WB has its way, IAS official to head KSTP

Ajith Patil given additional charge

Bowing to the threat from World Bank (WB) of cancelling $ 35-million loan to the ongoing Phase II of the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) and to comply with its five-point charter of demands before April 30, the government has appointed an IAS officer again as the Project Director, KSTP, as demanded by the WB.

Ajith Patil, presently Director of Ports and Managing Director, Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd, the special purpose vehicle set up by the government to execute the light metro in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, has been given the additional charge of the KSTP, official sources told The Hindu .

Although the WB had been pressing for a full-time Project Director to take the project forward and for better coordination with the stakeholders, the government has given additional charge to Mr. Patil in view of the shortage of IAS officials in the State.

At present, the post of the Project Director is being held by the Chief Engineer, PWD, Roads and Bridges. In the last two years, the KSTP had six Project Directors and the WB is of the view that the main reason for the slow progress and missing of milestones of the Phase II is due to the lack of a full-time IAS official as the Project Director.

The government decision comes three days ahead of the deadline set by the WB through a notice intimating that it is cancelling $ 35-million loan and to comply with the five-point charter of demands.

The WB had also informed that it will take a call on the ongoing $445-million KSTP Phase II funded by it for the upgrade of 363 km of State Highways by month-end. The WB Task Team Leader, Bernard Aritua will reach the capital in May to review the project and this has forced the government to act swiftly.

It is yet to be known what action has been taken by the government on the other demands, including commencing the process of cancellation of the $35 million loan, clear pending payments to the contractors and appoint Environment, Safeguard and Safety Specialists. WB sources said the arrival of Mr. Aritua for the review will be delayed as it wanted to give a cooling time for the new Project Director.