Kochi metro rail project - Sreedharan and DMRC ready to execute

Ending the days long confusions and debates over the project, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy confirmed that the former Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan will be part of the Kochi Metro rail project, on Thursday. He was talking in the press meet after the meeting of Planning Commission which marked the presence of Sreedharan as well. After the minister, Sreedharan also addressed the media and confirmed his participation. He expressed the hope that the project can be finished within three years.

Sreedharan said that the Chief Minister wanted him to complete the project three years, although he asked for half an year more initially. Sreedharan said that he has committed that he will be able to finish it in three years. The project would be supervised and completed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), as said by Sreedharan.

For more than a week, there have been much fuss regarding the involvement of Sreedharan and DMRC in the project that having a budget of over Rs. 5,000 crores. Sreedharan had said that he would not be part of the project unless DMRC was given the contract. This led to the anxiety of the people over the project. Now it seems that the air has been cleared.

Oommen Chandy said that there is no difference of opinion with Sreedharan regarding the project. Sreedharan has fully agreed to take part in all the infrastructure projects, in addition to metro,as said by the Chief Minister. This includes the proposed High speed corridor also.

Chandy said that the government will request the centre to nominate Sreedharan as the Managing Director of the Metro project. The Chairman will be the representative of the centre.

It has been six years, the Kochi Metro Rail project has been hovering around. The project is planned as a 26 km track between Tripunithura and Aluva. The metro would relieve the Kochi city from the heavy traffic. The track will be built up above the ground level.