Vivek Kumar Gupta appointed as Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board, Ministry of Railways

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): The Government of India has appointed Shri Vivek Kumar Gupta, General Manager, Western Railway, as Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board, along with the charge of Ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India. The appointment takes effect from the date he assumes charge, following approval by the competent authority.

A 1988-batch Indian Railway Service of Engineers (IRSE) officer, Shri Gupta brings with him nearly four decades of rich experience in railway infrastructure development, mega project execution, and urban transport systems. His appointment comes at a critical juncture as Indian Railways accelerates large-scale infrastructure expansion under national initiatives such as PM Gati-Shakti.

Extensive Leadership in National Mega Projects

Prior to his elevation to the Railway Board, Shri Gupta served as General Manager, Western Railway, one of the busiest and most operationally complex railway zones in the country. He earlier held the pivotal role of Managing Director, National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), where he led India’s first Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project.

At NHSRCL, Shri Gupta was responsible for steering one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure programmes, involving advanced engineering, global technology partnerships, and high-value project management.

Strategic Role in PM Gati-Shakti Framework

Shri Gupta has also served as Principal Executive Director (Gati-Shakti) at the Railway Board. In this role, he coordinated the integrated functioning of seven key departments, including:

• Civil Engineering (Works, Project Monitoring & Station Development)

• Electrical (Railway Electrification)

• Signal & Telecommunication

• Traffic

• Finance

• Planning

• Economic Directorates

This cross-functional leadership strengthened unified planning and execution of national railway projects and station redevelopment initiatives under the PM Gati-Shakti framework.

Deep Zonal and Field-Level Experience

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

• Chief Administrative Officer (Construction)

• Chief Track Engineer

• Chief Bridge Engineer

• Divisional Railway Manager (DRM)

In these roles, he oversaw new line construction, doubling and multi-tracking works, gauge conversion projects, bridge maintenance, and major capacity enhancement initiatives—directly contributing to improved safety, reliability, and network efficiency.

Key Contributor to Mumbai Urban Rail Expansion

As Chief Engineer at Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), Shri Gupta played a significant role in implementing Mumbai Urban Transport Projects (MUTP) I, II and III, with a combined investment of nearly ₹20,000 crore. He also led preparatory planning for the ₹34,000 crore MUTP-3A project.

His work required close coordination with multiple national and international stakeholders, including the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), MMRDA, CIDCO, and the Government of Maharashtra, further strengthening his expertise in multi-agency infrastructure delivery.

During his tenure as Divisional Railway Manager, Bhusaval Division (April 2019 – August 2021), Shri Gupta emphasized operational excellence with a strong focus on safety, infrastructure upgrades, staff welfare, customer satisfaction, and financial discipline through effective expenditure control and revenue enhancement.

An alumnus of IIT Delhi, Shri Gupta holds an M.Tech in Water Resources Engineering. With over 36 years of service in Indian Railways, his career reflects a rare combination of technical proficiency, operational leadership, and strategic vision.

With Shri Vivek Kumar Gupta assuming charge as Member (Infrastructure), Railway Board, Indian Railways is expected to further strengthen execution of mega infrastructure projects, accelerate capacity augmentation, and advance its transformation into a modern, integrated, and future-ready transport network.