- Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to review parade, felicitate 41 personnel for meritorious service
- Mallakhamb show to be key attraction
NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, OCT 12
For the first time, Gujarat will host the 40th Raising Day celebration of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Western Railway at its Regional Training Centre in Valsad on October 13, 2025. The event will be graced by Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, as the Chief Guest.
Briefing media persons at Valsad, senior officers of the RPF and Western Railway shared details of the upcoming ceremony, which is set to take place with great enthusiasm and ceremonial grandeur.
Ajay Sadan, Inspector General and Principal Chief Security Commissioner of Western Railway RPF, informed that the RPF Director General, senior Railway Board officials, and RPF officers from across the country will participate in the celebration.
On Monday morning, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will review the ceremonial parade and address the gathering. The parade will feature contingents from the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF), Women’s Platoon, Commando Unit, Dog Squad, Segway Platoon, and the RPF Band.
Following the parade, a cultural programme will be held, after which 41 RPF personnel will be honoured with prestigious awards for their exemplary service. A Mallakhamb performance by the RPF team will be a major highlight of the celebration, showcasing the strength and discipline of the force.
After the event, the Union Minister is expected to interact with media representatives.
Highlighting the RPF’s glorious contribution, Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, said that the Railway Protection Force, established in 1985, serves under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. Traditionally, the Raising Day is celebrated in New Delhi, but from this year onwards, the event will rotate among the nine RPF training centres across the country. Hosting this national celebration in Gujarat for the first time marks a moment of pride, he added.
“The RPF’s Raising Day commemorates the unwavering dedication, courage, and sacrifice of personnel who safeguard millions of passengers and protect railway property every day,” Abhishek noted.
During the ceremony, awards such as the President’s Police Medal and Life-Saving Medals will be conferred. The RPF, with a strength of nearly 75,000 personnel, continues to play a vital role in ensuring passenger safety and asset protection under its inspiring motto — ‘Yasho Labhasva’ (Attain Glory).
The press conference was attended by members of the print and electronic media from Valsad district, along with PRO Sunil Singh (Mumbai Division) and PRO Anubhav Saxena (Vadodara Division) of Western Railway.
