Dr M. Ramachandran, an IAS officer of the 1972 batch, served State and Central Government in India for thirty-eight years before retiring in 2010. Born and brought up in Kerala, he served in various positions including that of the District Magistrate and Collector, Rae Bareli. He rose to be the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand and was Secretary in the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, for close to four years. Post retirement, he continues to be active in the urban sector and governance areas. He is associated with various national level endeavors in the capacity of Chairperson of the Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation, Chairman of the National Urban Transport Awards Committee, Chancellor of a University and Senior Advisor to the Green Buildings Council. Dr Ramachandran has a Master’s degree in Economics, MPhil in Economic Planning and PhD on Project Planning. His published works are Uttarchal: ideas that worked, Urban Renewal, Building from the Bottom: Infrastructure and Poverty Alleviation, Delhi Metro Stations and Surroundings, Metro Rail Projects in India, India’s Urban Confusion, Reforming Urban Transport in India: Issues and Best Practices and Mavericks of Mussoorie.