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Retendering may delay Kochi metro project

Procurement of new coaches will further delay the project, says DMRC official

Kochi: Strongly objecting to the decision of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) to call for fresh tenders for its rolling stock , Member of Parliament, P Rajeev warned on Tuesday that it would delay commissioning of the project by more than a year.

Speaking to reporters here, he alleged the move was only intended to help a certain company which manufactured coaches of a lesser width and demanded the matter be investigated.

“Under the agreement between KMRL and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) coaches must be procured by August 2015. But due to retendering, procurement of rolling stock will now not be possible till July 2016.
Although DMRC has started the bidding process to stick to the schedule, the KMRL has recommended cancellation of the bidding and floating of new tenders going against the agreement between the two agencies.The decision to invite new tenders with the new width specification of upto 2.9 meters, is only intended to help a company which manufactures such narrow coaches,” Mr Rajeev claimed, also warning that while the DMRC would agree to invite fresh tenders on the instructions of KMRL, it would not take responsibility for the safety of the coaches procured this way.

“The KMRL is not competent to cancel the bidding by a highly qualified and experienced agency like DMRC. The Kochi Metro project has been delayed for more than four years already .

If retendering is done for procurement of the coaches, it will only cause more delay and push up the cost,” he added.

When contacted, Union minister, Prof K.V Thomas assured that the Metro Rail project would not be delayed for any reason and both the state government and the Centre would do everything possible to commission the project on time.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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