New Delhi: Following two derailments in four days, Railway Board Chairman A.K. Mittal has resigned from his post paving a way for Ashwani Lohani, Chairman and Managing Director of Air India to take his position.
Mittal is learnt to have submitted his resignation on Tuesday after he was asked to go on leave by the Railway Ministry after an ongoing discussion among the top echelons. Had he continued serving at the position, he would have been the longest serving Railway Board Chairman given that his tenure was extended for two years in July.
The members of the board are also reported to have urged Mittal to remain on his position. However, indicating that the decision rests with government, he claimed that he is helpless. The members also contacted Railway Minister and appealed to deny the resignation. However, as claimed by latter, the matters had reached beyond the Ministry and there was a pressure from PMO to act, stated the souces.
The decision has come just a few hours after Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu offered to quit considering the mishaps to be his moral responsibilities.
