Road ahead for Light Metro

DMRC hopeful of floating tender for civil works in two months

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will be able to float the first tender for the elevated Light Metro within two months of signing a turnkey consultancy agreement with Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd. (KRTL), a special purpose vehicle to be constituted for the purpose.

The first of the three tenders will be for civil works. It will be followed by those for systems (signals, coaches, and traction) and for depot and trains. As a loan has to be secured from JICA to meet 60 per cent of the cost of the Rs.6,728-crore project, the DMRC will need clearance from JICA for floating bids.

The DMRC is hopeful of securing the JICA clearance within one month and floating the first tender for civil works in two months. Official sources told

The Hindu that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had secured an assurance from DMRC Principal Adviser E. Sreedharan on securing a low-interest loan (STEP loan) from JICA as well as the Centre’s share of Rs.1,278 crore.

STEP loan

Under the operational rules for Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) for securing Japanese loans, Japanese technology or equipment should be used substantially. Urban mass transit system is one sector where STEP loan is provided.

Within hours of green signal for Light Metro, the KRTL officials have started preparing the note to be placed before the Cabinet to get approval for the detailed project report (DPR).

Official sources said administrative sanction could be given within 48 hours of the Cabinet nod. Only after getting the approval can steps be initiated for signing the agreement with DMRC, acquiring 17.47 hectares of government land, and 4.62 hectares of private land in the two cities.

For Central aid

To get Central assistance, a Comprehensive Mobility Plan is to be submitted to the Ministry of Urban Affairs. NATPAC is in the final phase of preparing the plan. Land acquisition will be a major hurdle in the capital.

The DMRC has proposed an 18-metre-long and 2.7-metre-wide rolling stock with ring bolster bogies and aluminium or stainless steel body. In the capital, it will be a three-coach train initially. Kozhikode will have a two-coach facility.

The 21.82-km Technocity-Karamana stretch in the capital will cost Rs.4,219 crore and the 13.30-km Meenchanda-Kozhikode Medical College stretch, Rs.2,509 crore, on completion by 2021.

Administrative sanction within 48 hours of Cabinet nod

Japanese technology, equipment will be used mostly