The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's (DMRC) Principal Advisor for the Kochi metro rail project E. Sreedharan inspected the agency's work sites here on Friday.
He oversaw the works that are on to widen the North overbridge into a four-lane one and to build a new bridge linking Salim Rajan Road with MG Road. He also visited Manappatiparambu in Kaloor, where the girders and other structures for the North bridge are being cast. The DMRC has fixed September as the deadline to build single-lane bridges on either side of the present two-lane structure. Mr. Sreedharan also held meetings with DMRC officials and exhorted them to speed up the preliminary works for the metro-rail.
More coaches
Meanwhile, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has sent a revised project report to the Centre, seeking an increase in the number of coaches in each train from three to six. This would in turn marginally increase the cost of building the 23 metro stations, since bigger platforms would have to be built.
As of now, the project can take off once the Public Investment Board and the Union Cabinet give their nod for the project. The former secretary of the Union Urban Development Ministry M. Ramachandran expressed dismay at the inordinate delay in obtaining the Union Cabinet's nod for the Kochi metro rail project.
He was among those who recommended that the project be implemented as a Centre-State joint venture project, without private participation. He also stood for the Centre and State having an equal number of representatives in the board of directors (of KMRL).
‘Proper coordination'
Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Ramachandran said that the State would have to raise 80 per cent (estimated at over Rs. 4,000 crore) of the total project cost of over Rs.5,000 crore estimated for the metro, if the Centre gave a 20 per cent grant in aid and remained aloof from the ensuing responsibilities.
“This is not a healthy practice since the metro rail system is just being introduced in cities. On the contrary, the Centre's equity stake in the project would ensure faster sanctioning of loan, apart from better coordination with the Railways and other technical personnel. This would prevent delays. The Centre's participation would also ensure proper coordination with the metro rail projects in other cities.”
He said that such projects should be implemented in a disciplined manner, since the metro rail needed a sound work culture. If the project implementation is left to the State, ‘regional factors' and local-level interference could adversely affect the project, he said.
Referring to the fares for the metro rail, Mr. Ramachandran said that an independent committee chaired by a retired Judge and having a representative each from the Centre and State would carry out the job.
“Too high a fare would affect the ridership, while a populist and low fare would not be feasible.”
