Shri Hari Shankar Verma has assumed charge as Member (Operations and Business Development) of the Railway Board and ex officio Secretary to the Government of India, the Ministry of Railways said on Monday. He is a 1987 batch Indian Railway Traffic Service officer. Prior to this appointment he served as Director General, Safety, Railway Board. The appointment follows an internal reshuffle and is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen operational leadership across the national network. During his career he held several senior positions across Indian Railways (IR), including Additional Divisional Railway Manager at Central Railway, Mumbai, Divisional Railway Manager of Salem Division at Southern Railway, and Chief Passenger Traffic Manager at Central Railway, Mumbai. He also served as Principal Chief Operations Manager, Hubli, South Western Railway, and as Director General of the Indian Railways Institute of Transport Management, Lucknow. In each posting he was credited with operational improvements and administrative achievements. As Director General, Safety at the Railway Board he led initiatives that strengthened the safety framework and reduced consequential accidents through process improvement and monitoring. His tenure was noted for a sustained focus on operational discipline and risk management which contributed to improved safety outcomes. He received the Honourable Rail Minister Award twice and several awards at the general manager level. The reforms emphasised data driven oversight and enhanced coordination between divisions to maintain service reliability. He underwent management training programmes in Singapore, Malaysia and Italy and is regarded as a specialist in railway traffic and management. The appointment is expected to influence operational planning and business development across IR as the organisation pursues efficiency and safety objectives. The Ministry said he will oversee operations and strategic initiatives that aim to enhance passenger services and network performance. Stakeholders across the network will monitor implementation as priorities are operationalised closely.