Govt appoints Satyanarayansinh Rathore as Managing Director of GMRC

Ahmedabad (Urban Transport News): Gujarat government announced appointment of Satyanarayansinh Rathore, Ex-chairman, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL), as Managing Director of the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC). The post was vacant after ex-Managing Director I P Gautam resigned from the post following his appointment as a member of the Lokpal body. Commenting on his appointment, Rathore said,

I am happy that the government has considered me for this key infrastructure project. My priority will be to complete the project within the stipulated time frame.

Earlier, Rathore was acting as nominated Director of GMRC after getting retirement from post of Additional Chief Secretary in Roads and Building Department, Government of Gujarat. Rathore started his career as a Civil Engineer with Gujarat Service of Engineers (GSE) cadre. He belongs to the royal family of Valasna State. He is popularly known as the “highway and canal man of Gujarat”. As CMD of Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL), Rathore completed the Sardar Sarovar dam project which enabled the supply of irrigation and drinking water from the Narmada river, established various canal networks. He also lead the team for the Statue of Unity project. Rathore introduced the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) road development model, the first of its kind in India. He is credited for developing major highways in Gujarat. Rathore also served as the former President of the Institute of Engineers, India, Indian Road Congress, and the Vice-President of the World Federation of Engineering Organization. He retired in 2014 as its additional chief secretary (ACS) from Roads and Building Department of Gujarat Government. He also served as the principal secretary of the Government of Gujarat. For his commendable work towards infrastructure development, Rathore was honored with the fourth highest civilian honor 'Padma Shree" in 2018, by Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India.