The state government on Tuesday submitted before the Kerala High Court that it has only entrusted the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) with the preparatory works of the Kochi Metro Rail project and that the entire project work has not been handed over so far. It also said that in order to determine the role of the DMRC in the project, a ‘Terms of Engagement’ is under preparation.
The KMRL made the submission on a batch of petitions filed by Janasambarkka Samiti and others, challenging the delay in implementing the project.“The DMRC would extend all possible support for the Kochi metro works without affecting its operations in Delhi. The ‘Terms of Engagement’ would be finalised by the Central government in consultation with the Governments of Kerala and Delhi,” it said.
The broad contours of the ‘Terms of Engagement’ of the DMRC for the execution of the metro rail project has been finalised, whereby the DMRC would execute the ‘agreed components’ of the project on behalf of the KMRL. The actual modalities of the DMRC’s engagement with the Kochi metro project as well as the terms and conditions governing the DMRC’s role in project execution would be subsequently finalised.
The intention of the state government is to accord the DMRC and E Sreedharan a key role in the actual implementation of the project.
The agreement for the preparatory works is pending with the state government and the actual works of the Kochi metro project is yet to commence. The purpose of undertaking the preparatory work is to ensure that the traffic flows smoothly in the city when the metro work commences, the KMRL said.
The prime concern of the government is to ensure a ‘best-in-class’ metro system for the city. Given the urgency of the work, the government has decided to proceed with the land acquisition under fast track programme, the affidavit said.