JNS: Anil Kumar Khandelwal, General Manager of East Central Railway, has officially taken charge as the Member Infrastructure, Railway Board, and Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Railways, effective February 20, 2024.
Khandelwal, a seasoned officer of the 1987 batch of the Indian Railway Service of Engineers, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from MNIT, Jaipur, and an M.Tech from IIT, Roorkee. With an illustrious career spanning over 35 years, he has been instrumental in the construction and maintenance of crucial infrastructure within the Indian Railways network.
Throughout his career, Khandelwal has overseen numerous significant railway construction projects, starting from his early days as an Assistant Engineer in the challenging Naxalite area of South Central Railway.
He has held key positions in various divisions including SCR, Southern Railway, Railway Board, Northern Railway, USBRL Project, and Railway Board, showcasing his versatility and leadership.
One of his notable achievements includes serving as the Chief Administrative Officer/Construction for the prestigious USBRL Project, where he played a pivotal role in the construction of the world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Bridge. Additionally, as Executive Director/Track Machines at the Railway Board, he played a crucial role in India’s transition from a track machine importer to an exporter, contributing significantly to the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
During his tenure as Executive Director/Non-Fare Revenue, Railway Board, Khandelwal achieved a significant milestone by realizing the highest ever Non-Fare Revenue of Rs. 10,368 Cr. (6.2% of the total revenue) in 2016-17.
His strategic leadership was further highlighted when he was appointed as the first Principal Executive Director of the Gati Shakti Directorate, Railway Board, where he led initiatives to enhance project planning, sanctioning, and monitoring processes, resulting in record-breaking performance in project delivery.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Khandelwal is also recognized for his sportsmanship, having played basketball at the state level. As the President of Sports for Northern Railway, he led the team to victory in the prestigious Kaul’s Gold Cup for the best sports performance in 2021-22, showcasing his dedication to sports.
Khandelwal’s commitment to continuous learning is evident through his participation in strategic management programs at INSEAD, Singapore, ICLIF, Malaysia in 2007, and the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. He is also a distinguished fellow and life member of several prestigious institutions, reflecting his dedication to professional development and excellence.
