THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finally, the line is clear for the Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode Light Metro projects. Ending uncertainties, the Cabinet on Wednesday decided to issue administrative sanction for the mass rapid transport projects in two cities. The state government will send a modified letter to the Centre seeking in-principle nod for them, mentioning the role played by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
The decisions were taken in the wake of recent discussions with DMRC principal advisor E Sreedharan, who had criticised the government for lack of will in implementing these projects. He had also communicated his displeasure over not mentioning the role of DMRC in the light metro project in the previous letter sent to the Union Government. Once it receives in-principle nod, the state government will take the necessary steps, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the post-Cabinet briefing. DMRC will be the implementation agency of light metro projects. “The procedural formalities in the case of Kochi metro will be followed here also. All the procedures in this regard would be dependent on DMRC,” Chandy said.
They Finance Department had proposed a different mode of implementation for the project. Earlier the Urban Affairs Ministry had raised certain objections to the project. The state government had sent a letter to the Centre seeking clearance for the project along with the Detailed Project report (DPR), last month. However there were criticisms that the letter failed to convey the necessity of the project.
The state government has now been advised that the letter to be submitted along with the DPR should mention clearance issued by the state government, the mode of funding, proposed loan, state-centre share and the consultants for the projects. The earlier letter had missed out on these details.