Fresh hurdles for Light Metro.

Fresh hurdles have cropped up for the Light Metro proposed for the cities of Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode with the Finance Department favouring Public Private Partnership (PPP) mooted by the State Planning Board instead of the turnkey contract proposed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The Finance Department, in its assessment note on the Detailed Project Report submitted by the DMRC and the note of the Planning Board, has suggested that the civil works and construction activities for the Light Metro projects that fetch less or nil revenue returns should be carried out by the government through the Special Purpose Vehicle, Kerala Monorail Corporation Ltd. (KMCL). It also proposed land acquisition by the government.

In the note submitted to the Public Works Department, the department said rolling stock, signalling and communication, and operation and maintenance should be taken up in the PPP mode as it will enable the entry of more private players.

The consultancy of the project proposed for 35.12 km in the two cities should be awarded after inviting bids, the department said arguing that this will bring down the consultancy charges.


THE HINDU