Indian Railways is set to felicitate 100 committed employees and officers during the 70th Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar 2025, in recognition of their exemplary service and outstanding contributions to the organisation.
The award ceremony will be held on January 9 at the India International Convention & Expo Centre (Yashobhoomi) in Dwarka, New Delhi, according to an official release.
Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw will confer the awards on the selected Railway personnel. The ceremony will also be attended by Minister of State for Railways & Jal Shakti V. Somanna, Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh, Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board Satish Kumar, along with Members of the Railway Board and General Managers of various Railway Zones and Production Units.
A total of 100 awardees have been selected for the Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar-2025, representing a wide spectrum of contributions, including innovation, operational efficiency, safety, security, revenue augmentation, timely completion of projects, excellence in sports, and other distinguished areas of service.
Seventeen officers and employees will be honoured for introducing new innovations, processes and procedures that have led to improved productivity, reduced expenditure, import substitution, and more effective utilisation of resources, thereby strengthening overall efficiency within Indian Railways.
Twenty-two railway officers and employees will be recognised for meritorious acts performed in disregard of personal safety, resulting in the protection of lives and Railway property, and exemplifying exceptional courage, commitment and dedication to public service.
Fourteen officers and staff members will be awarded for their notable contributions in increasing Railway earnings and for effectively tackling ticketless travel, thefts and other malpractices, thereby strengthening financial discipline and safeguarding revenue.
Nineteen employees and officers will be honoured for exemplary work in improving operations, enhancing safety and security, ensuring better maintenance practices, and promoting optimal utilisation and protection of Railway assets.
Sixteen officers and employees will be recognised for the completion of important Railway projects within record timelines, contributing significantly to infrastructure expansion, capacity enhancement and improved operational performance.
Ten officers and employees will be recognised for outstanding performance in fields beyond the defined categories, reflecting professional excellence, dedication and impactful contributions across diverse functional domains of Indian Railways.
Two sportspersons who have achieved national and international recognition and brought laurels to Indian Railways will also be conferred the Ati Vishisht Rail Seva Puraskar-2025.
In addition to individual honours, 26 Shields will be awarded to the best-performing Railway Zones across various categories, acknowledging their outstanding achievements and overall excellence.
The awardees include personnel who played a key role in ensuring safe and seamless Railway operations during large-scale events such as the Mahakumbh. Officers whose contributions during Operation Sindoor ensured uninterrupted railway services and public relief under challenging conditions are also among the recipients. The list further includes officials who introduced advanced Ballast Cleaning Machines in difficult sections, significantly improving track safety, ride quality and long-term maintenance efficiency.
The award ceremony underscores Indian Railways’ commitment to recognising dedication, professionalism and exemplary service, while celebrating the collective efforts of its workforce in building a safer, more efficient and passenger-centric rail system. (ANI)
