Separate special purpose vehicles (SPVs) have been mooted for the Light Rail Transit System (LRTS) proposed for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode in place of the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) that was scrapped on Thursday citing prohibitive cost.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the general consultant for the project, mooted separate SPVs in place of the SPV, Kerala Monorail Corporation Ltd. (KMCL), set up under the Public Works Department.
A joint venture between the Union and the State governments has been mooted to take the LRTS forward. The project is aimed at reducing congestion in the two cities by avoiding dependence on personalised modes of transport.
Detailed reportKMCL, a fully owned government company, will need to be renamed. The board meeting on Thursday was chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The DMRC will prepare a detailed project report for the LRTS.
Highly placed sources told The Hindu that DMRC Principal Adviser and State Planning Board Member E. Sreedharan mooted separate SPVs to execute the LRTS.
Tapping fundsThe separate SPVs are also aimed at attracting different players and tapping funds from the Union Ministry of Urban Development.
The DMRC had stated that the prospects of securing funds from the Centre for the LRTS in Kozhikode were bleak as the city did not fall in the ‘10-lakh urban population’ category.
The government is of the view that a single SPV should implement the project in the two cities. The views have been communicated to the DMRC, sources said.
