Karmayogi: A Biography of E. Sreedharan

by M.S. Ashokan

P. Sreeram, who had been with Sreedharan since 1970, recalled an incident during his time at Konkan. Construction of a major tunnel was on, and as the work progressed, the machine got stuck in a huge rock. Sreeram explained the situation to the CMD, who happened to be at the site. There was no option but to stop the day’s work, except if another tunnel was bored to remove the rock, Sreeram suggested. ‘Then we are doing it,’ Sreedharan said. Sreeram was not sure when he could start working on the second tunnel. ‘Right now!’ Sreedharan responded as though this question should never have been raised. Sreeram’s apprehensions were about the approval and budget needed for the additional work. He told Sreedharan so. ‘That should never be an issue. Let me worry about it. What’s worse would be halting the work. Time is precious. Do not delay. Let’s begin.’ As soon as Sreedharan finished his sentence, the machinery began to hum and charge to work. That was Sreedharan’s style of functioning.