HRTC scouts for a new MD, IAS officer Rohan Chand Thakur helps the centre in financial services department
Shimla, February 23: Rohan Chand Thakur, the 2009 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre has been posted as Director in the Department of Financial Services, Delhi. He has been appointed under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS) for a period of five years or until further order. Thakur’s appointment is a significant milestone in his career as he moves to the centre after an illustrious stint in Himachal Pradesh.
Thakur also served the country in a previous cabinet, and his new appointment with the central government will mean that his post as the ‘Managing Director’ of the ‘Himachal Road Transport Corporation’ post would become vacant. Friday marked the last Board of Directors (BOD) meeting of HRTC, after which Thakur had headed the state run corporation, during which he made remarkable contributions. With expectations that the next person will continue the growth momentum that Thakur set in motion, the state government has already initiated the process to appoint a new Managing Director.
Career Accomplishments of Rohan Chand Thakur
October 2023 — Rohan Chand Thakur: A Life of Achievement in Public Service and Administration Thakur has over a dozen years of administrative experience, serving in various capacities but most prominently as Hamirpur and Shimla district magistrate. During his term in Hamirpur, he emphasized primary education and child sex ratio, launching many schemes to uplift quality of education and social equality.
Thakur launched and managed a series of successful campaigns in Shimla focused on education, de-addiction, windfall, and forest rights and enjoyed extensive acclaim from publics and the local governments. He received two State Civil Service Awards for his dedication to community welfare and administrative excellence. He has also received the Young Alumni Achiever Award from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad in recognition of his remarkable contributions in the area of public service.
Thakur is an architect of the Chief Minister’s Grievance Redressal Helpline, which helped government become responsive to citizens’ issues. His tenure also witnessed the successful implementation of the Asian Development Bank’s four hundred million dollar skill development project and he played an instrumental role in the formulation of excise policy for the year 2021-22 in Himachal Pradesh.
Under Thakur’s Leadership: Transition and Digitalization in HRTC
Under Thakur’s leadership, HRTC has taken rapid strides on modernization and digital transformation. During his tenure, the corporation adopted new technology to enhance passenger experience and drive operational excellence. During this period, one of the most prominent efforts was the roll-out of the smart ticketing system which enabled passengers to purchase his/her ticket in a simpler and more comfortable manner. The introduction of an online booking platform and digital payment options for the passengers revolutionized the booking experience, as it offered better convenience and ensured transparency.
A unique online complaint redressal mechanism, developed under the Chief Minister’s Grievance Redressal Helpline, ensured that the grievances of passengers were addressed in a timely manner. Shift to digital not only resulted in improved customer satisfaction but also resulted in increased revenue for HRTC leading to efficiency and sustainability of the corporation’s operations.
Under Thakur’s supervision, HRTC recently completed its golden jubilee, a milestone that was celebrated in a grand way. He led the establishment of a unique museum to exhibit the corporation’s glorious history, which features vintage buses, photographs and crucial papers from HRTC’s past. Not only did this museum celebrate the corporation’s accomplishments, but it also acted as a bridge connecting its past to its future. With these initiatives, Thakur endeavoured to further elevate the relationship between HRTC and its customers, celebrating the entity’s legacy and forecasting the path for its successful future ahead.
The HRTC Future: Connecting with the Past and the Future
The torch has now been passed to his successor in the central government, who will reminisce over the rich role that HRTC has played in preserving the historical heritage of HRTC and continuing Chand Thakur’s efforts in digital transformation to cut the red tape. Knowing who is in the leadership is of utmost importance for us, as the state government has already directed to initiate the process to appoint a new Managing Director and it’s expected that the new helmsman would take forward on the strong foundation laid by Thakur.
The new Managing Director[1] will also face the challenge of sustaining the digitalization initiatives that have simplified and effective the functioning of HRTC. The smart ticketing system, online booking, and digital payment options have raised the bar for the corporation, and lots of work remains on those fronts to improve operations and passenger experiences.
Together with the digital initiatives, the heritage of HRTC’s half-a-century-long journey has to be preserved too. He has not only built the corporation’s first-ever history museum, thus leaving a major mark on the culture of the organization, but he will also need to ensure the next HRTC MD respects the deep history of HRTC while taking the organization forward, modernizing and making it a green organization. Balancing the historical elements of the company’s journey with new technologies will be a tricky, delicate balance that requires careful leadership.
The Life of Rohan Chand Thakur and His Family Contributions
Rohan Chand Thakur’s professional development has also been driven somewhat by the successes of his other half, IAS officer Manasi Sahay Thakur, who has been on central deputation in Delhi for the past year. While his wife also serves in the central government, Rohan Chand Thakur has taken her path to follow, resulting in three times as much contribution to the Indian Administrative Services by husband and wife jointly.
Their double milestone on the national stage is a watershed moment in the Thakur family legacy and their careers will serve as an inspiration for generations to come in the sphere of public service. The work of the couple, both in Himachal Pradesh and the Centre emphasises their commitment to serving citizens by way of effective governance and public policy.
Rohan Chand Thakur: A New Era with the HRTC
As he settles in his new position in the Department of Financial Services in Delhi, the legacy of Rohan Chand Thakur at HRTC will feel the impact for many years to come. Modernizing the corporation via digitalization and a strong emphasis on preserving HRTC’s heritage were some of his major achievements which will be the benchmark for his successor. With the new Managing Director taking charge soon, HRTC has a critical decision to make in the near future not only to continue on the lane of technology, but also on whether they will be able to maintain their customer satisfaction.
Thakur, for his part, is likely to add another chapter of excellence at a new frontier of the central level where his administrative acumen and experience will play a significant role in the future of financial services in the country. While the state of Himachal Pradesh loses an energetic leader, the nation gains a veteran officer adept at accepting challenges.
Continuing the achievement of the journey of effectiveness and credibility of more than 10 years in the career of journalism, as a woman journalist, I am Serving as the founder, promoter and editor of DiaryTimes with the trust and support of all. My credible coverage may not have given a big shape to the numbers, but my journey presents articles that make you aware of the exact and meaningful situations of Himachal’s politics, ground issues related to the public, business, tourism and the difficult geographical conditions of the state and financial awareness. DiaryTimes, full of the experience of my precise editorial expertise, is awakening the flame of credible journalism among all of you, so that the eternal flame of meaningful change can be lit in the life of the people of the state and the atrocities being committed against the people can be brought to the fore, I am motivated for that. If even a small change comes with the power of my journalism and the whole world becomes a witness to that issues, then I will consider myself fortunate.
