Kerala - Kochi   

No constraints on realising metro rail project: Chandy

Staff Reporter

Expression of Interest likely to be invited soon

KOCHI: There will be no constraints that will hold up the implementation of the proposed metro rail project in Kochi, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Tuesday. He was opening an interactive session on the metro rail system in the city at the EMS Town Hall.

Mr. Chandy said that it was obvious that the people overwhelmingly wanted the metro rail project to materialise and that the Government would do its best to implement the project in a time-bound manner.

E. Sreedharan, Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, who made the presentation on the proposed metro project, also answered questions from MLAs, local leaders and the public on issues that concerned the setting up of the project.

Several MLAs made a demand that the metro rail should be extended to include Angamaly and Thripunithura. The present proposal is to link Aluva and Petta, just on the periphery of Thripunithura town by the metro rail project. The Chief Minister, considering the requests and clarifications from Mr. Sreedharan, said that the requests for extension would be considered positively.

In the meanwhile, it is learnt that the Expression of Interest for the metro rail project is likely to be invited soon with the Government more or less having set its mind on a possible Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) route for realising what is being projected as a scheme that would end Kochi's urban transport problems.

The Chief Minister said that reports in the press had indicated Goshree Islands Development Authority being drawn into the consortium that was being planned to raise funds for the metro project and that GIDA funds would be used for the project. However, Mr. Chandy said that he was not aware of such a move. The State Government had already approved the detailed project report. According to the time schedule, Central Government clearances would be obtained by March next year.

Tenders could be floated by the same time next year. These tenders could be finalised by October 2006. The date of commissioning of the project was March 2010.

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