Zones and divisions of Indian Railways


divides its operations into zones, which are further sub-divided into divisions, each having a divisional headquarters. There are a total of 18 zones. Each of the divisions is headed by a Divisional Railway Manager, who reports to the General Manager of the zone. A DRM can be appointed from any of the eight organized services of Indian Railways, viz. Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers , Indian Railway Accounts Service, Indian Railway Personnel Service, Indian Railway Service of Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers, Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers, Indian Railways Traffic Service and Indian Railway Stores Service for the tenure of three years, but it can be exceeded on the recommendation of Railway Board. The DRM is assisted by one or two Additional Divisional Railway Managers in the working of the division. Divisional officers heading all departments viz. Stores, engineering, mechanical, electrical, signal and telecommunication, accounts, personnel, operating, commercial, safety, medical, security branches report to the Divisional Railway Manager.

List of zones and its divisions

The 18 zones and their 70 divisions are listed below. South Coast Railway zone is the newest zone in India.

Departments

A typical division has an average track length of about and staff strength of about 15,000. All the departments and services of the Indian Railways are represented in a Division.
Name of DepartmentHeaded byAbbre.Role and function
Engineering DepartmentSenior Divisional Engineer/Divisional EngineerSr.DEN/DENMaintenance of all fixed assets of the Division, i.e. Track, Bridges, Buildings, Roads, Water supply etc.
Mechanical Engineering DepartmentSenior Divisional Mechanical EngineerSr.DMEMaintenance of Carriages and Wagons of the Division.
Electrical Engineering Department Senior Divisional Electrical EngineerSr.DEE Maintenance of lighting and power for railway buildings.
Electrical Engineering Department Senior Divisional Electrical EngineerSr.DEE Maintenance of Overhead equipment.
Electrical Engineering Department Senior Divisional Electrical EngineerSr.DEE Maintenance of operations of all locomotives including EMUs/MEMUs and its establishment i.e. Assistant Loco Pilots,Loco Pilots,Loco Inspector and Guards.
Signal & Telecommunication Engineering DepartmentSenior Divisional Signal & Telecommunication EngineerSr.DSTEManagement of the Signalling and Telecommunication infrastructure of the division for Safe Train operations;
Operating and Traffic DepartmentSenior Divisional Operations ManagerSr.DOMTrain operations
Commercial DepartmentSenior Divisional Commercial ManagerSr.DCMPassenger ticketing, ticket checking, booking of freight rakes and collecting fares
Medical DepartmentChief Medical SuperintendentCMSProviding medical facilities to railway employees and their families
Safety DepartmentSenior Divisional Safety OfficerSr.DSOEnsuring safety of train operations
Stores DepartmentSenior Divisional Material ManagerSr.DMMEnsuring material for maintenance of trains
Accounts DepartmentSenior Divisional Finance ManagerSr.DFMFinancial management of the division
Personnel DepartmentSenior Divisional Personnel OfficerSr.DPOHR functions
Security DepartmentSenior Divisional Security CommissionerSr.DSCSecurity of railway material, passenger and passenger belongings
Managing DepartmentDivisional Railway ManagerDRMManaging all departments

16. Medical Department Chief medical superintendent all medical related metters

Control Room

Every division has a Control Room for train operations, where all the trains in the division are controlled and monitored. There are different types of control rooms such as engineering control, mechanical control etc. which coordinate with operating control and employees of the respective department.

Accident Relief Trains

Every division has Accident Relief Trains, Accident Relief Medical Vans and Breakdown Cranes for assisting in disaster management. These are under the supervision of the Senior Divisional Mechanical of Engineering of the Division, who is also the head of Division.

Locomotive Sheds

The Diesel Locomotive Sheds and Electric Locomotive Sheds in the division maintain diesel and electric locomotives respectively. Their administrative control is with the Divisional Railway Manager.

Coaching Depots and Sick Lines

Every division has some coaching depots to maintain its passenger cars and sick lines to maintain freight cars which are found unfit at the freight examination points.