‘There is an in-built spark to do our best during a crisis’

Outgoing SCR chief likens Indian Railways to the Army, as he reflects on his four-decade career and dealing with the COVID challenge

Gajanan Mallya has been only the second longest serving General Manager of the South Central Railway — he has been in the key position for two years and 11 months. He will be retiring after four decades of railway service this week. In this interview, he discusses the highlights of his career, dealing with challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and works done during his tenure. Edited excerpts:

Time flies. I spent 60 years of my life in railway colonies as my father, too, worked with the railways. After completing my engineering education, I was allotted to SCR and began work at Ramagundam and then Kazipet, etc. I was part of the technology change from metre/narrow gauge to broad gauge, steam to diesel to electric locomotives, vacuum to air brakes and so on. We are almost cent per cent broad gauge now and total electrification is 2-3 years away, depending on fund allocation.

For the first time, Indian Railways came to a standstill. It was shocking because even during the cyclone, we ran our services. But, we never stopped working as the freight trains were restored and Shramik specials (first across the country; from Lingampally to Hatia) began. We had to make arrangements for food and water in association with the government and voluntary bodies as stations were shut.