New Delhi

French award presented to Sreedharan

Staff Reporter

HONOUR: French Ambassador Dominique Girard raises a toast for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director E. Sreedharan (right) and his wife after conferring the "Chevalier de la Legion d' Honneur'' (Knight Of The legion Of Honour) to the latter a t the French Embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday . — PHOTO: Rajeev Bhatt

NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chief E Sreedharan was presented one of the most prestigious civilian awards of the French Government -- Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) -- in the Capital on Tuesday.

French Ambassador to India Dominique Girard gave away the award, instituted by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, to the DMRC Managing Director at a function here on Tuesday evening for his "outstanding commitment to the development of transportation infrastructure in India and his valuable contribution in enhancing Indo-French relations".

A recipient of the Padma Shree four years ago, Mr. Sreedharan first headed one of the toughest and biggest project in the history of the Indian Railways -- Konkan Railway -- and later in 1997 was given the responsibility to build the ultra-modern metro in Delhi.

In the Delhi Metro project various French companies including Systra, Alstom, Cogifer and Geismar have also contributed in various technical fields like engineering, signals and fare collection system.

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