Achievements

Milestone of accolade and laurels have been achieved during his journey towards career growth. While he has been highly successful in all his achievements, the three major public sector turnarounds at Air India, MP Tourism and ITDC attracted national attention. Also the transformation in the working of Indian Railways during his tenure as a Chairman has pulled major national attention.

Major turnaround of Air India between 2015 and 2017

Air India posted operational profit in 2015-16, for the first time ever after merger and again posted an operational profit in 2016-17. In Mr. Lohani’s supervision, the airline improved its image perception and also made a quantum improvement in its passenger services and added many new domestic and international destinations.

Turnaround of Madhya Pradesh Tourism as its Managing Director

Madhya Pradesh emerged as a leader in Indian tourism during Mr. Lohani’s tenure as the Managing Director of the State Tourism Development Corporation. It was due to the efforts put in extensive branding, innovation, infrastructure development and marketing of the state tourism product that resulted in the state receiving four National Tourism Awards in 2008, including the award for the "Best tourism performing state in the country" and three National Tourism Awards in the year 2009. Many other tourism awards were also received by the state during Mr. Lohani’s tenure. His efforts ensured that Madhya Pradesh continues to be at the forefront of tourism in the country.

The tourism corporation achieved corporate excellence during his tenure

Indian Railways posted its best ever safety record with Mr. Lohani as the Chairman

The pace of infrastructure development has increased substantially and for the first time ever there is considerable stress on reforms, integrity and avoidance of frills.

Delhi division received accolades during his tenure as the Divisional Railway Manager. In a modest time frame he achieved substantial quantitative and qualitative improvements at railway stations and work areas with the division receiving three national awards and appreciation from the CAG of India in its audit report (page 45) on the Commonwealth Games.

• New Delhi Railway Station was awarded the National Tourism Award in March 2011 and again in February 2012 in the category of the most tourist friendly station.
• The CAG in its audit report on the CWG games (page 45) has heartily appreciated the improvement works done at the New Delhi station making Delhi Division the only Government Department to have earned appreciation for the infrastructure works related to the games.
• Rewari was brought on the world tourism map by Mr. Lohani, by upgrading the Rewari steam locomotive shed to an internationally acclaimed steam tourism destination. Rewari shed of the Delhi division received the National Tourism Award in February 2012 in the category of the most innovative tourism project of India.

His Association with Heritage and Preservation matters has led him in setting a Guinness World Record in 1998 by running the Fairy Queen Express hauled by the oldest working steam locomotive in the world.

Revived the National Rail Museum in New Delhi and Brought Railway Heritage in focus.

While working as the Director of National Rail Museum, he successfully brought it up as one of the finest and most active museums in India, besides positioning it in the lop league of rail museums worldwide. Major improvements were brought about in his tenure.

During this stint, railway heritage started getting recognized in the country and also started getting the attention and financial support it deserved. 

He successfully piloted the nomination of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway that was declared as a world heritage site in 1999. He was also actively involved in declaration of Victoria Terminus as a World Heritage site.

While working as the Director(Tourism) GOI & CMD/ITDC, successfully piloted the nomination of the Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya that was declared as a world heritage site in 2002.

Spearheading preservation of live steam locomotives and generating public affection for the same as the Founder and Working President of the Indian Steam Railway Society.

He is the Life Member of the Museums Association of India.

He had been actively associated with the ASI in developing heritage sites in state of Madhya Pradesh.

He has set many firsts in the country, in the field of application of Information Technology for tourist facilitation and museum management.

He is a life member of the Institute of Rolling Stock Engineers and the Museums Association of India. He is also the Founder cum Working President of the Indian Steam Railway Society.

Mr. Lohani has written over a hundred articles and columns on a variety of subjects in magazines and newspapers of national repute. He has also authored four publications namely, a coffee table book titled "Smoking Beauties"(March 2004), a book on management titled "Winning at Work against all odds" (Jan 2006), a comprehensive report on "Rail Heritage & Tourism" (Jan 2006) and a comprehensive report on "Steam Heritage Tourism” (July 2002).

Apart from this, he is also an orator and is often invited to deliver lectures on management and leadership at academic institutes and other organizations. His thoughts can be read at ashwanilohani.blogspot.com.

Successfully piloted two world heritage site nominations - DHR & Mahabodhi Temple Bodhgaya with UNESCO

It is a very rare achievement to his credit. He successfully piloted the nomination of two world heritage sites, namely the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya, with UNESCO

Setting a GUINNESS world record by running Fairy Queen

He set a guinness world record by running the fairy queen, the oldest working steam locomotive in the world. Guinness Publishing issued the certificate on the 13th of January 1998 

Wrote "Smoking Beauties", a coffee table book on steam locomotives

He successfully created and then piloted for almost two decades the steam heritage tourism segment in India. His coffee table book is one of the rare publications on this subject

Wrote "Winning at Work against all odds" a book on leadership and management

Wrote "Winning at Work against all odds" a book on leadership and management