THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ending nearly a year-long impasse, the Cabinet has finally given its approval for the ambitious light metro projects mooted for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.
The plan is to implement the project with funding from the Centre. The state government has spurned the recommendation of the State Planning Board to adopt the PPP mode for executing the projects. The projects are expected to cost around Rs 6,728 crores.
A top official said that the detailed project report along with the comprehensive mobility plan would be submitted to the ministry of urban development very soon.
“E. Sreedharan had warned the government not to go in for the PPP mode and hence the government will raise 60 per cent of the project cost through loans. GoK and GoI would chip in 20 per cent each,” said the official.
The official said that NATPAC would hand over the finalised CMP report by August first week. “We will forward the report along with the DPR for the clearance from the centre. However, we cannot kick off the project unless the government releases funds for land acquisition,” said the official.
The official said that more details on the project execution would be revealed only after getting the government order. “It will take another six to seven days to get the copy of the order,” the official added.
