Prayagraj, September 1, 2025: Shri Naresh Pal Singh, a senior officer of the 1988 batch of the Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE), has assumed charge as the General Manager of North Central Railway (NCR). He succeeds Shri Upendra Chandra Joshi, who retired on August 31, 2025. Shri Singh will hold this position as an additional charge while continuing as the General Manager of Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW).
IIT Roorkee, where he earned his degree in Electrical Engineering in 1987, Shri Singh has over three decades of experience in the railway sector. He has served in critical roles across Central Railway divisions, handling loco operations, traction distribution, general services, and rolling stock.
Chief Electrical Engineer/Rolling Stock, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (Operations), Mumbai Division, and Chief Electrical Engineer/Project at Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation. Before taking charge at BLW, he was the Principal Chief Electrical Engineer, Central Railway, Mumbai.
BLW in November 2024, Shri Singh has led the production unit to new milestones. BLW set a record by producing 477 locomotives in FY 2024–25. Notably, it rolled out an aerodynamic WAP-7 locomotive and pioneered the installation of solar panels on railway tracks, marking a step towards sustainable energy use.
Shri Singh’s tenure at Central Railway saw several innovative projects. Among them, the replacement of aerial earth conductors with Optical Fibre Ground Wire (OPGW) in the 2×25 kV traction system was a first for Indian Railways. This initiative enhanced communication reliability for Kavach and S&T systems, generated non-fare revenue through optic fiber usage, and ensured significant cost savings.
Additionally, he oversaw the installation of a 10 MW floating solar power plant and a 20×4 MW Battery Energy Storage System for traction power—both landmark steps towards green energy adoption.
With his appointment, Shri Singh is expected to bring his technical expertise, innovative vision, and leadership experience to strengthen the operations and modernization of North Central Railway, one of the most vital zones of Indian Railways.
