Kochi: No concession will be allowed to anyone for travel in Kochi Metro trains, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Principal Advisor E Sreedharan said on Wednesday.
“Metro systems are built without the subsidy of governments but at the same time they should be affordable to people. Over 60 per cent of the project cost is met by taking loans from multi-national companies. Hence no concession can be extended to anyone since the money has to be repaid,” he said, while responding to queries of students of the St Terasa’s College here.
The “Metroman” recollected how he urged the then Prime Minister to take a ticket at the inauguration of the Delhi Metro so as to set a precedent.
Sreedharan acknowledged that the Kochi Metro project suffered some delay due to land acquisition issues but said the 18-km Aluva-Maharajas College stretch would be completed on time.
“It’s not our concern whether the government will benefit from the project or not, rather priority is for convenience of the common man,” he said while replying to a query whether the present government intends to draw political mileage from commissioning the Kochi Metro during its term.
Sreedharan hailed the Integrated Water Transport project conceived by the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd terming it as a solution to the city’s transportation woes. “However, high-speed boats are needed for success of the water Metro.”
