THE 1980-batch IRSME officer, Ashwani Lohani, has been appointed new Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Air India Limited (AIR).
He is known for his outstanding contribution to Indian tourism both at the national and state level that drew nationwide attention and appreciation and won him the tag of successful turnaround manager. He is now presented with the challenge of turning around the national carrier.
Lohani is a gold medallist in metallurgical engineering. A fellow of the Institution of Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, he worked as the Divisional Railway Manager of Delhi, Director, National Rail Museum, Director, Ministry of Tourism, CMD, India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and MD, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC). As Chairman and Managing Director, he is credited with having achieved the turnaround of ITDC in year 2002-3 and of MPSTDC in 2004-5.
Lohani was one of the awardees in the gfiles Good Governance Awards in 2013. He has also been conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Tourism and Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Award ‘Icon of Change’ in 2010. It was his efforts in extensive branding, innovation, infrastructure development and marketing that made MP the most attractive tourist destination in the country and it received four National Tourism Awards in 2008, including the award for ‘best tourism performing state in the country’ and three National Tourism Awards in 2009. His name also figured in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1998 for reviving the vintage Fairy Queen Express. New Delhi Station was twice awarded the National Tourism Award for the most tourist friendly station and won CAG appreciation for infrastructure work during the CWG during his tenure as Divisional Railway Manager of Delhi.
