NEW DELHI, Sept. 19, 2026 — GAIL (India) Limited said Shri Manoj Kumar Sharma assumed charge as Director (Projects) on Saturday in New Delhi, bringing more than three decades of hydrocarbon infrastructure experience to guide project delivery, pipeline execution and energy infrastructure growth at India’s integrated energy major.
Sharma’s appointment strengthens GAIL’s project leadership at a time when India’s energy infrastructure requires experienced execution across natural gas, petroleum products, LPG and crude oil networks. His background spans project design, engineering, procurement, construction management, operations and maintenance, giving GAIL added senior capacity for complex infrastructure programmes.
Before joining GAIL as Director (Projects), Sharma served as Executive Director and Regional Head, Eastern Region Pipelines, at Indian Oil Corporation Limited. In that role, he oversaw operations and maintenance, construction and City Gas Distribution businesses across five states and managed a pipeline network of more than 5,700 km.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on Production and Industrial Engineering, from Delhi College of Engineering. He also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar. The source did not provide an investment figure or a new capacity addition linked to the appointment.
Sharma has worked across the hydrocarbon infrastructure value chain for more than 30 years. His experience covers design and engineering, project management, procurement, construction management, and operations and maintenance for crude oil, petroleum products, LPG and natural gas pipeline networks. He has also handled crude oil terminal projects with strategic importance.
Earlier, he served as Executive Director (Projects), Pipelines Division, at IOCL. In that position, he led engineering, procurement and construction management for major oil, LPG and natural gas pipeline projects in India and overseas.
Sharma has served as a Nominee Director representing IOCL on the boards of GSPL India Transco Limited, GSPL India Gasnet Limited and Kochi Salem Pipeline Private Limited. His board experience adds governance depth to his project execution record.
GAIL said his leadership experience, project record, business development exposure, operational focus and cost optimisation background would support the company’s growth and transformation in a changing energy landscape.
