Light Metro: covert bid to rope in consultancy alleged.

Kerala Monorail Corporation Ltd. (KMCL) is planning to rope in a multinational consultancy firm to study the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) mode mooted by the Planning Board for the Light Metro project for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.

The move to carry out the study is without seeking the approval of KMCL chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and KMCL vice-chairman and Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, sources said.

The detailed project report (DPR) prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the 35.12 km Light Metro proposed in the two cities at Rs. 6,728-crore has finally reached the Finance Department after the scrutiny by the Project Financing Cell of the Planning Board.

While mooting the PPP mode, the Planning Board has asked the Finance Department to 'look at the figures and confirm that funds will be available to meet the repayment requirements and equity shares of the projects.' The KMCL's move to rope in a consultancy firm through the back door to study the PPP mode has raised many doubts, sources said.


THE HINDU