The road to hard work

Prime minister-elect Narendra Modi is yet to take the oath of office, but officials in the roads and highways ministry are already feeling the heat of the "M" factor. On Monday, many officials had to cancel leave and reach the office early following an urgent call from the Cabinet secretary to prepare by the evening a status report on the sector for the incoming government. One senior bureaucrat was heard complaining that he had not been able to leave the office early to meet his son who had arrived from America that morning. Since Modi is known to be a tough taskmaster, another official added that Monday's schedule was only the beginning of long stints in the office.