It has closed its office in Kozhikode, fate of capital office too hangs in the balance

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the interim consultant of the Light Metro proposed for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode, is contemplating tough measures against the ‘go slow’ approach of the State government to expedite the ₹6,728-crore project.

The DMRC has communicated to the government that its office in Kozhikode has been closed as the road widening of the Kozhikode- Mananchira-Meenchantha corridor and Kallai bridge for the Light Metro is confined to paper. The fate of the DMRC office in the State capital too hangs in the balance.

The DMRC has been irked by the poor progress during the last three months after a high-level meeting DMRC Principal Adviser E. Sreedharan had with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others.

Ajit Patil, the newly appointed managing director of Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd. (KRTL), the special purpose vehicle (SPV) floated to execute the project, has not been able to take the much-needed initiative.

Despite taking it up at the highest level, the DMRC has not been given the nod by KRTL to float global tenders for the rolling stock of the Light Metro. The government has been informed that the design of the civil structure for the Light Metro cannot be taken up without finalising details of the coach.

The KRTL has also not taken any initiative to get the loan for the MRTS project. The DMRC has informed the government that the French funding agency Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has expressed its willingness to give loan. Mr. Sreedharan has taken the initiative to forward the Detailed Project Report to the AFD’s Country Chief.

Though administrative sanction has been given for the construction of three flyovers from Pallippuram to Karamana, the order is silent on the agency to execute the work and mobilising the resources.

Upset over delay

The DMRC is also upset over the delay in signing the agreement with KRTL for the flyovers at Pattom, Sreekariyam, and Uloor.

The government has been informed that tenders can be floated only after the pact is signed with KRTL and after the DMRC gets the mobilisation advance. The works of the Pattom flyover along the NH 66 can be taken up before the land acquisiton is initiated, the DMRC has informed the government.

It’s been over two years since the DMRC submitted the DPR after the monorail was found not feasible. It has been awaiting Centre’s clearance since then. Administrative sanction for the project was given by the Cabinet on September 8, 2016.

The DMRC Principal Adviser has approached Minister for Public Works G. Sudhakaran to intervene and give necessary instructions to KRTL and the Kerala Road Fund Board.