LG Manoj Sinha Urges New Railway Officers to Lead India’s Next Phase of Transformation First of all, I welcome you all to Lok Bhavan. All of you are going to enter service at a time when India is changing at a very rapid pace. And Indian Railways is also trying to be at the forefront of this change, said the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Manoj Sinha. Indian Railways is a great organisation. I have personally had the opportunity to work with it for five years, LG said. I can say that the meticulous planning that goes on in the railways is rarely seen in many places. The Lieutenant Governor shared a couple of things with those entering the Indian Railways service. One, it is important to remember that Indian Railways is not just a system of infrastructure and trains; it is also the hub of the country’s economic activities. It is also a common medium for social harmony and national unity. You are going to be a part of the system that connects the entire India, from inaccessible mountains to remote villages which connects the industry to the market and which plays the most important role in providing momentum to the life of the common citizen. Indian Railways may face many challenges and opportunities in the times to come. India’s economy is expanding at an unprecedented rate We are the fastest growing economy in the world. Urbanisation is also increasing. In such a situation, the responsibility of further transforming the Railways, making it more secure and more reliable, is going to fall on your shoulders. One thing needs to be kept in mind that keeping in view the changing economic system and the resolve of developed India, the main objective of improvement in Railways should not be only infrastructure expansion, but I feel that there is a need to pay special attention to how efficiency, safety, transparency and accountability can be integrated together, spoke the Lt Governor. First of all, you all have seen the improvement in the operating system, I don’t need to tell you that. Signalling system has improved significantly, automatic train control, better timetable management, train speed, punctuality and efficiency and improved passenger experience. It is your responsibility to highlight how these can be further enhanced. One important aspect of railway services that I understand the most is passenger centric services because they are your real consumers. From small to large cities, many systems have been created like smart ticketing, real time information system, digital grievance redressal, cashless payment, etc. With time, changes in these systems become necessary. Through technology, the railway is no longer just a transportation service provider but a modern service organisation. No matter how many modern systems you build, I believe security, safety and reliability are the three basic pillars of Indian Railways. Technique-based systems should be part of advanced monitoring systems, smart sensors, cyber security infrastructure and modern communication systems. With these, can we take the security of passengers and railway property to a new level? Future Railway leaders like you must ensure that technology does not replace human power but rather empowers and strengthens it. Personally, when I think about it, I feel that training is just the beginning. Every posting will pose a new challenge for you and teach you new things. I have a request that you should never stop learning, everyone has to learn throughout their life, LG said. Just think, seven decades have passed since Independence and now Kashmir has been connected to Indian Railways. It is not necessary to mention the reasons, but how can we connect such difficult places with fast railway links in the future? If we are not able to solve this challenge today, then I feel that we will not be recognised as a modern railway. The biggest asset of any person is his character. You have to fulfill your responsibilities honestly and transparently. The nation is waiting for your services and I hope that the position you have achieved after hard work, you will definitely give your full contribution in building the nation. I pray to God for this and while expressing my heartfelt gratitude to all of you, I complete my words by saying this. Thank you all.
