Always take decisions with comfort, dignity of passengers at centre: Prez Murmu to railway officers

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday asked a group of railway officers to always take decisions with the safety, comfort and dignity of passengers at the centre. She also asked them to bring in fresh ideas and leverage technology to strengthen efficiency, improve safety and ensure smooth movement of passengers and freight. Addressing probationary officers of the Indian railways, who had called on the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here, Murmu said railways has one of the largest and most complex networks in the world, carrying not just passengers and goods, but also the aspirations of millions. ''You will require not just technical skill but integrity, compassion and a deep sense of accountability to manage this system. You should always take decisions with the safety, comfort and dignity of passengers at the centre,'' she said. Murmu said infrastructure is the foundation upon which modern nations are built. ''Railways and highways are not merely systems of transport; they are instruments of economic expansion, social inclusion and national integration. When a train reaches a remote village or a highway connects a distant region, it opens immense opportunities for socio-economic development of such regions,'' the President said. She said that from modernisation of infrastructure and expansion of electrification to the introduction of advanced safety systems and improved passenger amenities, the railways is evolving to meet future demands. ''You can contribute effectively to this transformation,'' Murmu said. Murmu asked the officers to ''remember that efficiency must go hand in hand with empathy''. ''An effective system should be inclusive and accessible to all, especially the marginalised sections. True development is the one where no one is left behind,'' she said, addressing the officers of 2022 and 2023 batches. Addressing a group of assistant executive engineers of the Central Engineering Service (Roads), who had also called on the President, Murmu said India's road infrastructure has witnessed rapid expansion in recent years. Highways, expressways and economic corridors are redefining mobility and logistics, she said. ''These are vital building blocks in the journey towards Viksit Bharat, and you, the young officers, will play a significant role in this transformation,'' the President said. Murmu said the officers should strive to build infrastructure that is not only robust and efficient, but also sustainable and citizen-centric. ''The roads should not just connect places, but enhance the opportunities of growth, and strengthen the foundations of a developed India,'' she said, addressing these officers belonging to 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 batches. The President said that robust infrastructure reduces logistics costs, boosts trade, attracts investment and enhances productivity. ''It strengthens national unity by bringing regions and people closer. But you need to remember that numbers alone do not define success. The true measure of your work lies in how it improves the lives of people,'' Murmu said. She also urged them to uphold the values of public service such as integrity, accountability and commitment to excellence. ''You are not just administrators but the enablers of progress and guardians of public trust,'' the President added.