New Delhi: In a bureaucratic reshuffle, the Centre has appointed Krishan Kumar, a 2002-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, as MD, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL).
His appointment assumes significance in the aftermath of Silkyara Tunnel Collapse, when administrators with disaster management experience were needed at the helm of NHIDCL. Kumar had served as Ganjam collector when the southern Odisha district was pummelled by Cyclone Phailin in October 2013 and human casualties were restricted to single digit, thanks to an alert administration.
The senior IAS officer left on central deputation in February 2022 following his appointment as Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, of the Union government. He was then serving as Works Secretary and was also the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) in Puri.
In Odisha, Kumar oversaw implementation of some top priority infrastructure projects, including Rs 3200 crore ABADHA (Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture) scheme in Puri and the Rs 5,000 crore plan to upgrade SCB Medical College to AIIMS-plus standard.
