General Manager of Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), Mr. Naresh Pal Singh, has been entrusted with an additional responsibility. Along with his present assignment, he will now also hold the charge of General Manager of North Central Railway, Prayagraj and the Central Organisation for Railway Electrification (CORE), Prayagraj.

Mr. Singh is known for his visionary leadership and administrative excellence. Under his tenure, BLW has achieved many historic milestones. The production of the Aerodynamic WAP-7 locomotive showcased new dimensions of technical excellence, while the installation of solar panels over railway tracks marked a unique step towards green energy.

In the fields of social responsibility and environmental protection, BLW has also made remarkable contributions under his guidance. During FY 2024–25, BLW created a record by producing 477 locomotives.

An experienced officer of the Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE), 1988 batch, and an alumnus of IIT Roorkee (Electrical Engineering, 1987), Mr. Naresh Pal Singh has served the Indian Railways in several key positions, achieving exceptional success throughout his career.

Over his long career, Mr. Singh has worked in multiple domains of Central Railway including loco sheds, locomotive operations, traction distribution, and general services. He has also served notably as Chief Electrical Engineer (Rolling Stock), Additional Divisional Railway Manager (Operations), Mumbai, as well as Chief Electrical Engineer (Projects), MRVC, and Principal Chief Electrical Engineer, Central Railway, Mumbai.

During his tenure in Central Railway, he gained extensive experience in the maintenance and operations of electrical and diesel rolling stock, traction distribution, and general service assets. He spearheaded several innovative projects including a 10 MW floating solar power plant for traction power and a 20x4 MW battery energy storage system.

Another significant project successfully executed under his leadership was the replacement of aerial earth conductors with optical fiber ground wire (OPGW) on OHE masts in the 2x25 kV traction system. This initiative not only provided a reliable communication path for Kavach and S&T signaling requirements but also enhanced non-fare revenue and strengthened communication through additional optical fiber cores.

Since assuming charge as General Manager on 16 November 2024, BLW has achieved several major milestones in locomotive production under his leadership. Some of the key achievements are as follows:

• Successful production of BLW’s first Aerodynamic WAP-7 loco and two sets of push-pull locomotives.
• January 2025: Record production of 124 electric loco bogies in a single month.
• March 2025: Record production of 61 electric locomotives in a single month.
• FY 2024–25: Record production of 477 electric locomotives.
• BLW created history by installing India’s first removable 15 kW solar panel system between active railway tracks.
• BLW’s total installed grid-connected solar power capacity has reached 3859 kWp, resulting in 4.226 million units of annual solar energy generation.
• Construction of 29 deep recharge wells for groundwater replenishment.

Source/RSB