In a significant administrative move aimed at resolving a prolonged leadership crisis, the Haryana government has appointed senior IAS officer PC Meena as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA). This decision, announced on Sunday as part of a larger bureaucratic reshuffle involving 20 IAS officers, brings closure to a month-long period of uncertainty at the helm of the city's key planning body.
Ending a Leadership Paralysis
This marks the second stint for the 2004-batch officer as the GMDA CEO, having previously led the authority from April 2023 until January 2024. The government has assigned him this crucial role in addition to his current responsibilities as the Commissioner and Secretary for both the Human Resources Department and the General Administration Department.
The appointment ends a top-level paralysis that had left the GMDA without a full-time administrative head since October 28. This was the first such instance since the authority's formation in 2017. The situation persisted despite two prior attempts to fill the position. In October, 2006-batch IAS officer J Ganesan was appointed but never assumed charge. Later, on November 18, MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya was given additional responsibility as the GMDA chief, but he too did not take over due to procedural gaps.
Why Meena's Return is Significant for Gurugram
PC Meena's return is seen as a critical development for Gurugram, given the extensive infrastructure work underway across the city. His deep-rooted experience in Gurugram's administrative circle makes him a familiar and seasoned hand. Over the past decade, he has held some of the most pivotal positions in the city, including Deputy Commissioner in 2011, MCG Commissioner in 2013 and again in 2023, HUDA (now HSVP) Administrator in 2014, and Managing Director of DHBVN in 2021 and 2024.
This vast experience with multiple agencies that now interface with the GMDA is expected to be a major asset. It is likely to streamline inter-departmental decision-making, which is often a bottleneck for major projects. With several names, including Yashpal Yadav, Shekhar Vidyarthi, and A Sreenivas, being speculated for the post, Meena's final appointment is anticipated to accelerate pending clearances, improve inter-agency coordination, and enhance the pace of project monitoring.
Other Key Appointments in the Reshuffle
The latest bureaucratic reshuffle also led to two other key changes affecting the city. Pradeep Singh, a 2020-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the new Municipal Corporation of Manesar (MCM) Commissioner. He replaces Ayush Sinha, who has been transferred as the Deputy Commissioner of Faridabad. Meanwhile, 2014-batch IAS officer Vikram, who was previously the Deputy Commissioner of Faridabad, has been posted as the Managing Director of DHBVN.
The return of a seasoned administrator like PC Meena is widely seen as a positive step for Gurugram, which has been grappling with sluggish progress on key infrastructure projects and approvals in the absence of a full-time GMDA chief.
