DMRC Architect ignored

DMRC architect ignoredDear Editor,In recognition to their outstanding contribution in various fields, 121 persons were conferred the Padma Awards on the Republic Day. However there was a notable omission in the list of awardees. It is none other than the architect of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, and it's Chief Executive. Sreedharan.The Delhi Metro is an embodiment of efficiency, punctuality, reliability and excellence. If there is something in the national capital which is of global standards it will be in the forefront. It has played a pivotal role in improving the traffic system in Delhi thereby giving a facelift to the national capital and also has created a metro culture hitherto unknown.Even at the age of 75, Sreedharan works with such efficiency and enthusiasm which makes him a role model of managerial efficiency. Before taking up the stewardship of Delhi Metro he was instrumental in completing the Konkan Railway project. He was awarded the highest civilian award of the French Government, the Legion d'honour, in 2005 and received the Padma Shri in 2001. He deserves at least the Padma Vibhushan, if not Bharat Ratna. In a world where prominent personalities like Mahatma Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy were not given Nobel prizes for peace and literature respectively, we can expect this.Nevertheless, I strongly feel that it was an inadvertent omission on the part of the authorities which will be rectified sooner than later. Whether Sreedharan gets awards and recognitions or not, crores of common men across the country will gratefully remember his outstanding contributions to the society.-E. M. Adithyan,Edapal, Kerala.