Sharat Sharma took over as director, operations, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC), in January 2013. He has been involved in a whole gamut of areas like tendering, designing, consulting, contract management, execution and maintenance in all three phases of the Delhi Metro project, which spans over 213 km across 160 stations. His current portfolio entails all functions related to operations, maintenance of assets, replacement/refurbishment, safety, security, human resources and finance.
Sharma says, “I feel privileged to lead the team that ensures the safe and reliable transportation of about 3 million passengers every day, despite challenges.” His key strengths – effective management and innovative skills – enable him to resolve complex problems.
Under his leadership, the DMRC took over the Delhi Airport Metro Express line from the private concessionaire and has been operating and maintaining it for the past three years without any discontinuity or interruption. Sharma believes that this has led to a reversal of the generally held perception that a private entity runs a business more efficiently and effectively than a government organisation.
An officer of the Indian Railway Services of Electrical Engineers, Sharma’s career has spanned over 37 years, of which 20 years have been with the DMRC. In the past, besides being executive director, electrical, DMRC, he has been involved in design and project consultancy assignments for various state governments and has headed several technical committees as well. Prior to the DMRC, Sharma worked on a number of assignments with Indian Railways at the divisional, headquarter and ministry levels.
He is an electrical engineer, has an MBA in finance and a postgraduate diploma in human resource development. Sharma has presented several papers in national and international forums. He utilises his spare time in teaching and writing articles on technical subjects.
Sharma likes to read and travel in his spare time. Photography acts as a stress buster for him. He says that it has taught him patience and inspired him to excel in his quest for perfection, professionally and personally. A part of the proceeds of his photography exhibitions, curated by his wife Kamal Naini Sharma, are donated to charitable institutions working towards making meaningful contributions to society.