Kochi Metro to be executed by DMRC, says Chandy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seeking to remove hurdles in the way of Kochi Metro rail project, Chief Minister Ommen Chandy Wednesday held discussions with technocrat E Sreedharan and resolved to press Delhi Metro to take up the work of Rs 5,181 crore project.

After their meeting, both Chandy and Sreedharan said they were confident that the work would be executed by DMRC in three years' time.

Chandy told reporters he would soon meet Urban Affairs Minister Kamal Nath and would also be writing to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for making DMRC's service available.

He said some problems had cropped due to DMRC's decision to have some restrictions on taking up works outside Delhi. But the DMRC-Kochi metro tie-up was planned much earlier and a project office had already been set up.

Sreedharan said he also agreed with Chandy's view and was confident work would start going without further delay.

"DMRC has set up a project office in Kochi. The design and tender documents are ready", Sreedharan said.

The meeting assumes significance as the opposition had charged the Congress-led UDF Government with trying to keep Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and its former chief Sreedharan off the project with ulterior motives.

Another dimension was recently added to the debate over the project after senior IAS officer and former KMRL MD Tom Jose wrote to the Central Urban Affairs Secretary seeking details of Sreedharan's role in Kochi Metro.

The government had sought an explanation from Jose for dashing off the letter to the Centre allegedly without its approval.