I started off my undergraduate course in civil engineering at REC Calicut in 1972. My interest in civil engineering after 4 years grew multi fold and I decided to pursue my postgraduate degree. I joined Trivandrum Engineering College for Msc Engg immediately after completion of the degree course. When we were in our final year at REC, there were no campus placements those days and none of us got placement. I applied for the combined engineering services examination conducted by UPSC, in addition to many other public sector exams. Meanwhile, I could get through the entrance examination for IIT Madras and joined the M.Tech course in Structural engineering. Though I could clear the UPSC Exam, I got less rank and got posting in P&T Civil Wing. Though I got through a few campus placements at IIT Madras, I preferred to join P&T. The posting in P&T was not attractive considering the promotion prospects, which prompted me to think deeply about my career choice and I decided to go for another attempt in the Indian Engineering service (IES) exam.

As the saying by Thomas Jefferson goes –   “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.”

I was fortunate to clear the UPSC exam securing the 7th rank in India and got my preferred choice of Railway service, after which I joined the Indian railways in 1981.   A career spanning over 3 decades led me to progressively traverse through various aspects of Indian Railways.

I was born in a middle class agricultural family and had my school education in a Malayalam medium government school. When I cleared my SSLC Exam, I was the topper in my school and also in all schools in that panchayat. None of my school mates except a doctor and a chartered accountant could get a satisfying career. I attribute my achievement to my hard work which was due to persuasion and encouragement from my mother who wanted me to study well and reach the pinnacle of success.

My service in Indian Railways spanning over 34 years was very satisfying and I had occupied various posts including Chief Bridge Engineer, Chief Planning and Development Engineer of Southern Railway and Chief Track Engineer of Southern Railway at Chennai and North Frontier Railways at Guwahati, Principal Chief Engineer of North Western Railway at Jaipur and Chief Administrative Officer of Southern Railway at Kochi. The posting as Chief Track Engineer of NorthEast Frontier Railway (N F Railway)  at Guwahati was one of the most satisfying periods in my career in Railways. The implementation of latest developments in track relaying works was not happening those days in the N F Railway. As I have worked as Chief Track Engineer in Southern Railway before joining N F Railway, I could analyze and identify the deficiencies and I could implement many changes during my tenure such as mechanized relaying of track using PQRS system, mechanized maintenance of track, introduction of rail welding using mobile flash welding plant and conversion of free rails to long welded rails which enhances the traveling comfort for passengers.

The traveling public and the political System in Kerala had a feeling that Kerala was getting neglected in each budget proposal and there were many motions to the central Government to sanction a new zonal Railway for Kerala combining Trivandrum and parts of Palakkad and Madurai divisions falling in Kerala area. This was not acceptable to the center mainly because of objections from adjacent states and because of limited track length existing in Kerala which was not sufficient to justify a Zonal Railway. However, Sri Oommen Chandy during his tenure as Chief Minister in Kerala followed up vigorously with the central Government and the central Government came out with a proposal to create a new post of Chief Administrative Officer exclusively for Kerala area so that separate funds can be allotted to Kerala area and to fast track the work to be done in Kerala. The Kerala Government accepted the proposal and a new post of Chief Administrative Officer at Kochi was sanctioned by the Railway Board. I was posted as the first Chief Administrative officer at Kochi and occupied the post in February 2011. I could get the staff belonging to Kerala who were working in other Zonal Railways transferred to fill up the new posts created for the office and I could get maximum support of all these staff in discharging my duties. The doubling of track between Ernakulam and Quilon via Kottayam and Alleppy was progressing very slowly and the main reason was delay in land acquisition by the state Government. I was able to fix up meetings chaired by Hon. Chief Minister with the District authorities in which issues were sorted out and land acquisition could be speeded up. The construction of Road Over Bridges over the railway track in lieu of level crossings sanctioned long back were pending, attracting criticism from various corners. Though the construction work of these ROBs was entrusted to Roads and Bridges Corporation of Kerala, they were not progressing fast mainly for want of proper coordination between the Railways and RBDCK. I was able to conduct periodic meetings with RBDCK to sort out the issues such as approval of drawings by Railway headquarters, transfer of required funds from Railways, arranging speed restrictions required from Railways to take up the works etc. A large number of railway over bridge (ROB) works were taken up, speeded up and completed during that period.

A turning point in my career was when I got an offer from Dr Sreedharan, Principal Advisor of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)  to join as Project Director of Kochi metro which was executed by DMRC under the leadership of Metroman – Dr Sreedharan. When I was working as Chief Administrative officer of Southern Railway at Kochi in the year 2014, Dr Sreedharan enquired whether I was willing to join DMRC. I was shocked as I was not expecting such an offer and replied that I am willing if I was posted at Kochi. It was a great recognition to me as Dr Sreedharan was known for picking his engineers during the Konkan Railway project implementation and also for Delhi Metro. I joined DMRC as Project Director of Kochi Metro project in January 2015 and continued till completion of the Phase I of Kochi Metro from Aluva to Petta.

I could learn a lot from Dr. Sreedharan, especially the punctuality in office and meetings in addition to technical aspects of Metro Railway. Dr Sreedharan was staying at Ponnani and used to come to Kochi for 2-4 days in a week. Whenever he goes to the site for inspection, he will be ready at 8 AM and we used to go to site sharp on time. The inspections were meticulous and decisions were prompt. There was no instance when the work had to wait for his decisions. Even when very serious issues were brought to him for decisions, they were analyzed in no time and final decisions used to be given across the table. Dr Sreedharan used to strictly follow the timing for the meetings and everybody knew that delay in coming for the meetings will not be acceptable to him and hence commencement of meeting was never delayed. It was a pleasure working with Dr Sreedharan in managing the Kochi Metro Project Phase I spanning 24 Km from Aluva to Pettah and commissioning the first stretch in record time of 3.5 years in Kerala where projects were getting delayed for various reasons. The construction of the balanced cantilever bridge of 90 m span with 65 m spans on either side on a curve was a great achievement during the construction of metro in Kochi. The balanced cantilever prestressed concrete bridge was adopted to cross the Railway tracks in Ernakulam south station which was the first of its kind for a rail bridge in south India.

I have had deep thoughts on the impact of my college education on my work. Looking back, the knowledge that I had gained from NIT Calicut laid the foundations to excel beyond my expectations at work. I soon realized the extent to which our teachers and their mode of teaching improved my thought process and decision making capabilities.

Beyond the education and the campus, my friends have had the strongest impact in my life. My life at NIT Calicut with them helped in refining myself and instilled confidence in my abilities. Even today, the people with whom I enjoy my travels and celebrations are with my family and REC friends.

“One best book is equal to a hundred good friends but one good friend is equal to a library.”  APJ Abdul Kalam.

The unique bond that each one of you share today might fade away after you start your corporate career journey. Eventually, years later I hope all of you experience the return of the bond , friendship and time you get to spend again with your friends, just as I have found after my long journey in Railways.

As I wish you all a wonderful life, career and happiness ahead, I will leave you with this quote from Catherine Pulsifer

“The gift of balance in your life—may you find the balance of life, time for work but also time for play. Too much of one thing ends up creating stress that no one needs in their life.”