New Patna district magistrate N. Saravana Kumar takes charge from his predecessor Sanjay Kumar Singh on Wednesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Known for meticulously executing projects within the given timeframe, new Patna district magistrate (DM) N. Saravana Kumar would first set his priorities and then act.

After assuming charge at the confidential section office on Wednesday, the DM dropped hint that he would not act in haste. He said he would take some time to identify the problems of the district. Once that is done, he would take initiatives to address them.

“I will do my job according to the instruction and the order of the government. The new role will be a challenge for me compared to other districts because this is my first posting in Patna. I shall try my level best to handle every situation I come across,” the 2000-batch IAS officer said after taking charge from Sanjay Kumar Singh, who would now be the special secretary in the chief minister's secretariat.

Born and brought up in Madurai, Saravana has earlier served as the DM of Supaul, Samastipur, Jamui and Purnea.

The new DM looked cheerful while assuming the office. Saravana and Sanjay signed plenty of official documents before the former officially took charge as the Patna DM. After the paper work was over, Sanjay handed over his official cellphone to the new incumbent.

“Now, I am officially handing over this mobile handset to you,” Sanjay told Saravana and invited him to sit in the DM’s chair. Both shook hands and exchanged bouquets.

Later, Sanjay introduced Saravana to the officers under the district administration, including additional district magistrate (law and order) Ramesh Prasad and district public relations officer Satyendra Kumar Pandey.

A postgraduate in veterinary science, Saravana said after taking the charge: “My job in Patna district would be challenging because the capital city is in its jurisdiction.”

When apprised of the rampant encroachment in the city, he said: “I have just taken the charge and I shall take some time to understand the issues and problems in Patna. I cannot be specific just now because today (Wednesday) is my first day in the office. I will seek guidance from my senior (the outgoing DM) and certainly solve this problem.”

Saravana was non-committal on the slow progress of beautification of Gandhi Maidan also.