Centre downgrades the post of project director of Raebareli-based aviation university from JS to director

THE Centre is looking for a director-ranked officer for the post of project director in Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU), located in Raebareli’s Fursatganj area. It was originally a joint secretary-ranked post, downgraded possibly after there were few takers of the post. The earlier government in March 2014 decided to keep the place of posting in New Delhi so as to possibly…

attract more applicants. The DoPT office memorandum dated June 8, 2016 however added that “the project director would be required to also operate from the project site, i.e. Fursatganj, UP” though the officer will be stationed in New Delhi.

In 2013 when the UPA-II headed by the Congress was at the helm and Raebareli Member of Parliament and Congress president Sonia Gandhi was all powerful, the JS level post was designed to be located in Raebareli only. But in 2013, the government received a lukewarm response from applicants. “Since no response has been received from the eligible officers, it has been decided to once again circulate the post of Project Director (Joint Secretary Level), Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation on deputation basis,” a DoPT letter dated November 22, 2013 and signed by a DoPT director, said. The post was originally advertised on October 3, 2013 after the union cabinet on July 11, 2013 decided to set up the aviation university and construction works needed to be planned and monitored.

But the decision to shift the project director’s location from Raebareli to New Delhi was taken by the UPA-II only, as mentioned in a DoPT advertisement dated March 19, 2014. What followed was general elections, and in May 2014, NDA government came to power. 

The NDA government continued to hunt an eligible officer. As reported by BoI earlier, the new government on September 3, 2014, re-circulated the post giving a one-month deadline for nominating the names of eligible officers.

It was not known whether the civil aviation ministry could find the right candidate at all in the last two years.

According to new office memorandum dated June 8, 2016, the role and responsibilities of the post of project director are as under:

a) Single point of contact with oversight of execution for the construction work on RGNAU;

b) Custodian of implementation plan providing periodic communication to steering committee/vice chancellor of project progress and timely escalation of issues when necessary;

c) Articulation of key decisions to be made by steering committee from time to time;

d) Monitoring of steps involving in execution of project and construction work;

e) Coordination work with Airports Authority of India, IGRUA and ministry of civil aviation;

f) Any other task that may be assigned by vice chancellor/ministry of civil aviation. 

The post is a non-Central Staffing Scheme post to be filled through the civil services board (CSB) procedure, and the deadline is July 8, 2016 i.e. one month from the date of application. The officer will be posted on a deputation of the ministry of civil aviation for an initial period of three years.