Alkesh Kumar Sharma

Alkesh Kumar Sharma is a Kerala Cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1990 batch. Currently, he serves as the Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, Additional Chief Secretary (Special Projects - Infrastructure) to Government of Kerala, and Additional Chief Secretary of Industries (KBIC) in Government of Kerala.

Alkesh Kumar Sharma
Sharma in December 2019
MD of Kochi Metro Rail Limited, Additional Chief Secretary (Special Projects - Infrastructure), Additional Chief Secretary to Industries (KBIC)
Assumed office
September 2019
Personal details
Born (1963-08-12) 12 August 1963
Behror, Rajasthan
NationalityIndian
Alma materInstitute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Duke University, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
OccupationIAS Officer

Early life and education

Alkesh Kumar Sharma started his early education in Behror, Alwar in Rajasthan. He received his bachelor's degree from S.K.N College of Agriculture Sciences in Jobner, Rajasthan and his Masters in Rural Management from the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA). Later, he attended mid-career training programs in Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Duke Centre of International Development (Duke University), and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

Career

Sharma started his career in the Indian Administrative Services in 1990. Before his tenure in Kochi, he was CEO and MD of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC).

Present posting

Sharma holds three positions as the Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. (KMRL),[1] Additional Chief Secretary (Special Projects - Infrastructure), Additional Chief Secretary of Industries in Government of Kerala and was also previously CEO of Cochin Smart City Mission,.[2] As MD of KMRL, Sharma is responsible for operations and management of metro rail services in Kochi as well as its expansion and integration with other modes of transport within Kochi. As Additional Chief Secretary Industries, he develops industrial manufacturing clusters and townships in Kerala as part of the Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (KBIC). Previously, as CEO of Cochin Smart City Mission, Sharma was responsible for implementing smart city projects including an Integrated City Command and Control centre (ICCC) for all city services.

COVID-19 Kasaragod Model

Sharma was dispatched as Special Officer to Kasaragod district of Kerala, which was one of the most affected districts in India.[3] There, Sharma created a strategic model "Care for Kasaragod" in order to contain the spread of the virus and reduce the overall number of cases. He also developed strategies to ensure that the healthcare system was well-equipped to handle any surge in cases after intensive testing.[4] Sharma's humane approach was recognized by the Government of India as a successful model to curb the spread and was adopted for replication.[5]

Industrial Corridors Development in India

Sharma was CEO and MD of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC) from September 2015–19.[6] Some of his responsibilities included overall charge of operations and management, project development, coordination with State Governments, project financing and development planning, integration of cities in Industrial Corridor Regions and finalisation of master plans. During his tenure, he completed Trunk Infrastructure Works in four integrated industrial smart cities,[7] signed SHAs and SSAs with State Governments for all completed DMIC cities, finalised International Airport Dholera[8] and two freight village projects.

Logistics Data Bank

Sharma also developed and planned the design and implementation of the Logistics Data Bank. As the Founder Chairman of DMICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (DLDS), he formulated the expansion of the services to cover all major ports and container terminals in India.[9]

Fast Tag - Electronic Toll Collection System on National Highways

As Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways from 2012–15, Sharma was instrumental in formulating and implementing a policy regarding the National Highways Fee Collection and Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) System in India.[10] He set up the Indian Highways Management Company Ltd.[11] and developed the first inter-operable ETC in the country in the Mumbai- Vadodara stretch which was to be implemented across the country by 2014. Within his role, Sharma was also responsible for coordinating with Railways, Defence, other agencies and State Governments in matters relating to Highways development.

Industrial Investment Planning and Development in Kerala

From 2009–12, Sharma was Secretary, Industries and Managing Director at Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC).[12] Here, he was responsible for the development and promotion of MSME Sector in the State with matters relating to the implementation and monitoring of PMEGP and other centrally and state sponsored schemes and programmes. Sharma was involved in finalising the Kerala State Industrial Policy, preparing annual plans and budgets of Kerala's Industrial Sector and initiating several industrial projects including the Thiruvananthapuram–Kasargode High Speed Rail Corridor, Kochi-Palakkad National Investment Manufacturing Zone,[13] and the Gas Based Infrastructure Development Project. Additionally, Sharma was involved in the launch of the EMERGING KERALA, Investors Meet in September, 2012.[14][15] For his role in KSIDC Sharma received a special commendation and Best CEO Award from the Government of Kerala.[16][17]

Urban planning and development

Before joining KSIDC, Sharma served as National Project Coordinator for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). During his tenure, he published and launched the Indian Urban Poverty Report 2009 as well as Mumbai HDR, the first city human development report in India. Sharma also prepared and implemented an Integrated Poverty Monitoring System with four sub components ie: progress tracking, poverty monitoring, reforms monitoring and capacity building to increase the efficiency of the implementation of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) activities. Additionally, he was responsible for defining a Micro-entrepreneurial Development Strategy and Training Module for Urban Poverty Alleviation.

From June 2004-December 2006, Sharma served as Private Secretary to Ministry for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation within the Government of India. His responsibilities here included overall administration, superintendence and control over the office of the Minister, briefing the Minister on important policy & related matters of the Ministry and more. Within his tenure, the Ministry launched JNNURM, the flagship programme of the Government of India on Urban Renewal and Slum Development.

Tourism in Kerala

Sharma worked in Tourism for seven years within various capacities. From 2001–04, During his tenure as Director of Tourism and Managing Director of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, Sharma became a trailblazer for Kerala Tourism and positioned it as one of the most sought after tourism destinations in Asia. Some of his major achievements include developing 'Kerala Tourism Vision- 2025' for conservation, preservation and eco-friendly development of tourism, increasing tourist arrivals by 2x within a 3-year period, developing the brand "Kerala: God's Own Country" and making it one of the best tourism brands globally, and starting the one-of-a-kind National Boat Show to promote water sports and water-based tourism in Kerala. During his tenure, Kerala Tourism received the Best Performing State Awards consecutively for three years, 3 PATA Awards, the title of "Super Brand" and several other National Awards from the Government of India.[18][19]

NGO and Cooperative Sector

Before joining Civil Services in 1990, Sharma worked as a Marketing Executive in the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Kolkata and as an Action Consultant for an NGO, Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN) New Delhi. He also served as the Founding President of Accident Care and Transport Service (ACTS) Thrissur.

Within his role at NDDB, Sharma was responsible for milk marketing within the state of Orissa and the introduction of new milk and dairy products.

As an Action Consultant for PRADAN, Sharma formulated water conservation and preservation techniques and common property resource management, as well as formed SHGs for women in rural and backward areas of Rajasthan and introduced high profit making and land saving agriculture among the small landholders.

Awards and accolades
  • CEO of the year Award at Golden Globe Tigers Award 2017 by World CSR foundation[20]
  • Green Champion Award 2016 by Indian Green Building Council
  • Award for "Best CEO -2012" by the Government of Kerala in Manufacturing Sector
  • Award for "Best CEO -2012" by the Government of Kerala in Non-Manufacturing Sector
  • Commendation from the Chief Minister of Kerala for "Emerging Kerala-2012"
  • President's silver medal for Best District Census Officer, 2001
  • Commendation from Government of Kerala for Best performance, 2011

Membership/Directorship of Professional Bodies

Publications
  • India Urban Poverty Report, 2009
  • Urban Poverty Alleviation Plan for Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation;
  • Mumbai Human Development Report, 2009;
  • Micro-entrepreneurial Development Strategy and Training Module for Urban Poverty Alleviation;
  • Urban Poverty Reduction Strategy Document for Government of India;
  • Kerala Tourism Vision 2025;
  • Kerala Industrial and Commercial Policy, 2012;
  • Kerala Tourism Conservation, Preservation and Trade Act, 2002;
  • Housing and Habitat Policy, 2007;
  • Programme/Project Management Approach in Infrastructure Projects in India

References
  1. "Alkesh Kumar Sharma new Kochi Metro MD".
  2. "Alkesh replaces Hanish as Kochi Metro MD, gets two other vital posts too". The New Indian Express.
  3. "How this senior IAS officer stopped the march of COVID-19 in Kerala's Kasaragod". Indian Masterminds.
  4. "How IAS Officer Alkesh Kumar led Kasaragod's special battle against COVID-19". Om Manorama.
  5. "Centre picks Kerala's Kasaragod's Covid-19 containment model for high praise". Hindustan Times.
  6. "Alkesh Kumar Sharma is the new Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor MD,CEO". Economic Times.
  7. "PM inaugurates first greenfield industrial smart city in Aurangabad". The Hindu.
  8. "India's first industrial city at Dholera takes shape as firms line up investments". Live Mint.
  9. "DMIDC launches logistics data bank tracking services at BMCT". Business Standard.
  10. "Attach 'Fastag', zip through toll plazas". Deccan Chronicle.
  11. "ICICI Bank to be clearing house for e-toll". CFO India.
  12. "New managing director of KSIDC". The New Indian Express.
  13. "Centre's nod sought for Kochi-Palakkad NIMZ". The Times of India.
  14. "Kerala to Set Up Business Secretariat". The Hindu.
  15. "Emerging Kerala Investment Meet to see 51 nations taking part".
  16. "Shri.Alkesh Kumar Sharma IAS (Former MD, KMML) receiving award for Best CEO (Category I PSUs)". Riab Kerala. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  17. "Shri.Alkesh Kumar Sharma, Former MD, KSIDC Receiving Award for Best CEO (Non-manufacturing PSU)". Riab Kerala. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  18. "Kerala wins Tourism Award for record third time". Exchange4media. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  19. "National Tourism Awards - Kerala bags eight". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  20. "Awards Bagged". Construction World Magazine. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  21. "Narendra Modi govt sets up overarching body for industrial corridors like Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor, others". Financial Express. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  22. "Alkesh Sharma to be CEO of New Industrial Corridor Body". News Experts. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
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