Teething troubles for Kochi metro
Kerala’s first metro rail project, Kochi Metro Rail, has landed in a controversy following the decisions by Union and Kerala governments to reject Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) suggestion that the project be entrusted to it through direct negotiation.
Subsequent to the governments’ decision, DMRC has announced that it is backing out of the project. It is learnt that former DMRC head E Sreedharan, who was expected to provide expert help to the project, has also expressed his inability to associate himself with the project in the current circumstances.
Commenting on the situation, opposition leader in Kerala Assembly V S Achuthanandan said the union and state governments were trying to ease out DMRC from the project with a vested interest. He noted that Sreedharan had been working for several years to make the project a reality and the move to keep him and DMRC out of the project is aimed at making room for corruption.
CPI (M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday the move to call global tender to execute the project should be revoked. The decision smacks of a move to execute things in a manner which will lead to corruption, he said.
The Kerala government, which controls Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), the company which would manage the metro rail, has recently hinted that it is thinking of calling a global tender to fix consultants of the project.
A meeting of the director board of the KMRL held at Kochi recently has reportedly decided to call a global tender to fix the consultants of the project and to seek the services of Sreedharan as advisor to the project.
While Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy is the head of KMRL, six more ministers are in the 11-member director board.
The 26-kilometre long Kochi metro rail covering Kochi city and nearby Alwaye aims to reduce the city’s traffic congestion. It is envisaged to extend up to Nedumbassery international airport on the city outskirts.
The project report for Kochi metro rail was prepared by DMRC and the project conceived during early 2000 got delayed. It is expected to be completed with the aid of union and state governments and external agencies.
Reacting to the developments union minister from Kerala Vayalar Ravi said he was sure that the state government would cautiously consider different aspects while going ahead with the project. Another union minister from Kerala K V Thomas hinted that he preferred that the project would be done by DMRC with Sreedharan as consultant.
Meanwhile, Kerala power minister and vice chairman of KMRL Aryadan Muhammed said no final decision had been taken regarding calling global tender to fix consultants. He said the government was very much interested in seeking Sreedharan’s help to execute the project.
