Shri Vivek Kumar Gupta, a senior IRSE officer and General Manager, Western Railway, has been appointed Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board. With nearly four decades of experience, he has led landmark railway and urban transport projects, including the Bullet Train and Mumbai Urban Transport initiatives. His appointment comes at a pivotal phase of rapid infrastructure expansion in Indian Railways.

Introduction:

The Government of India has appointed Shri Vivek Kumar Gupta, General Manager, Western Railway, as Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board and Ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India, with effect from the date he assumes charge of the post. The appointment has been made through an official order issued by the Ministry of Railways and approved by the competent authority.

A 1988-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE), Shri Gupta brings with him nearly four decades of extensive experience in railway infrastructure development, operations, and execution of high-value projects. His elevation to the Railway Board comes at a time when Indian Railways is undertaking unprecedented infrastructure expansion under national initiatives such as PM Gati-Shakti.

Distinguished Career Across Key Railway Roles:

Prior to his appointment, Shri Gupta was serving as General Manager, Western Railway, one of the busiest and most complex railway zones in the country. Before that, he held the critical position of Managing Director, National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the organization responsible for executing India’s first Bullet Train Project.

His leadership at NHSRCL placed him at the center of one of India’s most ambitious transportation projects, requiring advanced engineering, international coordination, and meticulous project management.

Strategic Role in PM Gati-Shakti at Railway Board:

Shri Gupta has earlier served as Principal Executive Director (Gati-Shakti) at the Railway Board, Ministry of Railways. In this role, he was responsible for the integrated functioning of seven key departments, including:

These departments worked as a cohesive unit for planning and execution of major railway projects and station redevelopment under the PM Gati-Shakti framework, giving Shri Gupta valuable experience in cross-functional coordination at the national level.

Hands-On Experience in Zonal Railways:

Over the years, Shri Gupta has held several prestigious operational and technical positions across Western and Central Railways, including:

In these capacities, he supervised new line construction, gauge conversion, doubling and multi-tracking projects, as well as track works, bridge maintenance, and traffic facility upgrades—projects that directly enhanced network capacity and safety.

Key Role in Mumbai Urban Rail Projects:

As Chief Engineer at Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), Shri Gupta played a crucial role in the implementation of MUTP I, II and III, with a combined project value of approximately Rs. 20,000 crore. He also led preparatory work for the Rs. 34,000 crore MUTP-3A project.

His responsibilities involved coordination with multiple national and international agencies, including the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), MMRDA, CIDCO, and the Government of Maharashtra, strengthening his expertise in complex, multi-stakeholder infrastructure delivery.

Leadership as DRM, Bhusaval Division:

During his tenure as Divisional Railway Manager, Bhusaval Division (April 2019 – August 2021), Shri Gupta focused on operational efficiency with emphasis on safety, reliability, infrastructure improvement, staff welfare, customer satisfaction, and financial discipline through expenditure control and revenue generation.

Strong Academic and Professional Foundation:

An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Shri Gupta holds an M.Tech in Water Resources Engineering. With over 36 years of service in Indian Railways, his professional journey reflects a rare blend of technical depth, operational command, and strategic leadership.

Conclusion:

With his appointment as Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board, Shri Vivek Kumar Gupta brings proven expertise in mega projects, infrastructure planning, and railway operations. His leadership is expected to strengthen project execution, accelerate capacity expansion, and support Indian Railways’ vision of a modern, integrated transport network.

Source: Indian Railways – Press Release

 Timely insights, straight to your WhatsApp—stay updated with ease!

 Stay connected to the rail industry—timely news, straight to Telegram!