Designed to help the candidates appearing the Appendix 3, LDCE, 70% etc of Railway Accounts
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Saturday, November 4, 2023
Counter Offer
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
EPC - 2020 year SCR LDCE question for 5 marks
EPC
§
EPC stands for Engineering, Procurement & Construction
§ Also known as Turnkey project (Turn of the Key)
§ A new and prominent form of Contract Agreement in Construction industry.
§ Key feature: To execute and deliver the Project (from Planning to Completion in all respects) within Agreed time and Budget.
§
In a nutshell, EPC
Contractor will carry out:
A. Carry out the detailed Engineering Design of the Project.,
B. Procure all the Equipments and Material for construction of the said Project.,
C. then, Construct the Project and Deliver to their Client.
§ Usually in EPC Contracts, the Client employs PMC - Project Management Consultant to supervise the work. (Click here to access the article on PMC)
Need of EPC in Indian Railways
§ In Conventional Rate Contracts (present Works Contracts), the usual drawbacks are
A. Delay in Survey
B. Delay in preparation of Estimates
C. Delayed Measurements
D. Inadequate funds
E. Cost over runs
F. Time over runs
G. Disputes on various issues with Contractors
§ To address all the above issues, Railway Board have proposed a Model EPC Agreement, which is released recently.
§
Click here for Model EPC Agreement
Salient features of Model
EPC Agreement of Indian Railways
ü
Lump sum Contract Price
(subject to Price Variation clause)
ü
Within Time
ü Damages due to delay i.e., 0.05 % of Contract Price for one day delay.
ü Maximum damages are not to exceed 10 % of Contract Price. That means, maximum delay is 200 days ( 200 x 0.05 = 10)
ü Assigned responsibility for Investigations, Design & Construction to the EPC Contractor
ü Transferring the Construction Risk to the EPC Contractor.
ü Payments are linked to the Specific Stages of Construction. (unlike individual measurements like in existing rate contracts/Works contracts)
ü
Defect Liability
Period - 2 years
ü
Bid Security (Replacing
EMD )
ü Performance Security ( May be replacing Security Deposit and Performance Guarantee)
Examples of EPC in Indian
Railways / Transport sector.
1. RE - Railway Electrification Project - 781 Kms in Konkan Railway given to L & T in the year 2017.
2. Delhi Metro Railway Construction
3. Construction of Railway Bridge in Jammu - Udhampur Railway Link
^^^^^^^
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Buildings and Rents
Buildings & Rents
Source: Chapter 19 of Engineering Code
No employee has any right to be provided with Quarters
Quarters provided by Railways - The following circumstances
Where conditions are such that Private enterprise does not adequately meet the demand for housing the staff.
It is necessary for special reasons to provide Quarters for certain staff near to their work (for example: staff working in remote location Railway Stations)
GM - Can divide the Quarters into separate classes as per the standard of accommodation approved for various classes of staff.
Railway Board - Have the power to prescribe the scale of accommodation and the unit cost of each class of quarters.
Motor garages - Should not as a rule be provided in staff quarters. Allowed only in exceptional cases i.e., essential in the interest of the official's work. In such cases, the cost of garages should be added to the capital cost of the quarters to assess the Rent.
Temporary Garages - The cost should not exceed Rs.10,000 /-
Assessed Rent of class of Quarters - 6% of the Capital cost of all the Quarters of the particular class.
Rent - Officers Quarters - Floor Area basis
Rent - Staff Quarters - Floor Area basis (wherever possible)
Rent - Assessed once in 5 years
Rent - To work out the details, 2 years is allowed.
Example: The Rent worked out based on the cost as on 31.03.2021 will be effected from 01.04.2023.
GM/DRM - Have full powers to incur the expenditure on Repairs to the Quarters. (Previously Rs.1 Lakh on Quarter subject to Rs.30 Lakhs per Annum. Now it is deleted)
Leased and Requisitioned Buildings - The rent paid to the Landlord should be treated as Assessed Rent
The Total Cost of the Quarters:
Inclusions:
The entire cost of construction irrespective of the source of finance
Sanitary fittings
Water Supply fittings
Electric Installation & Fittings
Exclusions:
Cost of Land
Development of Land (Raising, Levelling, Dressing, Construction of Revetments, retaining walls, compound walls, fences and gates, Approach Roads, Sewerage, Street lighting, Water supply arrangements, Over Head Tank, Transformer, etc)
Electric Bulbs: First cost from Railway Funds. Subsequent replacements are chargeable to the Occupants.
Provision of other special installations and fittings such as Heating installations, Electric Lifts, Refrigerators, and Furniture - Railway Board prior permission is required.
Hire Charges for Furniture
14% per annum for Durable articles - Beds, Almirahs, Chairs, Tables etc
24.75% per annum for Non Durable articles - Door mats, curtains, mattresses, durries (carpets), chicks (stools), etc
Obligation of Tenants:
Any additions or alterations to quarters with permission of the Executive Engineer in charge only.
Keep their Quarters in a clean and wholesome state.
Service Buildings:
Examples: Railway Stations, Offices, Depots, Workshops, Running Rooms, Guest Houses for Officers and subordinate staff
No Rent is chargeable
Temporary use of Rest houses etc as Residence - DRM has powers
No Rent - Accommodation provided for the Officers of Government Inspectors of Railways or for Statutory Audit Officers
List of Buildings:
Maintaining a complete and up-to-date list of all Buildings
Both Residential and Service
Form: E 1977
Division wise
Reviewed by the Divisional Engineer once in every 3 Months
Rent Rolls:
Prepared in Triplicate (Personnel Dept, Accounts Dept and Office Copy)
Prepared on the beginning of the Financial Year i.e., 1st April
Information of Quarters, Occupants, etc
Form: Chapter 16-A of the Engineering Code
Key Points for MCQ:
Buildings & Rents - Chapter 19 of the Engineering Code
No employee has any right to be provided with Quarters
Assessed Rent of class of Quarters - 6% of the Capital cost of all the Quarters of the particular class. (whether the Total cost is charged to Capital or any other Source of Finance)
Rent - Assessed once in 5 years
Rent - To work out the details, 2 years is allowed.
Example: The Rent worked out based on the cost as on 31.03.2021 will be effected from 01.04.2023.
Rent - Officers Quarters - Floor Area basis
Rent - Staff Quarters - Floor Area basis (wherever possible)
GM/DRM - Have full powers to incur the expenditure on Repairs to the Quarters.
Temporary Garages - The cost should not exceed Rs.10,000 /-
Electric Bulbs: First cost from Railway Funds. Subsequent replacements are chargeable to the Occupants.
Hire Charges: 14% per annum for Durable articles - Beds, Almirahs, Chairs, Tables etc
Hire Charges: 24.75% per annum for Non Durable articles - Door mats, curtains, mattresses, durries (carpets), chicks (stools), etc
Rent is not chargeable to Service Buildings like Stations, Offices, Workshops etc
Temporary use of Rest houses etc as Residence - DRM has powers
No Rent - Accommodation provided for the Officers of Government Inspectors of Railways or for Statutory Audit Officers
Form: E 1977 - List of Buildings
List of Buildings - Reviewed every 3 months.
Rent Rolls - Prepared in Triplicate (Personnel Dept, Accounts Dept and Office Copy)
Rent Rolls - Prepared at the beginning of the Financial Year i.e., 1st April
End
Friday, October 27, 2023
Engineering Code - Latest 2023 May
Engineering Code
1. Revised Edition 1982
2. Fourth Re-Print 2012
3. Up to ACS 61 May 2023
4. PDF copy by IRICEN, Pune
Click for Engineering Code Latest 2023 May
Saturday, October 14, 2023
Key to Expenditure Question Paper Appendix2 Exam 2023 WR
Key to Expenditure Question Paper Appendix2 Exam 2023 WR
Click for Expenditure Question Paper 2023 of WR
Section I
Match the following: (Marks 12 x 1=12)
1 | EPC | A | Registration of Bills | |
2 | Plan Head 53 | B | Traffic Facilities | |
3 | CO 6 | C | General Conditions of Contract | |
4 | Cash Imprest | D | Engineering Procurement Construction | |
5 | Primary Unit | E | Works chargeable to Capital | |
6 | GeM | F | % of Gross Working Expenses to Gross Earnings | |
7 | Plan Head 16 | G | Government e Marketplace | |
8 | GCC | H | Works Matters | |
9 | ROR | I | Object of Expenditure | |
10 | Operating Ratio | J | Petty Expenses | |
11 | MSOP Part A | K | Control Over Cash Outgo | |
12 | Exchequer Control | L | Customer Amenities |
Answer:
1 | EPC | D | Engineering Procurement Construction | |
2 | Plan Head 53 | L | Customer Amenities | |
3 | CO 6 | A | Registration of Bills | |
4 | Cash Imprest | J | Petty Expenses | |
5 | Primary Unit | I | Object of Expenditure | |
6 | GeM | G | Government e Marketplace | |
7 | Plan Head 16 | B | Traffic Facilities | |
8 | GCC | C | General Conditions of Contract | |
9 | ROR | E | Works chargeable to Capital | |
10 | Operating Ratio | F | % of Gross Working Expenses to Gross Earnings | |
11 | MSOP Part A | H | Works Matters | |
12 | Exchequer Control | K | Control Over Cash Outgo |
Fill in the Blanks (16 Marks)
Detailed estimates need not be prepared for works costing less than _______
Expenditure of Railway Staff College is chargeable to Demand No._________
Currency for the sanction to an Estimate is normally _____ years
Minimum Rate of Return expected for Railway Projects is _____ percent
The Amount recoverable from Suppliers for the failure to supply the materials within due date is known as __________
Salary of Running Staff is booked to Demand No. ____
The Zonal Accounts Department is headed by ______
Abstract Z refers to ____________ Earnings
Answers:
Rs 5 Lakhs
Erstwhile Demand No. 2 Miscellaneous Expenditure - General (Railway Staff College new name is NAIR - National Academy of Indian Railways) . If Zonal Training Centres, the answer is erstwhile Demand No.12 - Miscellaneous Working Expenses (SMH - Sub Major Head 10)
5 years ( 2 years - If work is not commenced)
10
LD - Liquidated Damages
Erstwhile Demand No. 08 - Operating Expenses - Rolling Stock & Equipment
PFA - Principal Finance Advisor (In Railway Board - Member Finance. In Division - Sr.DFM - Senior Divisional Finance Manager)
Sundry Other Revenue (Now Revenue is replaced the word Earnings) .Abstract X - Coaching Traffic Revenue and Abstract Y - Goods Traffic Revenue
3. State Whether True or False: (12 Marks)
SN | Statement | True / False |
1 | The object of performance guarantee in service tenders is to keep the offer of open till the finalization of Tenders | |
2 | Revenue Allocation Register is maintained for exchequer control | |
3 | PVC claim is applicable for Contracts above Rs.25 Lakhs | |
4 | Expenditure on ceremonial occasion is normally charged to Revenue | |
5 | Post Project appraisal is done through Productivity Test | |
6 | In IPAS module bills are required to be pass at 3 levels | |
7 | The checks exercised by Railway Accounts Office on financial transactions is called Internal Audit | |
8 | M&P programme is budgeted under Plan Head 41 | |
9 | Two Packet system of tendering means submitting the Tender documents separately for Technical and financial bids | |
10 | Arbitration is a mechanism to sort out the disputes arising out of implementation of Contract | |
11 | Deposit works means works charged to Fixed Deposit under Contingency Fund of India | |
12 | A Contract under which during the period of its currency, the Contractor engages to supply materials on Demand irrespective of the Quantity at fixed unit rate is called Rate Contract |
Answers:
False (Correct Answer is the Object of EMD is to keep the offer open till the finalization of Tender)
False
False (The Correct answer is Rs.2 Crores and above)
True
True
False (The Correct answer is Internal Check)
True
True
True
False
True
4. Give the full forms of following: (Any 18) (Marks 18 x 1=18)
SN | Abbreviation/ Acronym | Expansion |
1 | IPAS | Integrated Payroll Accounting System |
2 | IRPSM | Indian Railways Projects Sanction & Management |
3 | GST | Goods & Services Tax |
4 | MSME | Micro Small & Medium Enterprises |
5 | RRSK | Rashtriya Rail Sanrakshak Kosh |
6 | DRF | Depreciation Reserve Fund |
7 | PVC | Price Variation Clause |
8 | HRMS | Human Resources Management System |
9 | DOP | Delegation Of Powers |
10 | RDSO | Research Designs & Standards Organization |
11 | CLW | Chittaranjan Locomotive Works |
12 | RSP | Rolling Stock Programme |
13 | EMD | Earnest Money Deposit |
14 | PBG | Performance Bank Guarantee |
15 | UDM | User Depot Module |
16 | GFR | General Financial Rules |
17 | DCF | Discount Cash Flow |
18 | IRWCMS | Indian Railways Works Contract Management System |
19 | NPV | Net Present Value |
20 | GTKM | Gross Tonne Kilo Meters |
21 | FIRR | Financial Internal Rate of Return |
To be Continued…….