Delhi Metro Rail Corporation chief E. Sreedharan will be conferred an honorary doctorate by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi for his contributions and achievements in national development.

"E. Sreedharan is being conferred the degree of doctor of science (honoris causa) by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in view of his outstanding contributions and achievements in National development," a DMRCC press release said here Thursday.

Sreedharan is responsible for the construction of the metro project in Delhi, which uses some of the most advanced technology in the field of civil, electrical, signalling and telecommunication engineering worldwide.

Sreedharan had also built the largest rail project in India after independence by linking the west coast of India through the 760 km-long Konkan Railway line.

He has been conferred several honours, including the country's fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri in 2001. TIME magazine named him an Asian Hero in 2003.

-- (IANS)