'Metro man' Sreedharan withdraws resignation

Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan on Monday withdrew his resignation from the post, a day after he put in his papers owning moral responsibility for an accident at a construction site in which six people were killed.

"E Sreedharan has decided to withdraw his resignation in view of the letter he received from Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit (asking him to continue as the DMRC Managing Director)," Metro Rail spokesperson Anuj Dayal told reporters in New Delhi.

Dayal said the Metro chief also took into consideration the persuasion of Delhi Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna and Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy who asked him to withdraw his resignation letter and continue in the post.

The 77-year-old renowned technocrat quit his post within hours of the accident at the Metro construction site in south Delhi's Jamrudpur area on Sunday where an under construction bridge collapsed killing six people and injuring 15 others.

Dikshit had on Sunday night rejected his resignation saying that the Delhi Metro and the country needed his services.

"We respect his sentiments. But we also know that the Delhi Metro and the country need him. Not only has he done good work for Delhi but also for the country," she said.

Highly placed sources said the government rejected Sreedharan's resignation as it viewed that his continuation was necessary for successful completion of Metro projects ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2010.