Four NE state capitals to be in rail network: President

 President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday hailed the Indian Railways for manufacturing Train 18 sets under the "Make In India" scheme, and said by 2022, the capital cities of Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland will be connected to the rail network.

Addressing the joint session of Parliament ahead of the Budget Session, the President said: "North East connected in the right sense by my government by constant hard work, increasing connectivity, infrastructural development, building rail networks at an unparalleled speed."

He said because of the "untiring efforts" of the government by the year 2022, the capital cities of Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland will be connected.

"And work is in full swing on Agartala-Akola rail link," Kovind said.

The President also spoke about the cabinet's decision of organisational restructuring of the railways through the unification of the existing eight Group A services into one central service called the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS).

He said: "Recently, the management of Indian Railways has also been restructured by my Government. This will ensure transparency, better coordination and working style, and swift decision making."

On December 24, the Union Cabinet approved the organisational restructuring of the railways through the unification of the existing eight Group A services into one central service called the IRMS.

After changes in the railway officials structure, the Chairman, along with four members responsible for infrastructure, operations and business development, rolling stock and finance, respectively, will form the Railway Board.

The Chairman will be the cadre controlling officer responsible for Human Resources (HR) with assistance from a Director General (HR).

Talking about the Train 18 sets, which has been put into service after rechristening it as the Vande Bharat Express, Kovind said: "Make in India is being encouraged in the railways. Construction of modern trains being made entirely in India in the form of Vande Bharat and Tejas Express is in full swing."

The railways has floated the tenders for 44 new sets of the Vande Bharat Express. Currently two Vande Bharat Express trains are plying between New Delhi and Varanasi and New Delhi-Katra.