KOCHI: Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has denied all charges about the non-feasibility of the Kochi Metro Rail project. He was speaking after visiting Salim Rajan Road RoB, the North RoB and Manapattiparambu, where the preparatory works of the Metro Rail are in progress, on Tuesday. He termed the works as ‘impressive’, but declined to comment further. “The Planning Commission never had any doubts about the feasibility of the Kochi Metro Rail project. There were some contrary newspaper reports. There are different ways to implement a project. The Planning Commission expressed its views but, never did it raise any objections,” he said. Ahluwalia added that the final word on the implementation would rest with the state government. “The government is looking at promoting transportation infrastructure like the Metro Rail in smaller cities. But, more important is the interlinking of all other transportation facilities with the Metro Rail,” he said and added that the scope for such infrastructure facilities was high in the state.On public-private-partnership (PPP) model for the project, he said the decision to choose the required model rested with the state government. “Kerala has a lot of experience in terms of PPP. The Cochin International Airport was executed in the PPP model. We strongly encourage the PPP model. But, ultimately, it is for the state government to decide whether to involve private parties or not,” Ahluwalia said. Ahluwalia dismissed reports about the non-feasibility of PPP models for Metro Rail Project in various parts of the country. In the initial stages, all projects are prone to running into problems, he said. Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas, MLA Hibi Eden, Mayor Tony Chammany, District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth and Delhi Metro Rail Project director P Sreeram accompanied Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
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