LG Sinha welcomes railway officer trainees in Srinagar, highlights railways’ nation-building role

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, Aug 4: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said officers of the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) will play a pivotal role in shaping India’s development journey, describing them as the “torchbearers of New India’s pace, capability and resolve.”

Addressing 69 officer trainees of the Indian Railways Institute of Transport Management (IRITM), Lucknow, who are on a field visit to Jammu & Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor congratulated the trainees selected through the Civil Services Examination in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 batches.

He said the diverse educational and regional backgrounds of the trainees reflected the spirit of India, adding that the institute serves as a laboratory of national unity by bringing together officers from across the country with a shared national purpose.

Highlighting the transformation of Indian Railways over the past 12 years, Sinha said record electrification, expansion of the Dedicated Freight Corridor, the rail connectivity linking Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the introduction of Vande Bharat trains and the modernisation of railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme marked a new era for the national transporter.

He said Indian Railways has evolved beyond a passenger transport system to become a key driver of economic development, logistics efficiency and national integration.

Calling upon the trainees to view themselves as both administrators and nation-builders, the Lieutenant Governor stressed the importance of improving efficiency in freight and passenger transportation.

He said reducing transit time lowers logistics costs, enhances industrial competitiveness and strengthens India’s position globally, while urging officers of the Indian Railway Management Service, Indian Railway Protection Force Service and railway accounts services to balance administrative discipline with human sensitivity.

Sinha also outlined three guiding principles for the trainees—embracing continuous innovation through digital technologies, artificial intelligence and data-driven systems; adopting a citizen-first approach in service delivery; and maintaining integrity and transparency while managing public investments in the railways.

Referring to India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, he said the decisions and leadership of the new generation of railway officers would directly influence the lives of millions of citizens and urged them to remain committed to public service.

Among those present were Rahul, Course Director and Professor (Traffic Planning and Costing), along with officials and faculty members of the Indian Railways Institute of Transport Management.