The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has designated Jaya Varma Sinha (IRTS:1988) as the incoming Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Railway Board. Commencing her role on September 1, she will achieve the historic distinction of becoming the first female Chairperson of the Railway Board. This appointment will see her replace Anil Kumar Lahoti (IRSE:1984), effective September 1, 2023. Presently serving as a Member (Operations & Business Development) on the Railway Board, Sinha has amassed experience across three prominent railway zones: Northern Railway, South Eastern Railway, and Eastern Railway.
Jaya Varma Sinha’s term will extend until August 31, 2024. While her official retirement is slated for October 1, a unique arrangement will see her continue her service starting the same day, thereby fulfilling the remainder of her tenure.
Assuming her role at a juncture when the Indian Railways has secured an unprecedented budgetary allocation of Rs 2.4 lakh crore from the Union government, Sinha is poised to lead during a pivotal moment for the organization. It’s worth highlighting that Sinha’s expertise was instrumental in explaining the Railways’ signaling system in the context of the tragic Balasore accident in Odisha, which tragically claimed the lives of nearly 300 individuals.
Furthermore, during her noteworthy four-year tenure as the Railway Advisor within the High Commission of India in Dhaka, Bangladesh, she played a pivotal role in the initiation of the Maitree Express, a significant train service that establishes a connection between Kolkata and Dhaka.
