THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ending all the uncertainty over the Kochi Metro Rail project, the state government on Thursday decided to entrust the implementation of the project to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation under the leadership of former DMRC chief E Sreedharan.Addressing a press conference after a full board meeting of the State Planning Board here, of which Sreedharan is a full-time member, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that he would request the Centre to nominate Sreedharan as chairman of the Kochi Metro Rail project. “The reports that there are differences with Sreedharan are baseless. When Sreedharan is here, naturally DMRC also will be with the project. He has fully agreed to partner us not only in this but all infrastructure projects being planned by the state government,” Chandy said. Putting at rest all controversies over the government move to call for global tender for the `5,200-crore Kochi Metro Rail project, the Chief Minister said that the state government will have the choice to appoint the managing director of the proposed Kochi Metro Rail Limited, while the Central Government would nominate the chairman. “The state government would request the Central Government to make Sreedharan chairman of the Kochi Metro Rail project,” Chandy said. Sreedharan said that he would be able to commission the project in three years’ time. “When I said I can complete the project in three-and-a-half years, the Chief Minister wanted it done in three years, and I have committed that I will be able to finish it within that time. The work would be done by the DMRC and I will be the principal adviser,” said Sreedharan, who also expressed his willingness to be the chairman of the project if the Centre approves the state government request. He had explained to the Chief Minister the advantages and disadvantages of carrying out the work through both agencies - DMRC and Kochi Metro Rail Limited.
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