Decision taken following DMRC’s advice
Picture for representational purpose
Thiruvananthapuram: The state government’s much trumpeted plan to set up monorails – the Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) - in Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram will remain a mere announcement with the board of Kerala Monorail Corporation Ltd (KMCL) chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy deciding to abandon the projects citing prohibitive cost quoted by the single bidder. The decision was taken following the advice of DMRC to reject the single tender, which had quoted more than '10,000 crore, submitted by Bombardiar Transportation.
The government has decided to go in for alternative technology and has asked Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) – the turnkey contractor - to come up with a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on Light Metro within four weeks.
Managing director of Kerala Monorail Corporation Ltd (KMCL) P I Sheik Pareeth said that Light Metro was a feasible option for cities like Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. “Our plan is to invite three separate tenders to avoid delay in the execution of the project. Separate tenders will be invited for civil works, signal system and rolling stock. We will begin the civil work without much delay. The main highlight is that there are many players to take up Light Metro compared to monorail. A Global tender will be invited within one and a half months time,” said Mr Pareeth.
He said that light metro was a proven technology and there was no problem in getting funds from the Centre. “There will not be much complication in preparing the DPR as the land requirement and alignment will remain the same for Light Metro,” Mr Pareeth added.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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