New Delhi: The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB), under the Department of Personnel & Training, Government of India, has recommended Pawan Kumar Rai for the prestigious position of Director (Project Planning) at the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL). The recommendation was made during PESB Meeting No. 101/2025 held on October 25, 2025.
The selection process was part of a highly competitive procedure where a total of 11 senior executives from various public sector undertakings (PSUs) were interviewed for this critical role. The candidates included senior officials from DFCCIL, RITES, Engineers India Ltd., NHPC, NTPC, BHEL, and Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd.
The Selection Process
The interview process was held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 9:00 AM, with an esteemed panel evaluating the candidates. Key officials from renowned public sector enterprises were interviewed, including:
- Sandesh Shrivastava – Executive Director, DFCCIL
- Rajeev Kumar Chaudhary – Executive Director, RITES
- Abhay Pratap Singh – DGM, Engineers India Ltd
- Sharad Jaikar – GM, NHPC
- Sudam Charan Sahu – AGM, NTPC
- Shankar Narayan – GM, BHEL
- Amar Nath Jha – GM, NHPC
- Prem Shankar Misra – AGM, NTPC
- Baldev Singh Jaryal – GM, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd
- Naveen Babu – Executive Director, Ministry of Railways
After a careful evaluation of all candidates’ qualifications, skills, and leadership experience, Pawan Kumar Rai, currently General Manager (Civil) at Northern Coalfields Limited, emerged as the top choice for the position. His extensive experience in managing large-scale infrastructure projects and his expertise in project planning made him the preferred candidate for this key role at DFCCIL.
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Rai’s Role at DFCCIL
As the Director (Project Planning), Mr. Rai will be responsible for overseeing the strategic planning and execution of DFCCIL’s infrastructure expansion projects. His leadership will be crucial in the development of high-speed freight corridors, which are a critical component of India’s logistics modernization. These corridors aim to improve the efficiency and capacity of the nation’s freight transportation network, aligning with the government’s goals of creating a robust and sustainable logistics ecosystem.
Rai’s expertise in civil engineering and his experience in handling large-scale infrastructure projects will play a pivotal role in ensuring that DFCCIL’s high-priority projects are completed on time and within budget, further boosting the nation’s logistics capabilities.
Approval Pending for Formal Appointment
The formal appointment of Pawan Kumar Rai is subject to the completion of the necessary formalities and approval by the Competent Authority. Once appointed, he will bring his vision and experience to lead DFCCIL’s planning and execution strategies, ensuring that the corporation’s infrastructure projects align with India’s broader goals of modernizing logistics and enhancing freight transportation efficiency.
About DFCCIL (Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited)
Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) is a Schedule ‘A’ Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Railways. It was established to implement and manage the development of Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC) in India, which are essential to improving freight transport infrastructure and boosting economic growth.
