Rail Bhavan, Headquarters of the Indian Railways. File
| Photo Credit: Kamal Narang
In a significant move to align its corporate identity with administrative expansion, the Ministry of Railways has officially unveiled a revised logo for Indian Railways. The updated emblem, featuring 18 stars — up from the previous 17 — marks the formal operationalisation of the South Coast Railway (SCoR), the nation’s 18th railway zone, according to railway sources in Visakhapatnam on Friday (May 15, 2026).The revised logo is approved for official use across all platforms effective June 1, 2026.
The updated Indian Railways logo
All Zonal Railways, Production Units and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have been directed to adopt the new visual identity for stationery, digital interfaces and signboards.Personnel shortfallsWhile the branding transition is underway, internal documents reveal a deepening crisis regarding the staffing of the new zone and the Rayagada Division.In a strongly-worded directive (No. E(MPP)/2025/9/5) dated May 14, the Railway Board expressed “serious concern” that the operationalisation process is being hindered by a lack of cooperation from existing zones.Data indicates a stark deficit in the transfer of personnel.For the SCoR Headquarters (Visakhapatnam), only 183 employees have joined against an approved strength of 526. Similarly, the Rayagada Division has seen only 47 hirings out of 191 approved posts. The Board noted that more than 600 No Objection Certificate (NOC) requests remain pending across various zones.The Director General (HR), Aruna Nayar, has termed the progress “well below required levels” and suggested that Zonal Railways have not treated the matter with the requisite seriousness.High-level reviewFailure to comply with these directives will be addressed at the highest level. The Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board (CRB) is scheduled to chair a review meeting via video conferencing at 4 p.m. on May 20. General Managers and Principal Chief Personnel Officers (PCPOs) have been summoned to attend with detailed compliance reports.“The smooth operationalisation of a new zone is a complex logistical task that requires seamless inter-zonal coordination,” a senior railway official at Visakhapatnam told The Hindu. Published - May 15, 2026 02:22 pm IST
