Mopalwar Exemplifies How Bureaucrats Can Make A World Of Difference To Society

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first home minister, had called the IAS India's ‘steel frame', referring to the bureaucratic structure it was supposed to provide to hold up the new nation then. Needless to say, the nation is still greatly dependent on the bureaucrats for the implementation of the government's ambitious welfare and infrastructure schemes. So, the country has always been in need of efficient bureaucrats who can save the proverbial "steel frame" from rusting. With this perspective in the background, the name of Radheshyam Mopalwar, a 1995 batch IAS officer who is currently handling responsibilities as DG War Room Infrastructure Projects in Maharashtra after his retirement, comes to mind.

Given his track record of ensuring development in Maharashtra, Mopalwar has justified that bureaucracy is definitely the steel frame of India as stated by Sardar Patel. That bureaucracy can make a big difference to the lives of people is also a strong thinking that Mopalwar has been pursuing in his long administrative career.

The saga of all-round development in Maharashtra that characterises his bureaucratic career can be a guiding beacon for the other officers who want to make a difference to society by dint of hard work. Mopalwar not only gave tremendous output for Maharashtra's infrastructure development, but also set examples for the younger generation of bureaucrats who want to do something extraordinary for the country. It won't be any exaggeration to say that IAS officers and other officials in the bureaucratic system of the entire country can learn a lot from Mopalwar's style of working which reflects qualities like integrity, efficiency, timely delivery, determination, growth-oriented mind-set, go-getter attitude, etc. A close examination of the projects which Mopalwar has been involved with will give a clear picture about his method for organising complicated pieces of work rationally. It is said that bureaucracy involves coordinating a large number of individuals. It can be seen in practical form in the performance of Mopalwar. Mopalwar has proved that a bureaucrat of high calibre always makes it a point to continue to stick to what helps maintain order and discipline till a project comes to fruition.

The 701-km Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg or Mumbai-Nagpur Super Communication Expressway project was completed in a record time. Radheshyam Mopalwar supervised and handled this project in capacity as Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRDC). He ensured implementation and enforcement of every single step leading to time-bound success of the project. The time-line of the completion of different phases of the project speaks volumes about Mopalwar's efficiency and his high calibre. It presents a test case for execution of other projects that are either underway or being planned in Maharashtra. Here is how the project went off. "The land acquisition for the corridor that connects 10 districts commenced in July 2017 and the foundation stone was laid in December 2018." "Four years later, the 520km stretch from Nagpur was thrown open. An additional 80 km between Shirdi and Bharvir near Nashik also became operational." One can imagine the swiftness with which the project was carried out under the supervision of Radheshyam Mopalwar. The remaining part of the project will also soon see its completion, as the officials continue to follow the path shown by Mopalwar. As DG War Room Infrastructure, Mopalwar continues to guide the team on this giant project which is nearing completion now.

Another example underlining Mopalwar's extraordinary calibre is that MSRDC saw a massive turnaround when he was given the agency's charge in 2018 after his retirement as IAS officer. Earlier, the MSRDC used to be a neglected entity, with the result that its debt continued to grow manifolds. With the leadership of Mopalwar, MSRDC started staging a come-back. What happened next was beyond the imagination of observers. MSRDC under Mopalwar, who is a big planner and enforcer as well, began to be preferred for being assigned ambitious projects of the Maharashtra government. At one point of time, the state cabinet committee on infrastructure gave the go-ahead to the agency for new projects worth Rs 1,80,000 crore. So, that was the turnaround of the agency that is attributed to planned hard work and execution on the part of Mopalwar. It is said that Mopalwar used to have a clear vision about the infrastructure development of Maharashtra. He suggested a roadmap for the same during his meetings with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who came out of the parleys and discussions quite satisfied and convinced. As a result, he did not give a second thought to the decision to appoint Mopalwar as DG of War Room Infrastructure Projects. He was given charge of projects of infrastructure development, and expansion of the network of expressways in the state. Mopalwar keeps an eye on how any project can lead to betterment of the common people. If any project goes via rural areas, it is always better for the village population. Mopalwar understands how a project can spike the economy in the rural areas. His focus has been on betterment of the society, which other bureaucrats learn from.