Nacil CMD post may be split

RK Singh, joint secy in civil aviation ministry, could be named MD

NEW DELHI: The long search for the chairman and managing director of Air India and Indian Airlines combine (Nacil) may well end in a surprise.

According to sources, the government has decided to split the top post and have a separate MD and a chairman for the company.

Sources also said Rajesh Kumar Singh, a 1985 batch IAS officer, who is a joint secretary in the ministry of civil aviation and a director on the Nacil board, could well land the MD’s post

Since the MD could be an “insider,” the government is said to be on the lookout for a high-profile “outsider” for the non-executive chairman’s responsibilities.

The current Nacil CMD V Thulasidas is scheduled to retire on March 31 and his request for a 12-month extension is unlikely to be accepted.

Joint MD Vishwapati Trivedi also appears to have lost out in the race to head the national carrier and would have to step down next week, said sources.

A final decision on the top job would be taken by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) soon.

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