North Central Railway GM Reviews Prayagraj Division, Calls for Zero-Accident Goal and Better Passenger Amenities
General Manager Naresh Pal Singh directs officials to prioritise safety, operational efficiency, punctuality and infrastructure quality; seeks major improvements in Kanpur railway operations within two months and permanent drainage solutions before the next monsoon.
The General Manager of North Central Railway (NCR), Naresh Pal Singh, conducted a comprehensive review of ongoing development projects, railway operations, safety arrangements and passenger amenities in the Prayagraj Division on October 30, 2026. During the review meeting, he directed railway officials to accord the highest priority to operational safety, improvement in train movement, infrastructure quality and passenger convenience, while ensuring measurable progress across all key areas.
Emphasising accountability and a sense of ownership among railway officials, the General Manager said that railway operations should be managed with the same commitment and responsibility as one would demonstrate while running one’s own establishment. He urged officers to take personal responsibility for their respective areas of work and ensure that every operational and development activity was carried out efficiently and in accordance with prescribed standards.
The meeting was attended by Rajneesh Agrawal, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Prayagraj Division; Deepak Kumar, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (General); M.M. Waris, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (Operations); Dhananjay Kumar Singh, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (Infrastructure); Akhil Shukla, Secretary to the General Manager; and other senior divisional officers.
Zero-Accident Target and Strengthening Railway Safety
During the review, the General Manager set a clear target of making the division accident-free and instructed officials to remain vigilant on every aspect of railway safety. He emphasised that safety should not be treated merely as a procedural requirement but as the foremost responsibility of every railway employee involved in train operations and infrastructure maintenance.
He directed officials to introduce safety-related question-and-answer sessions for loco pilots before they report for duty. Employees demonstrating excellent performance in these assessments should be recognised and rewarded to encourage greater awareness and adherence to safety procedures.
The General Manager also instructed that the availability of locomotives concerned must be ensured at the time of taking traffic blocks. Work shifts should be planned according to the duration of the approved block so that maintenance activities can be completed efficiently without unnecessary delays or operational complications.
He further stressed the need to ensure comprehensive safety arrangements during track patrolling. Officials were instructed to take all necessary measures to bring overhead equipment (OHE) failure incidents down to zero and maintain strict compliance with prescribed safety standards.
Another important direction concerned the installation of CCTV cameras in Station Master rooms. The General Manager asked officials to expedite the process so that monitoring and operational supervision at stations could be strengthened.
Focus on Infrastructure Quality and Permanent Solutions
Reviewing ongoing construction and maintenance activities, Naresh Pal Singh emphasised that railway infrastructure work must deliver long-term results rather than temporary repairs.
He made it clear that the objective should be to ensure quality rework and permanent solutions to infrastructure-related problems instead of repeatedly undertaking routine repairs without addressing their underlying causes.
The General Manager advised all departmental heads to establish direct communication and coordination with the contractors concerned. Regular monitoring of ongoing projects, timely identification of deficiencies and effective supervision were identified as essential measures for improving the quality and pace of execution.
He also directed officials to ensure that construction and maintenance activities were completed in accordance with the required technical and quality standards.
Major Improvement in Kanpur Operations Within Two Months
The General Manager laid particular emphasis on improving railway operations and associated arrangements in the Kanpur region. He instructed officials to ensure comprehensive improvements in railway operations and other related facilities within the next two months.
The directions are aimed at improving operational efficiency, infrastructure management and the overall functioning of railway facilities in the region.
He also highlighted the importance of advance preparation for the forthcoming monsoon season. Officials were instructed to ensure that drainage systems at all railway stations and platforms were properly maintained and improved before the onset of the next monsoon.
Special emphasis was placed on identifying locations facing waterlogging and drainage-related problems and implementing permanent solutions. The objective is to prevent water accumulation at stations and platforms and minimise disruptions to railway operations during heavy rainfall.
Promoting Solar Energy and AI-Based Technologies
The General Manager also encouraged greater use of renewable energy across railway premises and directed officials to explore opportunities for expanding solar power utilisation.
While discussing the installation of solar panels on railway coaches, he suggested adopting suitable adhesive-based technology instead of conventional welding methods. The recommendation was aimed at encouraging appropriate installation techniques while maintaining the required standards.
He further urged officers to make greater use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies to improve operational efficiency, monitoring systems and administrative processes.
The adoption of AI-based solutions was highlighted as an important opportunity to strengthen supervision, improve the efficiency of railway operations and support better decision-making through technology.
Better Utilisation of Human Resources
Addressing personnel management, the General Manager emphasised assigning supervisory responsibilities to employees based on their qualifications, capabilities and suitability for particular roles.
He instructed officials to make more effective use of the available workforce and ensure that employees were deployed in a manner that maximised their skills and productivity.
He also stressed the importance of regular monitoring of departmental performance and ensuring that responsibilities were clearly defined at every level.
Focus on Punctuality, Passenger Amenities and Revenue Growth
Concluding the review meeting, the General Manager directed all officers to regularly assess the progress of their respective departments against predetermined targets.
He called for concrete and result-oriented improvements in railway safety, train punctuality, passenger amenities, infrastructure development and revenue generation.
The review reflects North Central Railway’s emphasis on strengthening operational discipline, improving infrastructure quality and adopting modern technologies to enhance railway services.
By setting specific priorities, including the accident-free operation of the Prayagraj Division, improvements in Kanpur within two months and drainage preparedness ahead of the next monsoon, the General Manager has asked divisional officials to translate the review directives into measurable improvements on the ground.
