Alkesh Kumar Sharma has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY). He is an Indian Administrative Services Officer of 1990 batch, from Kerala cadre.
Sharma has earlier served as Additional Secretary and Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India. In addition to other responsibilities given to him, he was looking after the cabinet proposals of all infrastructure, economic, finance, industry, agriculture, and allied ministries of the Central Government.
Sharma worked as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Ltd (NICDC) (earlier DMICDC) from October 2015 to September 2019. He was also CEO of National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT). The Industrial Corridors are being developed by the Government of India as global manufacturing and investment destinations by setting up investment regions supported by the world-class infrastructure and enabling policy framework. He was also member of the Task Force on Program/Project management set up by NITI Aayog.
As Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, for three years (2012-2015), he handled matters relating to National Highways Planning, land acquisition, forest and environment clearances, review and monitoring of National Highways Projects, coordination with Railways, Defense and other agencies, and all matters related to toll and toll policy on the national highways. He was also Chairman of the Indian Highways Management Company Ltd and implemented FASTAG system of toll collection.
Sharma worked with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for three years (2006-2009) as National Project Director, Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation.
In the State of Kerala, he worked as the Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, Kochi and Additional Chief Secretary (Special Projects-Infrastructure) & Industries from September 2019 to March 2021, where he monitored the implementation of mega infrastructure projects including Semi-High Speed Rail, airport, ports, smart cities, multi-modal transport hub, waste to energy projects, Kochi-Bangalore Industrial Corridor, and development of industrial townships and integrated smart manufacturing clusters in Kerala.
Sharma also worked as the managing director of Kerala Tourism Development Corp.; Kerala State Industrial Development Corp.; Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd; Malabar Cement Ltd, and Kerala State Electronics Development Corp. He also worked as Director, Kerala Tourism and as Secretary, Industries and Investment Promotion in Government of Kerala.
Sharma played a key role in branding and promoting Kerala Tourism as ‘God’s Own Country’ during his two tenures spanning over seven years, in Kerala.
Source: eetindia.co.in
