Jammu, Mar 10 (IANS); The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday appointed E. Sreedharan, popularly known as the 'Metro Man', as principal advisor to two mass rapid transit corporations in the state.

The government has approved setting up the two mass rapid transit corporations. These have been named the Jammu Mass Rapid Transit Corp and the Srinagar Mass Rapid Transit Corp.

"While thinking anything about the Mass Rapid Transit systems in India, the first name which comes to everybody's mind is of Dr. Elattuvalapil Sreedharan, a retired IES (IRSE) officer, Padma Shri and Padma Vibhushan, popularly known as 'Metro Man', who is credited for changing the face of public transport in India with his leadership of building Konkan Railway and the Delhi Metro," a statement said.

"The appointment of Sreedharan as Principal Advisor to the two corporations will give the impetus to efforts of the state government."

Sreedharan was also appointed by the former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to serve on the UN High Level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport (HLAG-ST) for a period of three years in 2015. He has vast experience in the implementation of mass rapid transit systems within the country.