Indian Railways honours outstanding performers at the

69th “Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar” Ceremony, 2024

Maligaon, 22ndDecember, 2024:

Union Minister of Railways, Communications and Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, conferred the 69th “Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar” on 21st December, 2024, to 101 Railway officials and 22 shields to the best-performing Zones at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event was graced by Chairman & CEO of Railway Board, Shri Satish Kumar, Members of the Railway Board and General Managers from various Railway Zones and Production Units.

 

Highlighting Indian Railways’(IR) transformative journey, Shri Vaishnaw emphasized towards achieving 100% electrification by 2025, completing landmark projects such as the Kashmir to Kanyakumari rail link as well as ongoing connectivity initiatives in the North-East India. He also mentioned towards the initiatives like Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, Namo Bharat trains and freight corridors with the upcoming Bullet Train services, adding gems to the nation’s connectivity. He noted the reduction in consequential accidents from 345 nos. to 90 nos. By the implementation of the Kavach safety system into railways. The Hon’ble Minister emphasized the Amrit Bharat station redevelopment efforts towards transforming the railway stations outlook in terms of passenger amenities and environment. Cleanliness initiatives and the upcoming launch of a Super Application to enhance passenger experience were also commended. The Minister called for a threefold focus on safety, maintenance, quality and training to modernize infrastructure and provide world-class commuter experiences. Financial rewards for adopting Safest, Maintenance, Quality and Training (SMQT) practices will also be introduced from next year.

 

From NFR, Shri Raj Narayan Kumar, Loco Pilot from Badarpur, and Shri Rahul Kumar, Sr. Assistant Loco Pilot from Lumding, were among the distinguished awardees. Shri Raj Narayan Kumar was recognized for his extraordinary alertness in averting an untoward incident during a massive landslide in Tripura, saving the lives of almost 1,000 passengers. Shri Rahul Kumar also demonstrated exceptional vigilance and acted quickly to prevent a potential mishap caused by a falling tree over railway track, ensuring passenger safety during challenging weather conditions.

 

Chairman & CEO of Railway Board, Shri Satish Kumar, emphasized affordable, world-class rail services underpinned by modernization, safety, and comfort. He highlighted projects like the Amrit Bharat Station initiative, incorporating state-of-the-art facilities for alland lauded the Railways’ team spirit and leadership in executing large-scale projects.

 

The “Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar” annually honours individual excellence and best-performing Zones, fostering a culture of safety, efficiency and innovation within Indian Railways. This year’s awards reaffirm the Railways’ commitment towards prominent progress, modernization, and next level service to the nation with dedication.