In a significant move honoring India’s former Prime Minister, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council Leader of the House Vijay Bahadur Pathak on Friday urged the state government to rename the Indian Railway Transport Institute Management (IRTIM) in Lucknow as ‘Atal Bihari Vajpayee Railway Transport Management National Academy’ under Rule 111.
Pathak emphasized the unprecedented modernization of railway infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh during the double-engine government’s tenure. Over 157 stations are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with a strong push for high-speed rail connectivity. Iconic stations like Gorakhpur, Lucknow, and Varanasi are being transformed into world-class facilities. New broad-gauge lines are expanding rapidly, alongside swift progress on the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and Meerut Metro projects.
The Lucknow-based institute serves as a premier training hub for Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officers and other transport management professionals. Functioning as the nodal academy for IRMS/Traffic officers, it has established itself as a leading civil services training center over 18 years, earning a four-star ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Central Staffing Scheme Commission.
Pathak highlighted that the institute’s foundation stone was laid on January 31, 2001, and inaugurated on May 21, 2003, by Atal Bihari Vajpayee himself. Renaming it during his birth centenary year would be a fitting tribute to his contributions. He called on the state to forward the proposal to the central government for immediate action, marking a historic recognition of Vajpayee’s legacy in railway development.