Sreedharan’s decision to resign (despite his tenuous involvement) is of a piece with his sterling sense of responsibility and leadership. But at this point, it is decidedly not what the Metro project needs. Obviously, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and its contractors have much to answer for — and the Centre has announced a comprehensive inquiry into the causes of the mishap. This is, in a sense, a test case for infrastructure policy: will it continue to revolve around individuals and their differing degrees of commitment to these projects, or can we ensure that these crucial projects, which undergird our economic future, roll out successfully with stronger institutional checks and progress reviews? Sreedharan’s resignation might be prompted by his outsized sense of personal probity — but it should not cloud the larger, more vital question of the Metro’s lapses in particular and the way we handle infrastructure initiatives in general.

The government must investigate the exact underlying reasons for this accident — whether it was simply a faulty link in the construction chain, a case of sloppy work in a rush to make project deadlines, or something else altogether. At this point, as the Metro corporation works at breakneck speed to wind up construction and implement all pending sections, Sreedharan’s stewardship may be especially critical.