Railways to train staff from other countries

The Vadodara Railway Staff College (VRSC), the only academic establishment of the Indian Railways, will host a training programme for officials from neighbouring countries.

It will give lessons on the 'multimode transportation' system followed by the Indian Railways to senior officials from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the Thailand Economic Co-operation (BIMSTC) group.

An International Railway Strategic Management Center is also likely to be started at Vadodara Railway Staff College under the aegis of the Union of International Railways. The final decision in this regard will be taken in April-May this year.

"The training programme has been organised under India's 'Look East Policy'. India will provide training to railway personnel from BIMSTC countries free of cost. The participants will be trained on the 'multimode transportation' system. The VRSC is specialised in training railway personnel on the management front, especially in areas such as personnel, stores management and accounting," Pramod Uniyal, deputy director general, VRSC, said.

VRSC has trained the foreign delegates in the past also, but this is the first time that BIMSTC group members will get trained here.

Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had stated in the Rail Budget that an offer made at last September's meeting of chief executive officers of railway boards of BIMSTC countries was widely appreciated by the participants. India aims to assist its neighboring countries in enhancing their rail infrastructure.

"We believe that such initiatives will provide the grounds for the better interaction between VRSC and senior officials from various countries," said Uniyal.