Ashwini Vaishnaw Presents 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar: Six-Point Roadmap Unveiled for Viksit Railways 2047
NEW DELHI January 09 ,2026 — Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, conferred the 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar upon 100 distinguished railway officials and presented 26 performance shields to top-performing zones at the India International Convention & Expo Centre (Yashobhoomi). The ceremony, attended by Minister of State V. Somanna and Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar, served as a platform to celebrate the dedication of the “Rail Parivar” and to outline a strategic vision for the future of India’s transport lifeline. Vaishnaw emphasized that Indian Railways must transcend current operational levels to achieve the “Viksit Bharat, Viksit Railways by 2047” vision, noting that recent expansions in track capacity and successful management of peak-season rushes have already set new benchmarks for the industry.
To propel this transformation, the Union Minister unveiled an ambitious “52 weeks, 52 reforms” roadmap for 2026, targeting weekly systemic improvements across customer service, production, and quality management. This strategy is anchored by a six-point resolution: driving decisive systemic reforms, integrating advanced AI and technology, upgrading maintenance standards, maintaining an uncompromising focus on safety, modernizing talent development through simulators, and completely eradicating a colonial mindset. Vaishnaw urged officials to empower younger staff and embrace “Made-in-India” solutions, positioning the national carrier to become a global benchmark in reliability and productivity.
Supporting this vision, Minister of State V. Somanna lauded the workforce as the backbone of India’s transformation, highlighting the expansion of rail connectivity into Jammu & Kashmir and the North East as major milestones in national integration. He pointed to the success of Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat trains, alongside the upcoming Vande Bharat Sleeper, as evidence of a greener and more passenger-centric era. Complementing these remarks, Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar noted that safety remains the department’s highest priority, bolstered by electronic interlocking and the elimination of unmanned level crossings. As the organization celebrates a century of electrification, the awards remain a vital tradition in recognizing the individual and collective excellence required to drive India’s economic and social progress.