Bhubaneswar: A 1971-batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IAS officer, Ashok Mohapatra, breathed his last at a private hospital in New Delhi on Friday. He was 75.
This Odisha-born officer had retired in 2008 while serving as secretary, Ministry of Shipping and Road Transport.
Construction of Cuttack-Paradip and Chandikhol–Paradip road, the major industrial coastal corridors of Odisha, by innovative financing topped his several achievements.
Mohapatra held important positions both at the central and state level. He worked as Secretary, Ministry of Parliament Affairs; Chairman, Tariff Commission, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Ministry of Shipping; Joint Secretary & Chief Vigilance Officer, Department of Food & Public Distribution; Director, Small Industries Service Institute, Ministry of Industry, Government of India.
A native of Jagatsinghpur, Mohapatra was a gold medallist in history from Utkal University. He had started his career as a lecturer in Utkal University. After joining administrative services, he started his journey as a District Magistrate and Collector of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh. He was a passionate writer, narrator and a speaker.
He is survived by his wife, two sons Kumar and Sambhab and daughter Ipsita.
