R Mohanraja appointed as new Secretary of Railway Board, Ministry of Railways

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): The Ministry of Railways has appointed R Mohanraja, a senior Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer of the 1990 batch, as the new Secretary of the Railway Board. The appointment fills a key vacancy created after Ms. Aruna Nayar was elevated from the post of Secretary to Director General (HR) in the Railway Board.

R Mohanraja brings with him more than three decades of administrative and human resource management experience across Indian Railways. Prior to assuming his new role, he was serving as the Principal Chief Personnel Officer (PCPO) of Southern Railway and Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, where he handled major personnel, workforce planning, and administrative responsibilities for one of the country’s busiest railway zones and manufacturing units.

Extensive Administrative Experience Across Indian Railways

Over the course of his distinguished career, Mohanraja has held several important leadership positions across different railway divisions and zones. He served as Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Guntur Division, where he was associated with operational management, employee administration, and passenger service improvements. He also worked as Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM) of Chennai Division, one of the most operationally intensive divisions in Indian Railways.

In addition to divisional leadership roles, he headed the Railway Recruitment Cell for more than six years, overseeing recruitment processes and workforce induction during a critical phase of expansion and modernization within the national transporter.

His experience spans multiple railway divisions including Madurai, Chennai, Mysuru, and Tiruchirappalli, giving him deep exposure to personnel administration, labour relations, operational coordination, and institutional management across Southern Railway.

Leadership at a Time of Railway Transformation

The appointment comes at a significant time for Indian Railways as the national transporter continues to pursue large-scale modernization, digital transformation, station redevelopment, high-speed rail initiatives, and workforce restructuring.

As Secretary of the Railway Board, Mohanraja is expected to play an important role in policy coordination, administrative reforms, and institutional decision-making within the Ministry of Railways. The position serves as a crucial link between the Railway Board, various railway zones, production units, and government departments.

Industry observers believe that his extensive background in personnel management and field administration will support Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to improve organizational efficiency and human resource development.

Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO of Urban Infra Group, said, “Indian Railways is undergoing one of the largest transformation phases in its history, and leadership with strong administrative and human resource expertise will be vital in managing this transition. R Mohanraja’s wide-ranging experience across divisions and personnel administration positions him well for this important responsibility at the Railway Board.”

Strong Academic and Professional Credentials

R Mohanraja is a graduate in Metallurgical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Tiruchirappalli. During his service, he has received multiple recognitions and awards from both the Ministry of Railways and Southern Railway for his contributions to railway administration and personnel management.

His appointment further reinforces the Ministry’s focus on experienced leadership as Indian Railways continues expanding its infrastructure footprint, introducing new technologies, and strengthening organizational governance across the network.