NCRTC Chief Shalabh Goel appointed as General Manager of Central Railway

A 1989-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE), Goel brings over three decades of extensive experience in railway operations, electrification, energy management and urban transit systems. His career spans key assignments across multiple railway zones and the Ministry of Railways.

During his tenure as Managing Director of NCRTC, a joint venture of the Government of India and the states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, Goel oversaw critical progress on the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut RRTS corridor. The project represents India’s first high-speed regional rail system and a transformative step in regional mobility planning.

Earlier in his career, he served as Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of the Mumbai Division of Central Railway, where he was credited with maintaining uninterrupted essential services and ensuring passenger safety during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also held the positions of Senior Deputy General Manager and Chief Vigilance Officer at Western Railway, Executive Director at the Ministry of Railways, and Chief Electrical Locomotive Engineer at Central Railway.

Goel’s professional expertise includes electrical locomotive maintenance, traction systems, energy optimisation and large-scale railway administration. His contributions have been recognised with the prestigious Minister of Railways Award, along with several General Manager Awards.

His appointment as General Manager of Central Railway comes at a time when the zone is undertaking significant infrastructure expansion, station redevelopment projects and capacity augmentation of Mumbai’s suburban rail network. With his combined experience in mainline railways and modern urban transit systems, his leadership is expected to strengthen operational efficiency and accelerate modernization initiatives.

Commenting on the appointment, Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO, Urban Infra Group, said, “Shalabh Goel’s transition from leading India’s first RRTS project to heading Central Railway reflects a strong blend of regional rapid transit expertise and conventional railway operations. His experience in electrification, energy management and large-scale project execution will be invaluable as Central Railway advances capacity upgrades and suburban network modernisation.”

Goel’s return to Central Railway in a top leadership role marks a strategic move that aligns infrastructure modernisation with experienced, reform-oriented leadership.