The Union government has named Susanta Kumar Purohit, an Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers (IRSEE) officer of 1996 batch as the new Chairman of V O Chidambaranar Port Authority, one of the 12 major ports.
Purohit’s appointment was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Friday, according to a government order. IRSEE is a Group A Central Engineering Services of the Indian Railways.
The selection of Purohit as Chairman (Joint Secretary level) of V O C Port Authority continues the increasing trend of Indian Railways officers being picked to run major ports as Chairman or Deputy Chairman.
The post of Chairman, V O C Port Authority has been lying vacant since June 2023 after the previous incumbent T K Ramachandran (Indian Administrative Service officer) was appointed Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.
Bimal Jha, Deputy Chairman, has been holding additional charge of Chairman of V O C Port Authority.
Purohit’s tenure will run through May 2027.