P. Ananth Takes Charge as General Manager of South Western Railway
Bengaluru: Shri P. Ananth has assumed charge as the new General Manager of South Western Railway (SWR) on April 9, 2026, succeeding Shri Mukul Saran Mathur following his retirement.
A 1989 batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers (IRSME), Shri Ananth is a Mechanical Engineering graduate with over three decades of extensive experience in Indian Railways.
He has served in multiple key roles across various railway zones, particularly in South Eastern Railway. Between 2002 and 2008, he held the position of Director (Manpower Planning) in the Railway Board, contributing significantly to workforce planning and policy development.
From 2012 to 2017, he served as Chief Mechanical Engineer at Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), where he played a crucial role in enhancing production capacity and driving modernization initiatives.
In 2017, Shri Ananth joined the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), New Delhi, as General Manager (Coach Maintenance Management System). During his tenure, he led the development and implementation of critical software systems that support operational functions across Indian Railways.
He later served as Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Madurai Division under Southern Railway from August 2021 to October 2023, where he spearheaded several initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency and passenger services.
Before taking over as General Manager, Shri Ananth was serving as Additional General Manager of South Western Railway since October 13, 2025. His appointment is expected to further strengthen leadership and operational performance in the zone.
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