Elattuvalapil Sreedharan Biography 
Elattuvalapil Sreedharan was born in Pattambi in the Palakkad district of Kerala in 1932. E. Sreedharan completed his secandory education from Basel Evangelical Mission Higher Secondary School went to the Victoria College in Palghat. He then completed his B. Tech. in Civil Engineering from University College of Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.
Sreedharan started his career as a temporary teacher in Government Polytechnic and then went on to join as a trainee in Bombay Port Trust. He was selected in Indian Engineering Service and in 1954 took over as a Probationary Assistant Engineer in southern Railway.
His first major achievement was Pamban Bridge which was damaged in a cyclone which connected Rameswaram to mainland Tamil Nadu. He completed the job within 46 days against set a target of six months for the bridge to be repaired. He was awarded the Railway minister's Award for his achievement.
In the year 1970, E. Sreedharan was put in charge for implementation, planning and design of Calcutta metro the first ever metro in India in the capicity of the deputy chief engineer. Sreedharan was mainly instrumental in completing the project in time and this was beginning of his successful projects in coming years. E. Sreedharan was appointed in Cochin Shipyard in 1979, when the shipyard was in overall bad shape as its first ship MV Rani Padmini had been over delayed by a long margin. Sreedharan as chairman and managing director of Cochin shipyard launched its first ship, the MV Rani Padmin in 1981.
Sreedharan as worked in different capicities in Railways but when he was appointed the CMD of Konkan Railway which was a different and unique project on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis. The project had a structure which was all together different from the normal projects executed by Indian Railways. The project was to be executed in a complex terrain which needed a greater level of knowledge. Sreedharan completed the project before time and was much appreciated for his work.
His other successful projects include Delhi Metro, Kochi Metro and now Sreedharan has also been appointed as Chief Advisor for the Lucknow Metro and as an advisor for the Jaipur Metro. Elattuvalapil Sreedharan has been Awarded with Padma Vibhushan, Padma Shri, Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur, Lifetime Achievement award, Several honorary doctorates.
Published: N/A
Updated: October 11, 2015
