【新唐人2013年02月28日訊】中央「兩會」開幕前夕，新一屆國務院機構調整方案成為焦點。鐵道部與交通部合併一事，據傳已經基本敲定。不過，這一改動可能需要四到五年時間才能逐步完成。分析指出，眾多理由促使李克強揮刀斬「鐵老大」 ，不過，李克強操刀改革，不僅要有破局之膽，也要有破局之智。
中國大陸《第一財經日報》27號報導，雖然沒有官方定論，鐵道部併入交通部的消息已在整個鐵路系統不脛而走。而且，微博上，具有身份認證的人士更透露，鐵道部和交通部門合併後，改名為「公路鐵路航空水路交通總部」。
稍早前，《第一財經日報》還報導說，根據機構改革步驟，從制定計劃到實施部門、和人員的調動，少則需一兩年，多則四、五年才能完成。不過，在兩會公布方案之前，仍存在變動的可能。另外，由於涉及人員數目龐大，消息人士指稱：「後續的工作將是繁重艱鉅的」。
據了解，鐵道部作為一個「獨立王國」，長期以來備受詬病。這個「鐵老大」是目前國務院政府機構中唯一實行「政企合一」、兼負「政、企」雙重職能的部門，是一個集監管者和被監管者、投資方和建設方、工程監理和建設者於一體的機構，甚至鐵道部還有自己的公安局、檢察院和法院。
時事評論員汪北稷指出，鐵道部是個腐敗、專制的軍事化機構，多年來，一直受到譴責。
時事評論員汪北稷：「鐵道部是中共獨裁性、腐敗性、專制性的一個高度的濃縮，對人民大力的說是準軍事化管理，戰略意義。實際上在中國人痛苦的春運當中，扮演著一個極不光彩的角色。(鐵道部)發展所謂的高速鐵路的時侯，發生前年一個鐵路的重大事故，給人民留下一個恐懼的印象—-盲目的高速發展。所以這個部門留給中國的是個負資產。」
早在2008年，時任總理的溫家寶，曾對國務院部委和直屬機構進行一輪名為「大部制」改革的撤併，計劃將鐵道部併入交通部。但是，當時遭到時任鐵道部部長的劉志軍強力反對而受阻。隨著劉志軍因貪腐下臺，中國各界對鐵道部改革的呼聲愈來愈高。
時事評論家文昭：「前幾年『高鐵大躍進』當中，大量的資金投給他（劉志軍），整個對資金的管理缺少透明、缺少監督，產生了非常嚴重的腐敗案件。劉志軍跟江澤民是有一定關係的，就是他能夠在鐵道系統裡邊比較迅速得到提拔。」
《第一財經日報》的報導指出，由於大量高鐵項目上馬，鐵道部已經巨債纏身。截至2012年三季度，鐵道部負債26,607億元，資產負債率達61.81%。而同一時期鐵道部稅後虧損85.41億元。這是未來鐵路改革推進面臨的棘手難題。
報導引述「北京交通大學經管學院」教授榮朝和的分析指出，鐵路改革應包含三項涵義：一是機構改革，就是鐵道部併入交通部;二是政企分開，把鐵路的運營、建設職能剝離，運營部門從鐵道部中劃分出來，成立鐵路運輸總公司，再根據「網運分離」或者「區域分割」的理念，切割成不同的板塊和部門，使鐵路主管部門只具有公共服務和行業指導的職能。三是解決鐵路債務問題。
習、李自從「十八大」上位後，就向全國發出了加快改革、攻堅克難的動員令。多方消息證實，這次「大部制改革」將由李克強親自操刀。海內外輿論也在關注習、李的改革決心。有海外評論人士指出，鐵道部和交通部的改革，將是判斷習、李改革力度的標誌之一。而李克強操刀改革，不僅要有破局之膽，也要有破局之智。
採訪編輯/常春 後製/黎安安.
China’s Ministry of Railways To Be Reformed
On the eve of Chinese Communist Party(CCP)’s Two Sessions,
the restructure of State Council ministry and agencies has
become the public focus.
The merger plan of the Ministry of Railways with the Ministry
of Transport was rumored to have been finalized.
Reportedly, it will take about five years to complete.
Multiple reasons have led to the cut off the Ministry of Railways.
Li Keqiang, who will take charge of the restructure, shall
have both courage and wisdom, according to the comments.
On Feb 27, China’s First Financial Daily reported on
a rumor that has circled the entire Railways sector.
It is about the Railways Ministry’s incorporation with
the Ministry of Transport.
A netizen under real-name revealed in his micro-blog that
the merged new ministry will be named:
“Road, Rail, Aviation & Water Transportation Headquarters”.
Earlier on, the newspaper reported that it may take one
to five years to finish the merger.
The whole procedure ranges from finalizing plans to
personnel appointment.
Before the CCP Two Sessions in which the merger will be
officially announced, the plan remains variable, said the report.
Since the scheme will involve a great many personnel,
sources have said that “the follow-up work will be arduous”.
Over past years, the Railways Ministry, like a separate
kingdom, has been under heavy public criticism.
It is the sole state department that combines government
function and enterprise management.
Also, it is an integration of regulator and regulated,
and of investors and construction contractors.
The Railways Ministry even has its own public security
administration, procuratorate and courts.
Critic Wang Beiji says that the Railways Ministry is
a paramilitary agency.
Over the years, it has been blamed for corruption and
autocracy.
Wang Beiji: “The Railways Ministry is a high concentration
of the CCP dictatorship, corruption and autocracy.
Chinese citizens are under its paramilitary management.
During the Chinese New Year travel rush,
it has played an inglorious part.
When its so-called high-speed rail development
went into overdrive in 2011, Wenzhou saw a grave high-speed rail crash.
This taught the public that the development plan pursued
the goal of high speed quite blindly.
So it is that this state department has what
is viewed as negative equity.”
In 2008, Premier Wen Jiabao planned to restructure
the ministries and agencies under the State Council.
That included an incorporation of the Railways Ministry
with the Ministry of Transport.
Yet, it was blocked by strong opposition from Liu Zhijun,
the railway minister at that time.
After Liu was sacked for corruption, the public voice calling
for a reform of the Ministry of Railways increased.
(Critic) Wen Zhao: “The CCP authorities injected vast capital
into high-speed rail development several years ago.
But management of that capital lacked transparency and
oversight, which led to many major corruption cases.
Liu Zhijun had connections with Jiang Zemin, so he got
promoted quickly inside the railways sector.”
The First Financial Daily reported that the Railways Ministry
has been hugely debt-ridden.
As of the third quarter of 2012, the department had liabilities
of over 2660 billion yuan, with asset/liability ratio at 61.81%.
In the same period, after-tax loss exceeded 8.5 billion yuan.
It has become a ticklish problem for future railway reform.
The report quoted Rong Zhaohe, a professor at
Beijing Jiaotong University.
It said that the railway reform should cover three layers:
1. Institutional restructure: the merger of the Railways
Ministry with the Ministry of Transport;
2. the separation of functions of governance
from enterprise management.
That is, separating railway operation and construction
from the Ministry, and setting up a railway transport corporation.
The ministry in charge of railways will only serve
a role of public service and industry guidance.
3. The steps to be taken for solving debt problems.
Xi Jinping has openly spoken about the speeding up of
reform, soon after taking office.
Multiple sources have confirmed that Li Keqiang will
be in charge of this “big-ministry reform”.
The Xi-Li leadership’s resolve in carrying out reforms has
been closely followed by Chinese and foreign media.
An overseas commentator says that the reforming of
the Railways Ministry and the Transportation Ministry
will help to evaluate the Xi-Li ‘s team’s reform resolve.
Li Keqiang shall display both courage and wisdom,
according to comments made.