In a significant and surprising development, the central government made a notable decision on Tuesday by appointing Anil Kumar Lahoti, the former Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, as the new Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The position had been vacant for four months following the retirement of PD Vaghela (IAS:1986:GJ) on September 30.
According to a government order, Lahoti has been designated as the TRAI chief “for a period of three years from the date of assuming the post or until he reaches the age of 65, or until further directives, whichever occurs earlier.”
Except for Justice RS Sodhi and MS Verma (former SBI Chairman), the top regulatory role has predominantly been held by retired IAS officers. The government had reopened the high-profile position to the private sector and conducted a second round of interviews, considering names of several former Secretary rank IAS officers. Lahoti, a member of the 1984 batch of the Railway Engineering Service, emerged as the appointed candidate.
Lahoti’s academic background includes a degree in Civil Engineering with a Gold Medal from Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior, and a Master of Engineering in Structures from the University of Roorkee (now IIT Roorkee).
With over 36 years of experience in the railway sector, Lahoti has served in various capacities across Central, Northern, North Central, Western, and West Central Railways, as well as on the Railway Board.
