Sreedharan: I lost a bet
Posted : October 3, 2009 at 6:00 am [IST]
I lost a bet to one of my best acquaintance who has been with external affair ministry for his life. I bet for the completion of the connection link of Delhi Metro to Noida by August 31. I did base my bet on my confidence in the reputed super-manager of India, E. Sreedharan who had made the announcement.
My bet didn’t cost me much rather it turned into a great outing. It was a good lunch at Haldiram in PVR, Spice and then my favourite drive to great Noida and back through Expressway. I love the drive on that 24 km 6-lane expressway connecting Noida and Greater Noida. I could see the panoramic view of the development of Noida during the last one year. Noida perhaps represents what’s going on in metros of India. It may be called one day Singapore or Hong Kong of UP, if not of India.
But I was lucky that I didn’t go for any new bet on the next date of end September which was again made by Shreedharan to the press. Metro, as it appears, is shying to enter Noida. It a pathetic story and has badly damaged my impressions about the old man. I thought he was different. But the various accidents and now the delays and the stories of substandard design and poor constructions of supporting pillars, its redesigning and reinforcing have really changed my views about his performance and reputation. He might be a great manager, but he failed to build an organization that can be called robust. I feel a manager who can’t develop a good sustainable organization, can’t be called a good one. Sreedharan has failed me.
Perhaps the new date is December end. But it is better to see at least the trial runs before believing the press. Certainly, I don’t wish to take any bet, for that matter on any landmark project in India.
I would have loved to ride the metro as one of the first few commuters. I wished to see Noida from a height. But there is no charm now. Many even jokingly express the doubts and fear of a collapse, though that is absurd. But the old man must take rest and not become Advani of Delhi metro.
As much as I know he was the only manager in government, though badly over-superannuated whom I respected and expected others to emulate, but perhaps I was wrong. With the amount of autonomy that Shreedharan asked and got, he would not have failed his countrymen.
I had felt bad to loose the bet for Sreedharan.
- Indra
Category: India's Infrastructure |
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