Even as pressure is mounting on the government to clear Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Light Metro proposed for the cities of Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, the Kerala Monorail Corporation Ltd. (KMCL) has obtained a note from a consultancy firm on the PPP mode mooted by the Planning Board for executing MRTS.
The ‘impact note on PPP’ has been prepared by a firm as directed by the KMCL to be submitted to the Finance department that is now processing the file to be placed in the Cabinet.
The note, prepared reportedly under the directive of the Managing Director of the KMCL, is yet to reach the office of the Minister for Public Works V. K. Ebrahim Kunju and the Finance department, sources in the PWD told The Hindu .
The submission of the note comes close on the move by the KMCL to rope in a multinational consultancy firm to study the PPP mode. It has been opposed tooth and nail by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) that has prepared the DPR for Light Metro.
The KMCL board and Mr. Kunju, who is also vice-chairman of the board, are unaware of the study and note. The noted is reportedly for ‘influencing’ the finance department that is scrutinising the DPR for the 35.12 km project in the two cities, sources added.
The board that had met on October 24 under the Chief Minister had cleared the DPR, the project and DMRC as turn-key consultant. But, the KMCL is yet to ink pact with DMRC and has not renamed the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) as Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation (KRTC).
Already, there is a move to award the consultancy to a Italian firm after showing the door to DMRC. The firm has already given a letter to the MD of the KMCL.
Meanwhile, moves are on to convene the board of the KMCL. DMRC Principal Adviser E. Sreedharan has informed the State its decision to close down their offices in view of the delay in clearing the DPR.
The DMRC is also upset over the State not sparing a full time IAS official for the project.
The present MD is holding the posts of Director of Tourism, Director of Ports and Special Officer for a music project in Kochi. The Chief General Manager, who was on deputation from PWD, has retired and is on extension. The Project Manager in the capital has resigned following uncertainty of the Mission 676 project.
