New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Metro Chief E Sreedharan was on Tuesday adjudged as the "Indian of the Year for 2007" by CNN-IBN news channel.

Sreedharan (76) accepted the award on behalf of his team of engineers and technicians, whom he said, "made the task of providing metro rail connectivity to the city of Delhi before time."

"Delhi Metro has been able to achieve these results due to certain organisational values that we have nurtured and developed and the type of work ethics that we have established," Sreedharan, after receiving the award, said.

Delhi has now become a benchmark to others to follow, he said.

In a glitzy award ceremony organised to honour achievers in various categories like politics, sports, entertainment, business, public service and that of a "Global Indian", Sreedharan bagged the award of the Indian of the Year, 2007 in the "Public Service" category.

Legendary cartoonist R K Laxman was conferred the "Lifetime Achievement" award.

A visibly emotional Laxman received the award from former President and his close friend A P J Abdul Kalam.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram was given the "Politician of the Year" award, while Chess champion V Anand was conferred the award in the 'Sports' category. His parents received the award on his behalf.

Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin was given the award under the "Global Indian" category, while State Bank of India chairman O P Bhatt received the award under the "Business" category

Director of the hit Bollywood movie "Chak De India" Shimit Amin and the film's writer Jaideep Sahni were awarded under the "Entertainment" category.

All the awards, except the "Lifetime Achievement" award, were given by Vice President Hamid Ansari.