By THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM| Eight officers empanelled in Level-16; major General Manager and apex postings announced across railway zones and organisations

In a significant administrative development aimed at strengthening top-level leadership in Indian Railways, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved empanelment, appointments and key postings of senior officers under relaxation of the Indian Railway (Selection to Senior Posts) Rules, 2025. The decisions mark an important restructuring at the apex managerial level across railway zones, production units and specialised organisations.

As part of the approved proposals, eight officers of the 1989 batch from various organised railway services have been empanelled in Level-16 of the Pay Matrix for the panel year 2025. The empanelled officers include Manoranjan Pradhan (IRSS), Ashutosh Pant (IRSEE), Prabhas Dansana (IRTS), Mohit Chandra (IRSEE), Rajesh Kumar Pandey (IRSSE), Shalabh Goel (IRSEE), Ashish Bansal (IRSE) and Ajay Nandan (IRSME). Empanelment at Level-16 enables consideration of officers for top executive assignments such as General Managers and equivalent apex positions within Indian Railways.

Simultaneously, the ACC also approved the non-inclusion of 56 officers in the Level-16 panel for the year 2025, indicating a selective and performance-based approach adopted while finalising appointments to senior leadership posts.

Following empanelment, the government has ordered appointments of the eight officers to important ex-cadre posts in Level-16, reinforcing operational leadership across major railway establishments. Manoranjan Pradhan has been appointed as General Manager, Rail Wheel Factory (RWF), Yelahanka, Bengaluru. Ashutosh Pant will take charge as General Manager, Banaras Locomotive Works, Varanasi, one of the country’s key locomotive manufacturing units.

Prabhas Dansana has been posted as Director General, Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), the premier technical and standards-setting body of Indian Railways. Mohit Chandra has been appointed General Manager, Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), Chittaranjan, a major electric locomotive production hub.

Rajesh Kumar Pandey has been assigned the role of General Manager, Northern Railway, New Delhi, one of the largest and most strategically significant railway zones. Shalabh Goel will serve as General Manager, Central Railway, Mumbai, overseeing extensive suburban and long-distance rail operations.

Ashish Bansal has been appointed General Manager, Northeast Frontier Railway (Construction), Guwahati, where infrastructure expansion and connectivity projects remain a priority. Ajay Nandan has been posted as General Manager, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, a key passenger coach manufacturing unit of Indian Railways.

In a separate decision, the ACC also approved the appointment of Ashok Kumar Verma (IRSS: 1987 batch) as General Manager, Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Prayagraj, on a lateral transfer basis. The posting assumes significance as Indian Railways continues to push towards full electrification of its network to enhance efficiency and sustainability.

The latest set of decisions reflects the government’s continued emphasis on experienced leadership, technical expertise and administrative capability at the highest levels of Indian Railways, particularly at a time when the organisation is undergoing rapid modernisation, infrastructure expansion and technological transformation. The appointments are expected to play a crucial role in accelerating manufacturing capacity, infrastructure development and operational efficiency across the national transporter.