Pradeep M. Sikdar – Distinguished Railway Technocrat & Leader

Pradeep M. Sikdar, a 1986 UPSC batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE), retired in July 2023 as Additional Secretary to the Government of India after an extraordinary four-decade career. A graduate in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering from NIT Kurukshetra, he has been at the forefront of modernizing India’s railway signalling and telecom systems.

From his early days as Assistant Signal & Telecom Engineer in Jabalpur to his final role as Principal Chief Signal & Telecom Engineer, South-Eastern Railway, Kolkata, Sikdar has consistently delivered operational excellence and infrastructure transformation. His leadership extended to pivotal roles in Northern and North-Western Railways, Railway Board, and CORE, Allahabad. On deputation with IRCON International, he spearheaded national and international projects across Malaysia, Iran, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, showcasing India’s engineering prowess on the global stage.

As General Manager (S&T) at IRCON and later Executive Director (Signal Development) at Railway Board, he drove technology adoption, metro and high-speed rail policies, and large-scale project execution. A Fellow of IETE and Director on the boards of Bangalore, Lucknow, and Kolkata Metro, Sikdar embodies vision, discipline, and innovation. His career is a testament to relentless dedication, global impact, and nation-building through technology.