By Shweta Srinivasan, IANS,
New Delhi : Delhi Metro officials could not believe what they had heard.
Camera persons, photographers and reporters had swamped the eighth floor of the Metro Bhavan at Barakhamba Road where Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) managing director E. Sreedharan was supposed to brief on Sunday’s tragedy, the worst mishap in its history.
At 3.00 p.m. sharp Sreedharan emerged calm and composed from the restricted entry side of the conference room, where he had met with senior DMRC officials.
After clarifying details of the incident and expressing his remorse over the situation amid media frenzy, the Metro chief suddenly dropped the bomb and announced his resignation.
“I have been in charge of the Metro for the past 10 years. I take full moral responsibility for the accident, and having taken the full responsibility I resign (from the post the managing director) of the Delhi Metro,” Sreedharan said.
And an awkward silence fell over the conference room for a few minutes before some reporters asked him to clarify what that meant. Was he trying to divert attention from the incident?
“I have taken responsibility as the head of the organisation. Whose fault it is, is immaterial at this point…The incident may be because of the contractor, the designers or supervisors but that doesn’t take away that the entire responsibility is of the DMRC – so as its head I resign.”
He added that if it was just the “first instance” he would not have taken the drastic step.
“This is a repetition of the incident in October 2008. That was a major jolt but this is more serious and an even bigger jolt.”
He clarified that there was absolutely “no pressure” from officials at DMRC and that moments before when he decided to submit his resignation to Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and Lieutenant
Governor Tejinder Khanna, his peers and colleagues had told him to reconsider.
“Normally I don’t go against their advice but I told them not to intervene this time.”
He said: “Perhaps, if I quit and the new man comes in – it may be a setback to the projects but my personal conviction about this can not be compromised on.”
Sreedharan, 77, has been at the helm of affairs of the DMRC as since November 1997 and has been instrumental in the completion of most projects within the budget and well ahead of schedule.
Junior officials of Metro’s media cell weren’t aware of the decision. Tears rolled down many employees’ faces after the initial shock sank in.
“We came thinking this would be a normal incident report in which MD sir would order an enquiry . This is totally unexpected,” a DMRC official, who did not want to be named, said.
Another official said: “We did not think such a drastic step would be taken. I hope he reconsiders. The way DMRC works is at stake.”
As Sreedharan left the room, reporters asked what would happen to Delhi Metro’s pending projects and its employees, to which he replied: “I know many people will be demoralized in DMRC. But no one is indispensable in any organisation – there are more competent people.”
He also said he had not spoken to the chief minister and that it was “too premature” to comment on what his future role in DMRC would be.
Sreedharan has been responsible for the construction of the Metro rail project, the modern mass transport system in the national capital that has brought relief to tens of thousands of commuters every day in this crowded city of 17 million people.
The Delhi Metro boasts of having used the most advanced technology in the field of civil, electrical, signalling and telecommunication engineering worldwide.