Jaya Verma Sinha Becomes First Woman CEO of Indian Railways

By: WE Staff | Friday, 1 September 2023

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Jaya Verma Sinha as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Railway Board, making her the first Indian woman to hold this prestigious position in the 166-year history of the Indian Railways.

Jaya’s extraordinary career in the Indian Railways began in 1988, when she joined the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS). Her current responsibilities include monitoring freight and passenger transport services across the vast Indian Railways network as a Member of Operations and Business Development at the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways.

Jaya has succeeded in a variety of areas over her 35-year tenure with the Indian Railways, including operations, marketing, information technology, and vigilance. She created history by becoming South Eastern Railway's first female Principal Chief Operations Manager. She has also held crucial roles such as Northern Railway's Principal Chief Commercial Manager and Sealdah Division's Divisional Railway Manager. Her service as the Railway Advisor at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh, resulted in the launch of the legendary Maitri Express from Kolkata to Dhaka.

The nomination of Jaya as Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board reflects her exceptional leadership and skills in Operations and Business Development. Her term, which begins on September 1, 2023 and runs beyond her superannuation with a further re-employment period from October 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024, demonstrates her unshakable commitment to the railway sector's growth.

Jaya’s selection not only displays her excellent qualities, but it also reflects the increased acknowledgment of gender diversity and inclusiveness in leadership within India's railroads. The Railway Board, a 1905 institution, is now creating history as a woman assumes the lead as Chairman and CEO for the first time, marking a key milestone in Indian Railways history.

Jaya’s appointment heralds in a new age for Indian Railways, promising new ideas, creative solutions, and continuous success in one of the country's most essential industries.