The Delhi Metro was delivered 3 years ahead of schedule and within budget due to comprehensive planning and effective project management. Dr. E Sreedharan led the project and ensured a professional work culture and lean organizational structure. Regular reviews and use of project management tools helped adhere to schedules. Effective stakeholder management and transparency further ensured success. The Delhi Metro has now transformed Delhi's transportation and set benchmarks for public infrastructure projects in India.

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BREAKING IT DOWN: HOW THE DELHI METRO WAS DELIVERED BEFORE TIME & ON BUDGET
Traveling in the Delhi Metro during peak hours can be a painstaking task for over 2.7 million daily
commuters. However, it has proved to be a cost-effective solution for the city’s rising pollution and
transport woes. Over the years, the metro has transformed Delhi, becoming its very own pulse.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s projects are carried out in
phases, Phases I and II are now complete. The first section of
Phase I opened in 2002. Phases III and IV should become
operational in 2016 and 2021 respectively.
The team that did all this made it look simple. However,
building a new metro system in a crowded capital city
required complex planning and execution.
The Metro project faced numerous technical and systemic hurdles. Despite these, it delivered the
first phase nearly 3 years ahead of schedule and within budget, thanks to comprehensive planning,
effective project design, and a professional work culture.
The Metro Man’s Leadership
Dr. E Sreedharan, the former
MD of DMRC and project
manager of Phase I, led his
team through the important
stages of planning,
construction and subsequent
commissioning of different
sections of track. Sreedharan’s
history of delivering several
railway projects on time
would prove critical. He was
also allowed to handpick his
core team, and, through them,
ensured that the whole
organization followed a “we
mean business” culture.
Lean Organization Structure
Sreedharan opted to have only
two departments - Project
Organization & Operations, and
Maintenance. Costs were

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limited to just three heads: energy, manpower, and materials & maintenance to control
expenditure.
Ownership in the Project
DMRC used a system in which every individual was aware of
their accountabilities. Every employee prepared a detailed
report on the work assigned to them. In case of a delay or
deviation from the plan he/she had to give valid reasons and
see that the problem was resolved.
Reverse Countdown Clocks
Regular reviews, new and revised targets ensured
adherence to schedules. Project delays due to property
disputes were minimized with prior preparation and support from a team of lawyers. Use of
innovative technologies helped reduce construction time and enabled quick decision making.
Project Management Tools
Primavera Project Planner software was used for project planning and monitoring. The software
helped DMRC keep track of all project activities, resource availability and thus optimized both time
and resource up to maximum efficiency.
Building Proactive Stakeholders
Besides completing projects on time and within budget, effective project management also involves
managing stakeholders. These include contractors, the public, funding agencies and the government.
In addition, DMRC used a separate team to ensure quality and safety standards were met by all staff.
Contracting and procurement processes were transparent, simple and fair. Contractors were paid on
time and didn’t have to resort to bribes. This boosted their morale and dedication toward providing
better services. Moreover, DMRC also partnered with the Delhi Traffic Police and environmental
experts to minimize pollution and inconvenience caused to the public.
Constant Improvement
The DMRC is now working on new projects to reduce passenger travel time by connecting critical
stations on different lines. It has also introduced feeder buses to improve last-mile connectivity, as
well as solve the problem of inadequate parking at metro stations.
DMRC set benchmarks in effective and efficient infrastructure project construction and operation,
despite numerous challenges. As a result, it is now hailed as one of India’s best examples of urban
project management in the public sector, encouraging other cities to take up similar projects.