Dr. Ashwani Lohani, IRSME 1980 (Retired) presently working as CEO, GMRSB earlier worked as the CMD of Air India on two occasions during which he helped the organization earn operating profits for two years. He also worked as the Chairman Railway Board when the railways went through major reforms resulting in impetus to the Vande Bharat train, Dedicated Freight Corridors, High Speed Railway between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, cleanliness levels, improvements to infrastructure and above all a vastly improved safety record.
His other prominent postings include CMD of ITDC, MD & Commissioner Tourism, GoMP, CME of NR, DRM Delhi, Director of the NRM and Director in the Ministry of Tourism.
Ashwani Lohani in the past has been Honorary Chairman of APTDC with status of a Cabinet Minister of state, & also Honorary Tourism Adviser to the CM of Uttarakhand. He is an Independent Director in IPRCL besides being on the BOG of IIT, Roorkee.
2. Academic Excellence – Honorary Doctorate from University of Engineering & Management Jaipur, Qualified Chartered Engineer from I.Mech.E (UK) and Degree equivalent in Electrical, Metallurgical, and Electronics & Telecom Enginering from Institution of Engineers, India. He is Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, India and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport.
3. Notable Awards/Accolades Received
a) “Ashwani Garden” created at Patratu, Bihar in 1989 by railway employees
b) National Award for Outstanding Performance, Ministry of Railways in April 1996
c) Featured as “Man of the Week” in the Week magazine 21st July 2002 issue.
d) PATWA International Young Achievers Award at Berlin in March 2007
e) Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Award “Icon of Change” in May 2010
f) Life Time Achievement Award in Tourism in September 2010.
g) Art Moda Kala Samman in May 2011
h) ”Eminent Engineer” award by Institution of Engineers India in September 2013.
i) “Excellence in Governance” award in November 2013
j) Felicitated by ASSOCHAM in March 2014 for Excellence in Tourism
k) Set a Guinness World Record in 1998
l) Life Time Achievement Award – India Pride Awards in 2016
m) Kalam Innovation in Governance Award (KIGA) in 2016
He is known for successfully filing nominations for two world heritage sites in the country ie DHR & Mahabodhi Temple Bodhgaya, a LIMCA Record for academic qualifications and a GUINNESS world record for running Fairy Queen, the oldest locomotive in the world.
He also introduced many new technologies for tourist facilitation and information.
