NB In List | Who is Jaya Verma Sinha, the first woman CEO & Chairperson of 166-year-old Railway Board

New Delhi, Sept 1: In a significant milestone, the Indian Railways got its first-ever woman chairperson of the railway board (CRB) and CEO with the appointment of Jaya Verma Sinha to the post on Thursday. She will take charge on Friday and will serve as the CRB till August 31, 2024.

 

 

The Railway Board is the top decision-making body for Indian Railways. In her new role, Sinha, who succeeds Anil Kumar Lahoti, will be responsible for overseeing the overall transportation of freight and passenger services.

 

1. Prior to Jaya Verma Sinha's appointment as CEO, she held the post of Additional Member of Traffic Transportation on the Railway Board.

 

2. Sinha's journey with the Indian Railways began in 1988 when she joined as an Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer.

 

3. Over the course of her 35-year career, she has served in various capacities, including operations, information technology, commercial, and vigilance.

 

4. She also served as the Principal Chief Commercial Manager of Northern Railway and the Divisional Railway Manager of Sealdah Division.

 

 

5. Her tenure as the Railway Advisor at the High Commission of India in Dhaka, Bangladesh, saw the initiation of the Maitri Express services between Kolkata and Dhaka.

 

6. She was also the first woman to be appointed as the Principal Chief Operations Manager of South Eastern Railway.

 

7. The 1988 batch IRTS officer is an alumnus of Allahabad University.

 

8. Sinha career railway officer, is slated to retire on October 1, and will be re-employed the same day till her service ends.

 

9. Sinha was recently in the news when, as the member (operations and business development), she explained the complex signalling system after the tragic Balasore accident which killed nearly 300 people.

 

10. Sinha's appointment signifies a pivotal juncture in the 166-year history of the Indian Railways, as he takes on the mantle of CEO, becoming the first woman to hold this esteemed position. Established in 1905, the railway board, a key institution within the Indian Railways, has been functioning for over 118 years. Sinha's ascent to the role of chairman and CEO marks the first instance in its history that a woman has held this pivotal position.