Seeking to end the row over Kochi Metro rail project, the Kerala Power Minister, Arydan Muhammad today held discussions with technocrat E Sreedharan here and made it clear the government was firm that the Rs 5,181 crore project be executed by Delhi Metro with Sreedharan as the Principal Adviser.
The meeting took place amid allegations by Opposition parties that the Congress-led UDF Government had been trying to keep the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and its former chief Sreedharan off the project with ulterior motives.
“We are firm that the work should be carried out by DMRC and Sreedharan as its pivot”, Muhammad said after meeting the ‘Metroman’.
Sreedharan said he was only too happy to associate with the project and do some service to his home state.
The current round of controversy over the project centred on a letter by senior IAS officer Tom Jose to the Central Urban Affairs Secretary seeking details of Sreedharan’s role in Kochi Metro, foundation for which was laid by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh last month.
Jose was removed as MD of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd a couple of months ago amid reports that he was not keen to have Sreedharan at the helm of the project.
The state cabinet yesterday decided to seek explanation from Jose for dashing off the letter to the Centre allegedly without the Government’s approval.
“We have no doubt about the locus standi of Sreedharan or his powers. If some official has some doubt, the government cannot be faulted. Tom Jose has nothing to do with the project now,” Muhammad added.
The fate of Kochi Metro became a hotly debated topic after the Union Urban Development Secretary Sudhir Krishna informed the KMRL Director Board meeting last week that DMRC had certain problems in taking up works outside Delhi region.