Can Delhi’s Metro survive loss of “Metro Man”?

Delhi's Metro is shining proof that India can build meet world standards — and that Indians themselves will rise to match those standards when they're provided with decent services. But as the man who overcame the country's renowned problems with sloth, corruption and incompetence steps down, will the government-run transport company he created survive?

"Metro Man" Elattuvalapil Sreedharan plans to give up his position as the head of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation after some 14 years at the helm of the organization, the Hindustan Times reports.

He not only managed to get the latest Metro technology in construction and operations to Delhi Metro, but also introduced safe construction practices to India. No wonder, several other Indian and foreign cities mulling Metro projects are taking advice from Sreedharan-led Delhi Metro on building a world-class Metro system. “He has got such in-depth knowledge of his field that political bosses and the bureaucracy respected his decision and let him work his way. He is highly professional and always takes his team together,” said CBK Rao, who was a director in DMRC till 2007.

“He is a great inspiration to all of us. Most of us feel we don’t work for Delhi Metro, but for Sreedharan Sir,” said a senior DMRC official, requesting anonymity.

Does that mean that work will stop when Sreedharan leaves?  Or that the standards of cleanliness and order will slip?  Wait and see whether India passes the test.