Addressing reporters, Sreedharan said, “As head of the organisation, I have decided to resign.” He further added that, “this is the second incident of this kind in eight months and it is much more serious than the Vikas Marg incident last October. It is my moral responsibility to resign.” According to senior Delhi government officials, the resignation of Sreedharan was not accepted by the Chief Minister of Delhi – Sheila  Dikshit. The official added that his resignation was not be in the interests of Delhi or the country as a whole, and that his services were much needed.

Spokesperson for the DMRC, Anuj Dayal, told media persons on Monday (13th June) that, “E Sreedharan has decided to withdraw his resignation in view of the letter he received from Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit (asking him to continue as the DMRC Managing Director).” Anuj Dayal also told media persons that Sreedharan was also requested by Delhi’s Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna and Cabinet Minister for Urban Development S Jaipal Reddy, to rethink his decision and work in the interests of the country.

Sree’s life is an inspiration to millions of Indians, particularly the youth. He was born in the year 1932 on 12th of July in a village in the Palakkad district of Kerala. He did his engineering studies from the Government Engineering College in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. Sreedharan joined the Indian Railways as probationary engineer in 1954. During his association with Indian Railways, he played a key role in giving shape to numerous prestigious projects including India’s first metro project – the Kolkata Metro project of the  seventies.

He retired from the Indian Railways in 1990 but was called upon to head the arduous and challenging Konkan Railways project. True to his worth, he realised the Konkan project within budget and well ahead of schedule. Owing to his reputation, he was asked to head the Delhi Metro project, which he has headed since its commencement. After completion of the first phase of the DMRC, he tendered his resignation, but this was rejected and he was given an extension of three years to head the second phase of DMRC.

The governments of UAE and Pakistan have requested him to offer his valuable services for their countries in the sphere of Metro projects, but he has declined the offers citing pre-occupation with the DMRC. Owing to his awesome professionalism, work ethics, and contribution to national development, he was bestowed the country's second highest civilian award – the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. The France government has honored him with their highest civilian award – Knight of the Legion of Honor in 2005. In the year 2003, the Time magazine named him one of Asia's Heroes.

Kudos to you Sreedharan, I am honored to write an article on you. Our country needs more Sreedharans who can work selflessly on issues of poverty, unemployment, crime, terrorism, naxalism, gender discrimination, and pollution.