Shri R. K. Gupta graduated in Civil Engineering in 1977 with Hons. from erstwhile University of Roorkee (now IIT/Roorkee) and holds Master’s Diploma in Public Administration. He is a Fellow of Institution of Engineers(India), Fellow of Institution of Permanent Way Engineers(India), Fellow of Indian Council of Arbitration, Fellow of Indian Institute of Technical Arbitration, Fellow of Institution of Engineering and Technology (UK) for two years, Member of All India Management Association, Member of American Society of Civil Engineers (USA) and Chartered Engineer from Institution of Engineers. 

Mr Gupta is an experienced professional with a unique combination of technical expertise, business leadership, managerial experience of working in Government and Public sectors to lead the delivery and implementation of mission-critical infrastructure projects. The core competencies includes but not limited to Project Planning & Management, National & International Procurement, Contract Management, Strategic and Operational Management in Railroad sector. Highlights of his experience includes high level management positions and headed many rail infrastructure projects including over 4 bn USD USBRL National project and over 18 bn US$ Dedicated Freight Corridors (Eastern & Western) projects.   

An Officer of 1977-batch of Indian Railways Service of Engineers (IRSE), he worked in various important posts in different parts of the country. Prior to his retirement, he worked as General Manager (CEO) of Eastern Railway, responsible for all policy decisions at the macro level concerning administration, train operations, safety, planning, procurement, security, marketing and freight management etc. 

Before posting as GM, he was selected as Managing Director of Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) – a Schedule ‘A’ Central PSU under Ministry of Railway, created to undertake planning & development, mobilization of financial resources and construction, maintenance and operation of the Dedicated Freight Corridors spanning a total length of about 3300 route kms (Costing Rs. 950 bn Approx.) in the first phase. He established a robust system of quality control, safety, health environment and project monitoring. He chaired discussions with industry experts to finalize unique track specifications and operational strategies to accommodate heavy haul and long haul freight traffic (First initiative of its kind in India) 

As Chief Administrative Officer, he headed India’s prestigious and challenging ‘National Project’ – Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula Rail Link (USBRL) in Jammu & Kashmir, which is considered to be world’s one of the most difficult projects in terms of logistics & terrain and majority of the alignment passes through long tunnels and very tall & long bridges. During the tenure, 119 km new line from Quazigund to Baramulla was commissioned and made operational as an ‘Island Railway’ with all infrastructural facilities. This project in valley was amongst the Final Candidates for Prime Ministers’ award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2009. The USBRL project involves tunneling in one of world’s most difficult terrain and geological strata, apart from mega and important bridges in very difficult terrain. One of the bridges over Chenab river would earn the distinction of World’s tallest and longest single span arch bridge.   

As Principal Chief Engineer, he headed all civil engineering activities over entire North Eastern Railway including planning, monitoring and enabling a team of about 800+ engineers for carrying out maintenance activities for railway tracks, bridges and all Civil structures including residential and service buildings in the entire jurisdiction of about 3450 route Km (3808 track km) with 486 stations. 

He headed Lucknow division on Northern Railways as Divisional Railway Manager, responsible for overall performance including operations and maintenance, safety, passenger and freight transportation, revenue earnings, planning for capital expenditure and asset performance, etc. Managed multi-disciplinary work Force of about 30,000 including a team of over 600 engineers of all disciplines on Lucknow Division, a very sensitive division from Industrial Relations point of view. Under his leadership, Lucknow Division witnessed tremendous improvements and bagged 11 shields of various disciplines along with Overall Efficiency Shield for all round improvement in all fields on the Zonal Railway. It was a rare honor, achieved for the first time in over 100 years’ history of the Railway Division 

He has published several technical papers concerning railway bridges & track in various magazines and delivered Lectures extensively in various Civil Engineering and related areas in India and abroad. He was also associated with various Expert Groups.  He visited almost all the countries in Europe apart from USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore for training/study visits/ conferences, etc. 

He had been conferred with ‘Eminent Engineer’s Award’ by Institution of Engineers in 2013, “Chanakya Award” for Business Excellence in Public Sector by Public Relations Council of India in 2015 and “Life Time Contribution” award by American Society of Civil Engineers in 2016.