THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Terming as “incorrect” reports that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had decided to pull out from the proposed Kochi Metro Rail Project, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said the state government was keen to utilise the services of DMRC and its chief E Sreedharan.
“The reports appearing in this regard are not correct. My understanding is that DMRC would continue to do the ongoing works to create the basic infrastructure for the project. That itself would take one to one and half years,” Chandy told reporters here.
“The government has good relationship with Sreedharan. He is a member of the state Planning Board. We are also in touch with him on the proposed high speed rail corridor project,” Chandy said.
Sreedharan, known as ‘Metro Man,’ was reportedly miffed after Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) Managing Director Tom Jose informed the corporation that they had reached an agreement with Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) to implement the project on the lines of Bangalore and Chennai metros for which an international tender has to be invited.
The DMRC was told that it could participate in the tender procedures and continue its association with the project.
Meanwhile, Tom Jose said inviting global tenders was the “most transparent route” to implement the project. The global bid is what the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Government of India and JICA would prefer, he said.
Earlier in the day, DMRC Project Director, P Sriram, had said it would not participate in the global tender process for implementing the Rs 5,000 crore Kochi Metro Rail Project.
“Why should we participate? DMRC has not participated in any tender in the country and has completed 250 odd km phase I and Phase II of the Delhi metro project,” he said.
He had also said DMRC would close down its office in Kochi after completing the basic infrastructure works of the North Overbridge and construction of railway over-bridge near KSRTC bus stand there.
Meanwhile in Kannur, Kerala Public Works minister, V K Ibrahim Kunju, dismissed as “baseless” the opposition allegation that the open tender process was being followed to help private lobbies.
“Open tender for the project is not to keep out DMRC,” he said, adding government wants transparency in implementation of the project. (PTI)