E Sreedharan popularly known as  Metro man  today announced that he is quitting active politics.  Sreedharan, who contested and lost from the Palakkad constituency as a BJP candidate in the last assembly polls, announced his decision at a press conference in Malappuram, adding that  his advanced age is preventing him from engaging  in active politics.<br />''<br />''He termed  the proposed semi-speed Silverline  rail project of the Kerala government as ill conceived and badly planned. It will further burden the state's exchequer which is already reeling under huge debt, displace families,  and its environmental impact will be enormous. <br />''<br />''<br />