New Delhi: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday night rejected the resignation of Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan, who had earlier in the day quit the post taking moral responsibility for the death of six persons in an accident on its work site.
"We have decided not to accept the resignation of E Sreedharan," Dikshit said.
According to highly placed sources, the government rejected Sreedharan's resignation as it viewed that his continuation was necessary for successful completion of projects related to Delhi Metro ahead of the Commonwealth Games next year.
Chief Minister took the decision not to accept Sreedharan's resignation after realising that it (resignation) will "severely hamper various projects" related to Metro ahead of next year's Commonwealth Games, they said.
"At this time, we cannot let him go. That is why it was decided not to accept his resignation. He is a person of integrity," a top Delhi government official said.
Sreedharan could not be contacted for comments.
Six persons were killed and 15 others injured when an under-construction bridge of the Delhi Metro collapsed in south Delhi, which prompted Sreedharan to resign owning moral responsibility for the mishap.
Dikshit is understood to have sent a letter to Sreedharan requesting him to continue in the post. Sources said the Chief Minister had tried to impress upon Sreedharan the need for reconsidering his decision to quit Delhi Metro.
The Delhi Cabinet is also meeting on Monday during which the issue of Sreedharan's resignation will be discussed.