Air India boss Ashwani Lohani to head Railways Board from today

Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani will assume the charge of Railways Board Chairman on Thursday.

"Orders promoting me as Chairman, Railway Board have been issued today. I shall be joining my parent organization, the lndian Railways tomorrow," Lohani said in a statement.

He further said that his journey with the Air India was one of the most satisfying periods of his life.

Lohani has earlier served as Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Delhi Division; Director, National Rail Museum; and Chief Administrative Officer, Rail Alternate Fuel.

Lohani was appointed Railways Board Chairman soon after A.K. Mittal stepped down from the post.

Mittal took this drastic step after Uttar Pradesh witnessed two train derailments within five days; where 10 coaches of Kaifiyat Express heading towards Delhi derailed after colliding with a dumper near Auraiya district and over 20 people have been injured.

Also on August 19, more than 20 died and 200 were injured after 13 coaches of the Puri-Haridwar Utkal Express ran off the tracks in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district.