In a surprising turn of events, Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Dr. Shivraj Manaspure, was abruptly transferred from his post on December 29, with no official reason provided. This unexpected move occurred merely a month after Dr. Manaspure disclosed the costs associated with Prime Minister Modi’s 3D selfie booths at railway stations in response to a Right to Information (RTI) request.
The transfer, shrouded in mystery, follows Dr. Manaspure’s revelation of the expenses related to the installation of PM Modi’s selfie booths. The RTI request, filed by social activist Ajay Bose, sought information from five Railway zones, including Central Railway, regarding the cost of setting up these booths.
According to the Times of India report, only Central Railway responded to Bose’s inquiry. The information provided indicated that there were 20 permanent and 30 temporary selfie booths established at various stations within Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Bhusawal, and Solapur divisions. The cost of each permanent booth at Category C stations was revealed to be ₹6.25 lakhs (excluding taxes), while temporary booths at Category A stations cost ₹1.25 lakhs, with all expenses approved by the Central Bureau of Communication.
Dr. Manaspure’s unexpected transfer, just seven months into his tenure as CPRO, has raised eyebrows, particularly in light of his recent recognition with the ‘Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar’ in 2023 by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Swapnil D Nila has assumed the role of Central Railways’ new CPRO following Dr. Manaspure’s transfer. While speculation links the move to Dr. Manaspure’s involvement in the RTI response, Nila denies any connection between the transfer and the controversial disclosure. Officials have referred to the transfer as a “top-level decision.”
On December 26, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the installation of “selfie booths” at railway stations featuring photographs of Prime Minister Modi. Kharge labeled it a “brazen waste” of taxpayers’ money, expressing discontent over what he perceived as self-promotion by the Modi government.
As the controversy unfolds, questions arise about the possible ramifications of Dr. Manaspure’s transfer and its implications for transparency within the Indian Railways.
