Vinod Kumar Yadav

South Central Railway consistently achieved record highest revenue during his tenure in 2017-18 and 2018-19. While in 2017-18, the revenue was Rs. 13,585 crore, in the year 2018-19, it touched Rs. 15,640 crore, signifying a year on year increase of around 15% both the fiscals. This was possible on account of Freight traffic on the Zone setting a new record in 2018-19, with over 122 million tonnes of loading, a 19% increase over 2017-18. Passenger traffic too was the highest at 383 million in 2018-19, almost an increase by 4 million over the previous year.[7]

Safety of rail operations on South Central Railway set an impeccable record of no loss of lives on account of train accidents between 2017 and 2019. The Zone became one of the first on Indian Railways to become unmanned railway level crossings free, by eliminating 269 such crossings in an 18 month period, substantially enhancing safety.[8]

Rail network on the Zone saw the system getting strengthened with addition of 113 km of new rail lines, 85 km of new doubled and tripled rail lines during 2017-2019. A new record was also set on Indian Railways during the period, with 1032 Route Kms getting electrified. The first manufacturing unit on South Central Railway, the FIAT Rail Bogie Karkhana was set up at Yadgir, Karnataka.[9]

For the first time on Indian Railways, the most innovative digital concept of DiGi Pay Railway stations was implemented for enabling passenger transactions on cashless gateway, which found a place in Indian Railways Business Plan, 2017-18. New quality norms for passenger amenities were implemented at railway stations, earning acknowledgement from the Passenger Amenities Committee set up by Rail Ministry.[10][11]

Focus on a green Railway led to extensive increase in use of climate friendly fuel and other sources of renewable energy towards running of trains and maintaining utility services at rail locations such as stations, offices, workshops etc. Newly electrified 1000 kms network enabled put 65 electric locomotives into operation, bringing down use of diesel powered locomotives during the two year span during 2017-19.[12][13] The Zone was first to complete 100% LED lighting of all its utilities and harnessed Solar Power by installing 6.6 MWP capacity Solar panels, reducing the usage by 19.5 million energy units. Wind energy and Day light energy has also been tapped. Highest number of office buildings, stations and workshops have earned the coveted Indian Green Building Council, Green Rating Certification on SCR during the two-year period.

South Central Railway signed a MoU with Indian School of Business (ISB) for research and knowledge sharing to initiate management training programs for railway officers, a game changer on Indian Railways.[14] HR practices as “Project Saksham” implemented to impart new and updated skills to employees.[15] Employees at the lowest levels were accorded opportunity to visit overseas for leisure at highly subsidized rates. For the first time on Indian Railways, a Job Mela exclusively for railway families was conducted to generate employment, in association with the Union Ministry of Labour. Time bound employee grievance machinery has been set up on zone.[16]

World class sports infrastructure was developed on South Central Railway at Railway Sports Complex, Secunderabad along with recruitment of talented sports persons nationally.[17]

As Chairman and CEO of Railway Board, Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav is leading the world's third largest rail network spread over 1,23,236 km across India with 1.54 million employees, operating 13,523 passenger and 9,146 freight trains from 7,349 stations; plying 23 million travellers and 3 million tonnes of freight daily;[18] generating an annual revenue of more than Rs. 2 Lakh Crore with an annual investment outlay of Rs. 1.6 Lakh Crore. He is overseeing the management of 17 Railway Zones involved in Rail operations in Pan India, eight production units manufacturing locomotives, coaches, train sets, etc., and 14 public sector organizations executing infrastructure projects and providing services.

As head of the Indian Railways in the capacity of Ex-Officio Principal Secretary to Government of India, he holds the leadership role in handling the entire passenger and freight transportation business including running of rail services, safety of operations, creation and maintenance of assets, developing infrastructure, maintaining cohesive industrial relations and devising strategies for the generation of optimal revenue and net income for the organization. The task outcome is to lead the organization towards stimulating the national economic growth.

Core Tasks:

Leadership envisages efficient operation and maintenance of rail transport system to act as an engine for national economic growth and to make the network more environmentally sustainable and improve overall quality of life.

Implementation of Safety protocol with four-dimensional approach of Motivation, Influence, Direction and Systems to ensure Zero Accident record on Indian Railways.

Focusing on the management plan to capitalize freight traffic and enhance service delivery standards of passenger segment, to position the entity high in the overall scenario.

To strategize rail infrastructure development by designing policies and expansion plans with focus on strategic main railway lines, hinterland connectivity, port connectivity and industrial corridors. Developing Indigenous state of the art technology inputs required for a viable modern rail transportation system as Indian Railways.

Planning to leverage governmental policy support by enhancing scope for public-private partnership, engagement to redevelop railway stations, building private freight terminals and container train operations and monetization of vacant railway lands.

Implement measures to generate direct and indirect employment through the service and its ancillary organizations.

Transforming the Indian Railways to integrate with the vision of New India - 2022 by means of:[19]

• “National Rail Plan” which will enable the integration of the rail system with other modes of transport to eventually develop a multi-modal Avenue.
• Development of high-speed Mumbai - Ahmedabad rail corridor in association with JICA, Japan.
• Completion of Western and Eastern Dedicated Rail freight corridors.
• To manage the growth of Indian Railways targeted to increase freight traffic to 3.3 billion tonnes by 2030 from 1.22 billion tonnes in 2019.
• Implementation of process, structural and Cultural reforms to gear up the organization as a modern railway system.
• New “Online Vendor Registration System”, a digital and transparent gateway to handle procedural issues concerning rail material suppliers, to enable a cohesive and cost-effective material management system.
• Mission electrification by 2022 - To electrify the entire broad-gauge network on Indian Railways.
• Technological Upgradation of the existing signaling, track, rolling stock and traction infrastructure to develop Semi High-speed Rail corridors.
• Implementing the ambitious plan to provide customer centric comfortable and world class travel experience in the country by means of under taking the Rs.30,000 Crore mega private trains project.

Undertook tasks as formulated by the Govt. of India and Rail Ministry for prudent utilization of Rs.161 lakh Crore of CAPEX Fund for Indian Railways Infrastructure Development including Commissioning of important North East Projects, critical projects concerning new rail lines, doubling and tripling and electrification.[20]

Acting on initiative from the Rail Ministry, he led the organization to Fast Track Commissioning of Dedicated Eastern and Western Freight Corridors of Indian Railways, one of the largest infra projects of Government of India, spanning to a length of 4000 km and costing Rs. 1.8 lakh Cr.[21] These Corridors make Indian Railways, the singular freight transport entity in India and enhance the revenue potential of the core transport carrier in the country.

Commissioning of longest Bogibeel Bridge across River Brahmaputra is evidence of bridge engineering technology coming from Indian Railways to link the North East India better.[22] The 1.9 km-long Kosi rail mega bridge on river Kosi, constructed at a cost of ₹516 crore, was commissioned in Bihar at the hands of Hon’ble Prime Minister.[23]

Diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh got a significant boost with Indian Railways handing over 10 Broad Gauge Locomotives to Bangladesh, so as to handle the increasing rail traffic between India and Bangladesh.[24] MoU signed between India and Germany in Railway sector to imbibe technology towards modernization of Railways in India.

Best ever Safety performance attained by Indian Railways last year with zero fatalities due to railway accidents. Highest ever elimination of 1274 Railway Level Crossings and renewal of 5181 track kilometer rails during 2019-2020, has boosted safety.[25]

Slew of incentives for freight traffic, innovative ideas for freight movement including running of Time Tabled Cargo Expresses, Annapurna trains, Jai Kisan trains etc., mark the business model of Indian Railways.[26][27]

Passenger carrying train services got a boost with introduction of “Vande Bharat Express” also known as Train-18, an indigenously built Indian semi-high-speed Intercity Electric Multiple Unit.[28] Introduction of “Tejas Express” - India's first semi-high speed fully air-conditioned train featuring modern onboard facilities with doors which are operated automatically and new train concepts from the Ministry of Railways such as Humsafar, Antyodaya, Deendayalu and Anubuthi Expresses take to the tracks. Air-Conditioned local trains introduced on Mumbai Suburban System to offer new standards of facilities to commuters.[29]

Plans are being implemented to make Indian Railways a Green Railway by 2030 by means of meeting all its energy consumption needs with renewable energy resources. At present, Indian Railways need 21 billion units of power which is expected to rise to 33 billion units by the year 2030.[30]

Indian Railways has operationalized the most powerful 12,000 HP Made in India locomotive, the 6th country in the World to introduce.[31] Indian Railway creates new World bench mark by running first ever double stack container train, a significant milestone in enhancing freight traffic capabilities of the organization. Conversion of Diesel to Electric Locomotive, heralds a new high in innovative practices on Indian Railways. Indian Railways develop model for self-sustainable railway stations by means of implementing technology practices and optimal utilization of resources. For the first time, Indian Railways has been equipped with the latest Drone based Surveillance system, with the acquisition of most advanced Ninja UAVs.[32]

Indian Railways have given a huge boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat, by boarding the Goods & Services procurement through Government e-market (GEM) portal. With this, the Material Management System gets streamlined and the amount of business of around Rs. 7000 Cr generated annually by Indian Railways will encourage "Make in India" products to the hilt.[33]

Indian Railways takes center stage in the battle to fight COVID-19 pandemic – 200 railway maintenance projects of critical importance completed to optimize safety and speed; 5231 coaches converted as COVID Care Centers for State Government; runs 3840 Shramik Special Trains to transport migrant workers; launches special freight trains to transport milk, essential commodities and food grains etc., during the period. Futuristic Post Covid safety features incorporated coaches have been designed for use.[34]

Fulfilling the vision of Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi to set up one of its kind and India's first university focused on transport-related education, multidisciplinary research and training - National Rail & Transport Institute (NRTI) at Vadodara, India which commenced admissions.[35] And Indian Railways Institute of Finance Management set up at Secunderabad to impart training in Railway Finance.[36]

Human Resource Management System (HRMS) launched for workforce of entire Indian Railways to access entire service related issues[37][38] and introduction of e-Office on Indian Railways, to enable total online working. Rationalization of management being undertaken by merging organized services on Indian Railways into one single entity as – Indian Railways Management Service.[39]

Indian Railways has collaborated with Indian School of Business for setting up Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics to analyze passenger data for betterment of customer services.[40]

Recruitment of Man Power on Indian Railways streamlined by amalgamating the process with the National Recruitment Agency (NRA), enabling exams to be held at every district level.

Digital avenues to benefit public interface in fields such as ticketing, grievance redress, food, monitoring of train movements etc., Artificial Intelligence based Online ChatBot "ASKDISHA" launched to benefit rail customers.[41]

Mass recruitment drive has been undertaken on Indian Railways, to fill up 1.4 Lakh vacancies in the organization with over 2.4 Crore candidates appearing for the exam being conducted by the Railway Recruitment Boards all over India, one of the biggest recruitment initiatives for a Government organization in India.[42]

Indian Railways have launched Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) to manage healthcare needs of the entire Railway workforce and impart quality healthcare to beneficiaries, utilizing the digitalization plank that the organization has embarked on.[43]

Railway Protection Force has come up with "Meri Saheli" to provide utmost safety and security to women rail travellers on Indian Railways and in a bold initiative, to curb women trafficking by trains.[44]

Vinod Kumar Yadav undertook International assignment of planning, execution and commissioning of Railway Electrification projects for Turkish Railways and led the team to frame tender and undertake global contract for Over Head Electrification works for Iran Railways.[3]

He played a key role in development of SMEs sector and technology transfer to SMEs, skill development, mobilisation of resources and implementation of six projects worth US$8.65 million. He managed a joint project of United Nations and Government of India for development of Small and Medium enterprises accruing US$6.6.million. He was involved in Policy formulation, Promotion of Foreign collaboration and FDI as a leader of the team to handle the monitoring and coordination of development of capital goods sector, foreign collaboration/foreign investment and industrial policy formulation.

He headed the electrical engineering wing of Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd and was the overall in charge of Railway Electrification project of DFC. He was also involved in coordination of World Bank funding of Eastern DFC and JICA funding of Western DFC.

As Executive Director, Electrical, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, he has been key to successful execution of Railway Electrification projects by the organization.