After all the trials and tribulations and endless wait, the foundation stone for the Kochi Metro Rail has finally been laid down. So what next? Well nothing much, for unless the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed between the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the latter will not be able to officially take up any work on the Metro.
“Unless the MoU is signed with the DMRC we will not be able to start the work on the Metro project. We can initiate tender proceedings within a week as soon the pact is inked,” said a DMRC spokesperson.
While in the last few days, there has been criticism from various quarters against the delay in the preparation of the MoU, which was expected to be completed in the board meeting of the KMRL held on Tuesday, KMRL authorities stick to their stance.
“The preparation of the MoU calls for a detailed and comprehensive exercise. Each and every contour of the document has to be gone through and discussed in depth since it will have a direct bearing on the kind of Metro that we are going to have. But as far as the last board meeting is concerned, it was hurriedly put together since we wanted to meet before the arrival of the Prime Minister. Since even the board was reconstituted just a few weeks back, there was hardly enough time to discuss the clauses and conditions to be included in the MoU,” said the Kochi Metro Rail managing director Elias George.
However, the DMRC is hopeful of completing the Metro Rail-related works including the Ernakulam North Overbridge renovation and the building of the Salim Rajan RoB within the stipulated time.
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