New Delhi, May 7 (IANS): Amid the political row over the shifting of the Indian Railway Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (IRIMEE) from Bihar's Jamalpur to Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow, the Indian Railways on Thursday refuted the claims as "misleading". It said it has only planned to enlarge the activities of the century old institute to impart educational programmes in transportation technology and management.
The remarks of the railway ministry came a day after senior Bihar minister Sanjay Kumar Jha on Wednesday urged Railway Minister Piyush Goyal to rescind the "outrageous" order to shift IRIMEE from Jamalpur in the state's Munger district. A railway spokesperson in a statement said, "Railways clarifies that it has no plans to shift IRIMEE from Jamalpur to Lucknow. Any assertions to this effect are incorrect and misleading and do not have the approval of the Railway Ministry."
He said, "In fact, railways has planned to enlarge the activities of IRIMEE to also impart educational programmes in transportation technology and management." Several additional educational programmes starting with one-year diploma courses at Jamalpur are planned to be introduced for which curriculum development and design is underway, he added.
The spokesperson said that Indian Railways is very proud of the history and legacy of IRIMEE and there is no question of it being transferred from its present location. "In fact, all efforts are to further strengthen it and enlarge its role at the existing location," he said.
He added that railways in particular and the transportation sector in general in India are witnessing major growth and transformation.
"A well-developed training and educational facility like IRIMEE in Jamalpur will not only play a significant role in providing training to Indian Railway employees but also provide high quality professional education and skills to youth from Bihar and neighbouring areas and contribute to economic development in the region."
Founded in 1888, IRIMEE has produced several illustrious railwaymen, including former Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani.