Rajendra Prasad appointed as Managing Director of National High Speed Rail Corporation

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today):  Senior technocrat and an officer of Indian Railway Services for Engineers 1986-batch Rajendra Prasad has assumed the charge of Managing Director, National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) with effect from July 7, 2022 in addition to his present duties as Director (Project) at NHSRCL. 

Prasad is working as Director (Project) with NHSRCL since November 2017 and is overall in-charge of civil engineering works of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project, popularly known as the Bullet Train Project.

As the Director (Project), NHSRCL, he has spearheaded the civil works of the MAHSR section in the state of Gujarat i.e. 352 Km including the award of the biggest single Infrastructure contract in the country comprising 237 Km long via-duct and 4 stations.

He has worked as Divisional Railway Manager, Chakradharpur (Feb 2015- May 2017), Group General Manager, DFCCIL (Dec 2011- Feb 2015), Chief Engineer, Construction Southern Railways (June 2006 - April 2009) and Resident Engineer, General Consultants to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (Feb 1999 - Feb 2004).

The Railway Board (Ministry of Railways) has recently terminated the services of Satish Agnihotri who was the Managing Director of NHSRCL and given his charge to Mr. Prasad for a period of three months or till the appointment of a new Managing Director whichever is earlier.

The termination of Satish Agnihotri was initiated due to an allegation of corruption against him during his past tenure with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) as CMD. The order of termination from his service in the bullet train project came after the Lokpal court order of June 2, 2022. In the order, the court directed the CBI to probe charges of a ”quid pro quo” deal allegedly struck by him with a private company during his nine-year tenure in RVNL.

Satish Agnihotri, a 1982 batch retired IRSE officer, is accused of misusing his position and illegally diverting funds of Rs 1,100 crore to a private company, owned by the Navayuga Engineering Company Limited (NECL). The RVNL also has a stake in the company.

It is reported that the company gave a house to him in Delhi and also awarded a job to his wards at the company in favour of getting the contracts.

The investigation agency will investigate the charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The CBI has been given time to submit its investigation report in six months or by December 12, 2022. A complaint of corruption was lodged against him on September 30, 2021.