'Panch Pran': Railway Board Chief Spells Out Five Key Priorities, Urges Staff To Work Towards Aspirations Of New India

Indian Railway Board chairperson Jaya Varma Sinha, has asked all railway employees to work on — 'panch prans' (five commitments) — of safety, integrity, capacity augmentation, revenue generation and customer amenities and experience.

This is her first official communication to all railway personnel, after taking over as the first woman chief of the highest policy and decision-making body of the Indian Railways.

In the letter addressed to all general managers, heads of the departments and divisional railway managers, Sinha said that safety is paramount.

"We must recognise that every accident can be prevented, and it is incumbent upon us to ensure strict adherence to established safety protocols. It is imperative that we actively engage in the field, setting an exemplary standard for all," she stated in the letter.

On the integrity issue, Sinha stressed that the Railways will maintain zero-tolerance towards any misconduct and enhance transparency in every process. "Integrity is non-negotiable," she wrote.

With regard to capacity augmentation, Sinha explained that railway personnel should focus on executing projects efficiently, avoiding both time and cost overruns, while highlighting how the central government has allocated Rs 2.4 lakh crore for the current fiscal.

Sinha urged the staff to put their best efforts to increase loading of freight to make the Railways self-sustaining.

Additionally, Sinha has asked personnel to offer services that meet passenger aspirations.

“Whether it pertains to punctuality, cleanliness, catering or addressing customer grievances, we must strive to deliver the highest standards of service, consistently placing the customer at the forefront of our efforts,” said the letter.