Jamalpur (Munger): Railway board chairman Ashwani Lohani has suggested revival of the special class railway apprentice (SCRA) course at Indian Railway Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (IRMEE), Jamalpur, in Munger district.

Lohani, who was at Jamalpur on February 14 to attend the 91st anniversary of IRMEE, said the process for admission would start in the 2019 session.

He said the Union railway ministry has decided to include IRMEE, Jamalpur, under the proposed rail varsity at Vadodara. "It will be an important part of the proposed rail varsity at Vadodara," he said. He also announced a Rs 1 lakh cash prize for promotion of best educational environment inside IRMEE's campus.

He also hinted at the UPSC conducting entrance exams for SCRA within a year. Lohani said institutions like IRMEE, Jamalpur, are an important part Indian Railways, which has produced many eminent technocrats in the country. "Railways cannot think of any modernisation without IRMEE and it is one of the prestigious institutions in the country," he said.

New admissions into SCRA at IRMEE were stopped following a recommendation from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to the Centre and the railways ministry.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar had condemned closure of the institution.