Railway appoints new secretary, two new board members

12 Jan 2024 CW Team

On January 5, Seema Kumar assumed the responsibilities of Member (Operations & Business Development), and Satish Kumar took charge as Member (Traction & Rolling Stock) on the Railway Board.

Nayar, the first IRPS officer to be empanelled as Secretary, had previously served as an Additional Member of staff on the Railway Board since May 2023 and as Principal Executive Director from February 2022 to May 2023.

With extensive experience in various roles within the Railways, Nayar served as the Principal Chief Personnel Officer (PCPO) in Eastern Railway, Deputy Chief Personnel Officer in Metro Railway/Kolkata, PCPO in Southern Railway, and held various positions in Railway Recruitment Board (Chennai), Railway Divisions of Chennai and Palghat, and Golden Rock Workshop and Division at Tiruchirapalli.

Additionally, Nayar served as Director (Personnel) in the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and IT, under the Central Staffing Scheme from 2005 to 2009.

Before her current role, Seema Kumar held the position of Additional Member (Tourism & Catering) on the Railway Board. She also assumed additional responsibilities as Additional Member (Traffic), Additional Member (Marketing & Business Development), and Chairman & Managing Director of IRCTC at different intervals throughout her career.

Throughout her diverse career, Kumar held roles such as Principal Chief Safety Officer of Northern Railway, Divisional Railway Manager in Kota, Chief Project Manager of Northern Railway, and General Manager (PRS) in the Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS). During her tenure as Additional Member (Tourism and Catering), she oversaw the launch of two new schemes - Bharat Gaurav Trains (BGT) and One Station One Product (OSOP). Moreover, her contributions at CRIS played a pivotal role in the design and development of the Unreserved Ticketing System and Next Generation e-ticketing System.

Satish Kumar, from the 1986 batch of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers, assumed the role of Member on the Railway Board after serving as General Manager of North Central Railway, Prayagraj. His previous roles included positions in the Jhansi Division, Banares Locomotive Works (Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi), Northeastern Railway, Gorakhpur, and Patiala Locomotive Works. He also served as Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) in the Lucknow Division of Northern Railway from April 2017 to April 2019, overseeing numerous accomplished infrastructural works during his tenure, as stated by a railway spokesperson.

Aruna Nayar, an officer of the 1987 batch in the Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS), assumed the role of Secretary of the Railway Board within the Ministry of Railways, commencing her duties on January 6. On January 5, Seema Kumar assumed the responsibilities of Member (Operations & Business Development), and Satish Kumar took charge as Member (Traction & Rolling Stock) on the Railway Board. Nayar, the first IRPS officer to be empanelled as Secretary, had previously served as an Additional Member of staff on the Railway Board since May 2023 and as Principal Executive Director from February 2022 to May 2023. With extensive experience in various roles within the Railways, Nayar served as the Principal Chief Personnel Officer (PCPO) in Eastern Railway, Deputy Chief Personnel Officer in Metro Railway/Kolkata, PCPO in Southern Railway, and held various positions in Railway Recruitment Board (Chennai), Railway Divisions of Chennai and Palghat, and Golden Rock Workshop and Division at Tiruchirapalli. Additionally, Nayar served as Director (Personnel) in the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and IT, under the Central Staffing Scheme from 2005 to 2009. Before her current role, Seema Kumar held the position of Additional Member (Tourism & Catering) on the Railway Board. She also assumed additional responsibilities as Additional Member (Traffic), Additional Member (Marketing & Business Development), and Chairman & Managing Director of IRCTC at different intervals throughout her career. Throughout her diverse career, Kumar held roles such as Principal Chief Safety Officer of Northern Railway, Divisional Railway Manager in Kota, Chief Project Manager of Northern Railway, and General Manager (PRS) in the Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS). During her tenure as Additional Member (Tourism and Catering), she oversaw the launch of two new schemes - Bharat Gaurav Trains (BGT) and One Station One Product (OSOP). Moreover, her contributions at CRIS played a pivotal role in the design and development of the Unreserved Ticketing System and Next Generation e-ticketing System. Satish Kumar, from the 1986 batch of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers, assumed the role of Member on the Railway Board after serving as General Manager of North Central Railway, Prayagraj. His previous roles included positions in the Jhansi Division, Banares Locomotive Works (Diesel Locomotive Works, Varanasi), Northeastern Railway, Gorakhpur, and Patiala Locomotive Works. He also served as Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) in the Lucknow Division of Northern Railway from April 2017 to April 2019, overseeing numerous accomplished infrastructural works during his tenure, as stated by a railway spokesperson.

Real Estate

23 Sep 2025

Hyderabad Financial District Evolves into a City Within a City

The Financial District in Hyderabad is rapidly transforming into more than just a business hub—it is evolving into a “city within a city,” a compact ecosystem where work, home, education, healthcare, and lifestyle coexist seamlessly. This vision was reinforced at a press conference hosted by ASBL, where data and insights highlighted why the Financial District has become one of India’s most resilient and future-ready real estate markets. Over the past four years, rental appreciation has consistently outpaced the city average, underlining genuine demand. In FY 2024–25 alone, 3BHK ..

Real Estate

23 Sep 2025

TOTO Expands Bathroom Portfolio in India

TOTO India has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of season-inspired basins, premium faucets, and a new water-efficient WC range. The new additions reflect the brand’s philosophy of combining Japanese craftsmanship, technology, and design with sustainable living. The season-themed basins, enhanced with TOTO’s CEFIONTECT glaze, are offered in four shades—Forest Green, Mandarin Orange, Scarlet Red, and Ash Blue—each inspired by a season. Complementing these are faucets in Rose Gold and Graphite finishes, crafted with PVD technology for durability and manufactured using p..

Infrastructure Energy

23 Sep 2025

India Sees 1 per cent Drop in Power Sector CO₂ Emissions

India’s carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector fell by 1 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2025, marking only the second decline in nearly 50 years, according to a research report. The reduction was largely driven by record clean-energy capacity additions and lower electricity demand due to unusually mild weather, the analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) for Carbon Brief found.The Helsinki-based think tank attributed 65 per cent of the decline in fossil-fuel generation to slower demand growth, 20 per cent to faster expansion of clean energy, and..