Kerala CM Oommen Chandy wants E Sreedharan to be part of Kochi Metro

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said state government wanted the expertise of E Sreedharan, former Chief of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, to execute the proposed Kochi Metro project.

Government would not allow any controvery to block the progress of implementation of the project, Chandy told reporters after a cabinet meeting here.

Sreedharan would be coming to the state on January 12 and all issues connected with the project would be sorted out, he said, adding, the former DMRC chief's word on the project would be final.

Global tender was a pre-requisite for getting loans from Japanese Funding Agency, which has proposed to extend loan at a lower interest rate.

The project ran into controvesy after the state government announced its plan to go for a global tender, overuling its earlier decision to entrust the project with DMRC.

Kochi Metro project envisages a transport system on an elevated platform for 27 km between Aluva and Punithura.