Metro man E Sreedharan endorses Modi

'Metro man' E Sreedharan today came out in support of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, saying he hoped bold decisions under his leadership will fasten government's decision-making process.
"Our problem is basically delay in taking government decisions and bureaucracy is responsible for it. We don't have self confidence to take bold decisions," Sreedharan, former managing director of Delhi Metro, said.
Although he did not blame either central or the state government, Sreedharan said he hoped that Modi will fasten the decision making process in the country.
"I think there will be a change in decision making process. From what I have seen, the decisions he (Modi) has taken till now were very fast," Sreedharan said.

Giving an example of good work done by Modi's administration in Gujarat, he said, "the factory in Salvi in Vadodra district of Gujarat for producing metro trains was set up in record time of 18 months."
Sreedharan was speaking to reporters before an event organised by the Japan Embassy to felicitate him for his contribution in "strengthening Japan's presence in India and to promoting friendly relations between Japan and India through the Delhi Metro project."

Also present at the event was former Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit besides parliamentarians N K Singh, Ashwini Kumar, and Tarun Vijay.
Sreedharan, who received "the Order of Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star" by the Government of Japan on November 3 last year, thanked Japan for its financial and technical support in the construction of Delhi Metro.

"Metro became resounding success because of two things -- soft loan from the Japanese government and the unstinting support we received from the Delhi and Central government", he said.
When asked about the controversies regarding a tiff between Centre and DMRC, Sreedharan said, "after I left, there is a general feeling that DMRC is not getting the same support it used to get from the Centre".
He, however, said the relationship with the state administration is "fine".