectivity in MIS right till the Depot level (i.e. to the operative level which is also the point at which the information/ process originates) and provide for interface with Railnet will help bring it to the operative level. At present, Railnet is only an internal IT network connecting various administrative offices. All that it provides for is a means for browser-based information sharing resources within a very limited user group. It is no wonder that its usage is limited.
If the Railnet is interfaced with the various IT systems like AFRES/PRIME/MIS/MMIS etc, and the system/work processes reoriented to suit working in an IT environment, the utility of our intranet would definitely improve.

Prashant Nikam
IRAS- 96
WCR