PESB Recommends Ajit Kumar Panda as CMD of CONCOR to Lead India's Next Logistics Era

In a significant leadership development for India's freight and logistics sector, the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended Ajit Kumar Panda for the position of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Container Corporation of India Limited, widely known as CONCOR. The recommendation follows a rigorous and competitive selection process that brought together senior professionals from logistics, railways, infrastructure, and central government ministries.

Ajit Kumar Panda currently holds the position of Director (Projects & Services) at CONCOR, where he has spent years building deep expertise across rail-based logistics, multimodal transportation, and container terminal development. His tenure at the organization has been marked by a strong focus on freight infrastructure projects and supply-chain integration, as well as strategic expansion initiatives aimed at enhancing operational efficiency across CONCOR's vast network.

The PESB selection meeting was held on 18 April 2026, during which eight senior candidates were interviewed for the top leadership role. The candidates represented a diverse cross-section of India's transport, logistics, and public administration landscape. Those who appeared before the board included Harish Chandra, Principal Executive Director (Finance), Company Secretary and CFO at CONCOR; Dr. Alok Badkul, Executive Director (Cold Chain Air Cargo) and CEO of FHEL at CONCOR; Ghalib Ahmed Jillani, Executive Director (Quality Assurance) at RITES Limited; Arvind Malkhede, Principal Chief Operations Manager at Central Railway; Navin Kumar Parsuramka, Principal Executive Director (Coaching) at Indian Railways; Jayant Singh, Chairman of the Land Ports Authority of India; and Manish Tiwari, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Following the conclusion of interviews, the board ultimately recommended Ajit Kumar Panda for the CMD role.

CONCOR occupies a central position in India's freight logistics ecosystem. The organization operates an extensive network of inland container depots, container terminals, and rail freight services that span the length and breadth of the country. As India accelerates its ambitions to become a global logistics hub, the leadership at CONCOR carries enormous strategic weight. Panda's appointment comes at a particularly crucial juncture, as the country continues to invest in dedicated freight corridors, multimodal logistics parks, and technology-driven supply chain solutions.

Under Panda's expected leadership, CONCOR is anticipated to sharpen its focus on several key priorities. These include strengthening the competitiveness of rail logistics against road transport alternatives, expanding multimodal transport solutions to offer shippers greater flexibility and cost efficiency, supporting national trade and logistics policy initiatives, and driving digitalization across terminal operations and customer-facing services.

Panda's professional background makes him well suited for this mandate. His experience in container terminal modernization and freight infrastructure development directly aligns with the government's broader push to reduce logistics costs as a percentage of GDP, a goal that has been central to India's National Logistics Policy. His familiarity with CONCOR's internal workings also positions him to move quickly on operational improvements without the learning curve that an outside appointment would require.

The recommendation by PESB now moves to the next stage, as the appointment awaits final approval from the central government. Once confirmed, Panda will take charge of leading CONCOR through what many industry observers consider to be the most transformative phase in Indian freight logistics history, shaped by the commissioning of dedicated freight corridors, the rise of integrated logistics parks, and growing demand for seamless multimodal connectivity across the supply chain.