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DMRC confident of getting Central nod for Kochi metro rail project

KOCHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) that would execute the Kochi metro rail project is confident of getting the Central nod for the venture, despite the Union Cabinet that met on Thursday postponing a final decision on the matter.

A high-ranking official in the Union Urban Development Ministry said the Cabinet decision has been postponed since the Union Finance Ministry raised a set of new queries on the project’s feasibility.

The Finance Ministry had raised some objections even after the project was cleared by the State and Central agencies. The other agencies concerned, mainly the Planning Commission and the Union Urban Development Ministry, had given the nod to execute the project as a Centre-State joint venture project on the lines of the Delhi metro.

A senior DMRC official said that most of the ground works for the project are in a very advanced state and the Central nod would provide a fillip to the ongoing works.

“The delay in obtaining the Central nod has, however, led to lethargy creeping into survey, land acquisition and related works.

A decision on extending the rails up to the international airport too is pending.” He said that land acquisition survey would soon restart in the western parts of the city and at Elamkulam, where some more work is pending. Works to widen narrow corridors, relocation of street lights from the central median and other preliminary works too incurred delays, because of the Centre’s delay in granting the final nod.

The DMRC set up an office in Kochi a few months ago, hoping that the Centre would grant sanction very soon.

The State government too is awaiting the Centre’s approval to include the venture in the fast track scheme, so that land acquisition is speeded up.

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DMRC confident of getting Central nod for Kochi metro rail project
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