The announcement by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet came hours after Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu indicated that he had offered his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the recent train accidents.
"Necessary communication in this regard has been sent to the Ministry of Railways," the committee said.
Mital had tendered his resignation to Prabhu last evening and it was accepted today morning, sources said.
Lohani, an officer of the railway mechanical service, had served earlier as the Divisional Regional Manager of Delhi. He was also ITDC chairman as well as the director of the Rail Museum in the capital.