Thiruvananthapuram: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has exited from the light metro proposed in 35.12 km in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. Sources said that the offices of the DMRC in the two cities will be closed by March 15. This may prove to be a major setback to the transport infrastructure development in the state.
DMRC principal adviser E. Sreedharan has sent a letter to PWD principal secretary G. Kamalavardhana Rao apprising him of the decision after the state government failed to sign the turnkey consultancy agreement even 14 months after the contract was awarded to the DMRC.
The DMRC has also issued notices to eight employees working in its office at Pattoor here and five in Kozhikode asking them to return to the parent organisation in case of those working on deputation. Others have been asked to seek new jobs.
Though Mr. Sreedharan had written to Mr. Rao to sign the agreement before February 15, no steps were taken for it.
Moreover, the Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd (KRTL), the special purpose vehicle set up for the project, refused to share with the DMRC the minutes of the last board meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan even after repeated requests.
The DMRC had sought six percent of the cost of the preparatory works as consultancy fee in the draft pact.
Flyovers were to be constructed at Sreekaryam, Ulloor, Pattom and Thampanoor in Thiruvananthapuram as part of the project from Technocity to Karamana.
