FORMER tourism joint secretary and 1980 batch Kerala cadre IAS Amitabh Kant is now the front-runner for heading Delhi Mumbai industrial corridor development corporation (DMICDC) which is the nodal body to execute USD 90 billion India-Japan friendship project, sources close to the development told babu blogger.
Mr Kant, who is best known for his six-year-old (2001-2007) stint as joint secretary of tourism ministry, is credited with championing the ‘Incredible India’ campaign (See photograph above). Last month, Tata group chairman Ratan Tata released a book – “Branding India-An Incredible Journey”-- authored by Mr Kant who is now principal secretary and special commissioner (industries) of Government of Kerala.
Significantly, the government short-listed a number of infrastructure honchos for the post of chief executive of DMICDC last year, and interviews were conducted in September 2008. But Mr Kant was nowhere in the picture when a search committee including cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar, DIPP secretary Ajay Shankar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) MD E Sreedharan, screened a few possible names for the post.
The main contenders then included senior director of ICICI Venture and former IAS Shailesh Pathak, L&T infrastructure finance’s CEO Suneet Maheshwari, Gammon India’s MD Parvez Umrigar, I D International’s Hong Kong-based director Alok Jain, Ascendas Property Management Services India’s head, IT-SEZ, Rajeev Chadha, former IAS and currently CEO of Tata Realty and Infrastructure Sanjay G Ubale, KEC International’s CEO Ramesh Chandak and Petronet MHB’s MD S B Pandey. But a number of them including Mr Pathak and Mr Ubale were not so keen in taking up the job then.
In fact, former industry secretary Ajay Dua was instrumental in shaping the concept of DMICDC, and it was widely believed that Mr Dua would be appointed as its chief executive post retirement. But the government decided to put an age-cap making it impossible for any retired person to contest for the post.
It now remains to be seen whether Mr Kant, an officer from Kerala, clicks in power corridors of Delhi when Kerala is the ultimate flavour of the season in Raisina Hill!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Incredible! Amitabh Kant is front-runner for DMICDC's CEO; may handle USD 90 billion project
FORMER tourism joint secretary and 1980 batch Kerala cadre IAS Amitabh Kant is now the front-runner for heading Delhi Mumbai industrial corridor development corporation (DMICDC) which is the nodal body to execute USD 90 billion India-Japan friendship project, sources close to the development told babu blogger.
Mr Kant, who is best known for his six-year-old (2001-2007) stint as joint secretary of tourism ministry, is credited with championing the ‘Incredible India’ campaign (See photograph above). Last month, Tata group chairman Ratan Tata released a book – “Branding India-An Incredible Journey”-- authored by Mr Kant who is now principal secretary and special commissioner (industries) of Government of Kerala.
Significantly, the government short-listed a number of infrastructure honchos for the post of chief executive of DMICDC last year, and interviews were conducted in September 2008. But Mr Kant was nowhere in the picture when a search committee including cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar, DIPP secretary Ajay Shankar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) MD E Sreedharan, screened a few possible names for the post.
The main contenders then included senior director of ICICI Venture and former IAS Shailesh Pathak, L&T infrastructure finance’s CEO Suneet Maheshwari, Gammon India’s MD Parvez Umrigar, I D International’s Hong Kong-based director Alok Jain, Ascendas Property Management Services India’s head, IT-SEZ, Rajeev Chadha, former IAS and currently CEO of Tata Realty and Infrastructure Sanjay G Ubale, KEC International’s CEO Ramesh Chandak and Petronet MHB’s MD S B Pandey. But a number of them including Mr Pathak and Mr Ubale were not so keen in taking up the job then.
In fact, former industry secretary Ajay Dua was instrumental in shaping the concept of DMICDC, and it was widely believed that Mr Dua would be appointed as its chief executive post retirement. But the government decided to put an age-cap making it impossible for any retired person to contest for the post.
It now remains to be seen whether Mr Kant, an officer from Kerala, clicks in power corridors of Delhi when Kerala is the ultimate flavour of the season in Raisina Hill!
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Great, althought i dont know him personally , but the fact is " incredible india" was incredibly concived, conceptualised and executed by him ,( other then god's own country and incrible india which brand has more recall value.......)I am very sure we will see great progress in this corridor if this happens....Congrate's mr kant...Please after you get appointed inform through a publicity camapign about this corridor to people ( other then doing other very important work)....Gob bless you and best of luck...k kapoor
ReplyDeleteDear Mr.Kant:
ReplyDeleteam a future IAS aspirant and an urban planner by background. I am fond of your style of planning, desgining and implementation of this ambitious project, the first ever-succesful story- in Idia. This has motivated me alot and has helped me in coming out of the dilemma as to whether one should join the coveted services or not? I look forward to your position as DMIC chief and wish you a very good luck to successful achievment of the economic resurgence of Indian economy as never-before event.
Shelly
Dear Mr. Kant, First of all congratulations for your new role. Hope it's going to be another feather in your cap. I have met you 2-3 times and probably meet you again very soon. BTW, your book ''Branding India'' is getting rave reviews from everywhere but I haven't got the chance read it. I'm very much sure that you will give me a complementary copy. Regards,
ReplyDeleteA. Singh
Dear Mr Pant,
ReplyDeleteJust saw ur interview at NDTV, it was great. I could actually feel ur zest, and honest efforts and intentions towards making this project a success. we all are looking forward to it. may god give it success as DMRC.we are proud of you.
ALL THE BEST.
REGARDS
anu
Resp Mr Kantji
ReplyDeleteDelhi mumbai industry corridor is verey good concepts for 6 state with other state also. but as we know that the private land envolment is verey high and the GOVT acquisition part naver satisfy to Farmer. There for from the disk of CEO some Massage should be given to Formar that "Formar may be the patner of the all Project" ( AS SIR U TOLD IN MONEY MANTRA ON NDTV ON 15/09 )
I wish all the best to u sir with request that pl uplode all NEWS and order on WEBSITE on dely basise.
THANKS
UMESH DUBE
BHOPAL
urdube@gmail.com