R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, MAY 13
In a significant administrative reshuffle aimed at strengthening public communication and passenger engagement, Southern Railway on Tuesday appointed seasoned Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer Shri S.N. Narain as its new Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO).
- Senior IRTS officer S.N. Narain assumes charge as Chief Public Relations Officer of Southern Railway
- Officer brings rich experience in railway operations, passenger services, digital communication and public interface
- Narain earlier served as Private Secretary to Union Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Tourism
- Held major leadership roles across Chennai, Salem, Palakkad and Tiruchchirappalli railway divisions
- Mechanical Engineering graduate from PSG Tech succeeds M. Senthamil Selvan
The appointment brings to the prestigious Chennai-headquartered railway zone an officer known for his deep operational expertise, strategic communication skills and extensive experience in handling passenger-centric initiatives across Indian Railways and the Union Government.
Shri S.N. Narain formally assumed charge on May 13, 2026, marking his return to Southern Railway after serving on deputation in New Delhi as Private Secretary to the Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Tourism.
Railway Veteran with Multi-Dimensional Experience
An IRTS officer of the 2010 batch, Narain has built a reputation within Indian Railways for handling critical assignments involving operations, commercial management, public interface and policy implementation.
During his railway career, he served in several key operational and commercial leadership positions across Southern Railway’s major divisions, contributing to initiatives focused on passenger amenities, operational efficiency, traffic safety and digital communication systems.
Railway officials said his appointment comes at a time when Southern Railway is increasingly focusing on modern passenger communication platforms, digital outreach and customer engagement strategies.
Key Roles Across Southern Railway
Over the years, Narain has handled several important assignments including:
- Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Tiruchchirappalli Division
- Deputy Chief Operations Manager (Traffic Safety), Southern Railway
- Divisional Commercial Manager, Chennai Division
- Divisional Commercial Manager, Palakkad Division
- Divisional Operations Manager, Salem Division
Apart from railway operations, he also served as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Biotechnology under the Ministry of Science and Technology during his deputation period in New Delhi.
Officials noted that Narain was associated with the implementation of several major operational projects and policy initiatives within Indian Railways during his tenure.
Strong Academic and Administrative Credentials
A Mechanical Engineering graduate from PSG College of Technology, Narain is widely regarded as a technocrat-administrator with strong field-level experience and policy exposure.
Industry observers believe his combined expertise in railway operations and government communication could help Southern Railway strengthen its public engagement initiatives amid rapid modernization and growing passenger expectations.
Leadership Transition at Southern Railway
Narain succeeds Shri M. Senthamil Selvan, who has now been posted as Senior Divisional Electrical Engineer at Royapuram Loco Shed.
Railway circles described the transition as part of Southern Railway’s broader efforts to reinforce leadership across operational and public communication wings as the zone accelerates modernization projects, passenger service enhancements and infrastructure upgrades.
With one of India’s busiest railway networks under its jurisdiction, Southern Railway’s public relations machinery plays a crucial role in passenger communication, crisis management, service updates and stakeholder engagement across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
