Anil Kumar Lahoti, former Railway Board chairman and CEO, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), ending a four-month vacancy since the retirement of P D Vaghela on September 30, 2023.
Lahoti, a 1984 batch Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer, will hold the position for a period of three years from the date of assuming charge, or until he attains the age of 65 years, or until further orders, as stated in a government order.
Educated in Civil Engineering with a Gold Medal from Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior, Lahoti further pursued a Master of Engineering in Structures from the University of Roorkee (now IIT Roorkee).
Throughout his illustrious 36-year career in railways, Lahoti served in various capacities across Central, Northern, North Central, Western, and West Central Railways, contributing significantly to the sector.
Notable highlights of Lahoti’s career include his tenure as the General Manager of Central Railway, where he achieved remarkable milestones in freight and parcel traffic, accompanied by substantial revenue growth through innovative non-fare avenues, as per the Ministry of Railways.
His leadership at Central Railway also saw the resolution of challenges related to the expansion of air-conditioned suburban services in Mumbai. Under his guidance, the division recorded a significant increase in the execution and commissioning of infrastructure projects, including the long-awaited 5th & 6th lines between Diva and Thane in Mumbai.
Lahoti’s contributions extend to his role as Divisional Railway Manager of Lucknow, Northern Railway, where he initiated efforts to enhance freight movement and improve passenger amenities across the division.
As chief administrative officer (construction) and chief engineer (construction) on Northern Railway, Lahoti is credited with the successful execution of numerous infrastructure projects, including new lines, doubling and multi-tracking of tracks, yard remodeling, important bridges, and station construction. His planning also played a crucial role in the development of the Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi and the Ajmeri Gate side station building of New Delhi station.
