E. Sreedharan, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Principal Advisor, on Friday held talks with Minister for Power and Railways Aryadan Mohammed here. Timely supply of modern, cost effective coaches for the Kochi Metro and labour issues were discussed at the meeting, sources said.
The meeting was against the backdrop of reports of a possible delay in procuring 75 coaches for the project. This could lead to delayed trial run of trains in Kochi Metro’s Aluva-Palarivattom reach, originally scheduled for December 2015. Mr. Sreedharan had told The Hindu last month that contract for supplying coaches would be given in February. Now, only one company, Hyundai Rotem (Korea), is in the fray for supplying coaches as per the specifications fixed by the metro’s tender committee. Kochi Metro Rail Limited’s Director Board on Monday decided to explore the possibility of retendering the contract to attract more firms in the bidding process. Chief Secretary E.K. Bharat Bhushan had said that bidding parameters for procuring coaches would be revised.