Kochi:
Amidst a raging controversy over Kerala's government's proposed move to call for global tenders for the Rs 5200 crore Kochi Metro Rail project, E Sreedharan, former Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Managing Director, today said there was no need to call for global tenders for appointing general consultants.
We are opposed to global tenders for appointing general consultants. Give the job to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, they will call for global tenders', Sreedharan told reporters here.
Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) had no expertise in handling such a complicated project, he said.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has 14 years of expertise in design, planning and executing Metro projects while Kochi Metro Rail Limited does not have technical competence at all, he said, adding, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was the only agency which has the expertise to complete such projects.
Pointing that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was a government company and not a private entity,he said without calling for global tenders Delhi Metro Rail Corpoartion has undertaken various projects, including that of Haryana government, Gurgaon-Noida and Fareedabad extensions of the Delhi Metro and for making a huge underground parking facility for Delhi High Court.
All these works were entrusted to Delhi Metro Rail Corp[oration without going for tenders. The High Court had no objection in entrusting the work to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, he said.
Sreedharan said he had met Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at New Delhi yesterday and informed him of the pros and cons of handing the project to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Kochi Metro Rail Limited.
Chandy wanted the project to be completed in 3 years time while Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had said it would take three and half years. But Sreedharan said he had agreed to Chief Minister's demand to complete the project in three years.
Sreedharan said the Delhi government had wanted him tocontinue for another five years, which he had declined. For Kochi Metro there is an 'emotional attachment', he said adding he was associated with the project right from the time the survey was conducted.
The 'Metroman' said he had spoken to Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) officials yesterday and they hadsaid they have no objection in giving loans to the project if Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was entrusted with the work."I am not canvassing business for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, whose per day earnings are Rs four crore. They can make more money, if they undertake other projects.
Sreedharana said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was charging only 6 per cent for theproject while others charge 12.5 per cent, he said adding he was keen to undertake the project with support and expertise of Delhi Metro Rail Corporatiopn.
If Kochi Metro Rail Limited is asked to undertake the project, they would take over one year to appoint consultants after calling for tender.
Replying to a query, he said the metro needs very little electricity. For Delhi, the power consumed by the metro was only 3 per cent of the city's power requirement. For Kochi metro also, about 3-4 per cent of the power consumption of the city would be needed for the metro project, he said.
Sreedharan said for 90 per cent of the work of the Kochi Metro, land acquisition would not be a problem. No project can be started with 100 per cent land acquisition, he said. Once the project gets started, everyone would cooperate.
The pre Planning board and investment board (PIB))clearance has been received and was awaiting Planning board and Investment Board and Union government clearance on the project.
He said he was not getting enough cooperation from the Kerala state electricity board and Kochi Metro Rail Limited for shifting cables and water lines and would meet Kerela State Electricity Board chairman at Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow in this regard.
Sreedharana said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was charging only 6 per cent for theproject while others charge 12.5 per cent, he said adding he was keen to undertake the project with support and expertise of Delhi Metro Rail Corporatiopn.
If Kochi Metro Rail Limited is asked to undertake the project, they would take over one year to appoint consultants after calling for tender.
Replying to a query, he said the metro needs very little electricity. For Delhi, the power consumed by the metro was only 3 per cent of the city's power requirement. For Kochi metro also, about 3-4 per cent of the power consumption of the city would be needed for the metro project, he said.
Sreedharan said for 90 per cent of the work of the Kochi Metro, land acquisition would not be a problem. No project can be started with 100 per cent land acquisition, he said. Once the project gets started, everyone would cooperate.
The pre Planning board and investment board (PIB))clearance has been received and was awaiting Planning board and Investment Board and Union government clearance on the project.
He said he was not getting enough cooperation from the Kerala state electricity board and Kochi Metro Rail Limited for shifting cables and water lines and would meet Kerela State Electricity Board chairman at Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow in this regard.
We are opposed to global tenders for appointing general consultants. Give the job to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, they will call for global tenders', Sreedharan told reporters here.
Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) had no expertise in handling such a complicated project, he said.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has 14 years of expertise in design, planning and executing Metro projects while Kochi Metro Rail Limited does not have technical competence at all, he said, adding, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was the only agency which has the expertise to complete such projects.
Pointing that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was a government company and not a private entity,he said without calling for global tenders Delhi Metro Rail Corpoartion has undertaken various projects, including that of Haryana government, Gurgaon-Noida and Fareedabad extensions of the Delhi Metro and for making a huge underground parking facility for Delhi High Court.
All these works were entrusted to Delhi Metro Rail Corp[oration without going for tenders. The High Court had no objection in entrusting the work to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, he said.
Sreedharan said he had met Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at New Delhi yesterday and informed him of the pros and cons of handing the project to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Kochi Metro Rail Limited.
Chandy wanted the project to be completed in 3 years time while Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had said it would take three and half years. But Sreedharan said he had agreed to Chief Minister's demand to complete the project in three years.
Sreedharan said the Delhi government had wanted him tocontinue for another five years, which he had declined. For Kochi Metro there is an 'emotional attachment', he said adding he was associated with the project right from the time the survey was conducted.
The 'Metroman' said he had spoken to Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) officials yesterday and they hadsaid they have no objection in giving loans to the project if Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was entrusted with the work."I am not canvassing business for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, whose per day earnings are Rs four crore. They can make more money, if they undertake other projects.
Sreedharana said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was charging only 6 per cent for theproject while others charge 12.5 per cent, he said adding he was keen to undertake the project with support and expertise of Delhi Metro Rail Corporatiopn.
If Kochi Metro Rail Limited is asked to undertake the project, they would take over one year to appoint consultants after calling for tender.
Replying to a query, he said the metro needs very little electricity. For Delhi, the power consumed by the metro was only 3 per cent of the city's power requirement. For Kochi metro also, about 3-4 per cent of the power consumption of the city would be needed for the metro project, he said.
Sreedharan said for 90 per cent of the work of the Kochi Metro, land acquisition would not be a problem. No project can be started with 100 per cent land acquisition, he said. Once the project gets started, everyone would cooperate.
The pre Planning board and investment board (PIB))clearance has been received and was awaiting Planning board and Investment Board and Union government clearance on the project.
He said he was not getting enough cooperation from the Kerala state electricity board and Kochi Metro Rail Limited for shifting cables and water lines and would meet Kerela State Electricity Board chairman at Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow in this regard.
Sreedharana said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was charging only 6 per cent for theproject while others charge 12.5 per cent, he said adding he was keen to undertake the project with support and expertise of Delhi Metro Rail Corporatiopn.
If Kochi Metro Rail Limited is asked to undertake the project, they would take over one year to appoint consultants after calling for tender.
Replying to a query, he said the metro needs very little electricity. For Delhi, the power consumed by the metro was only 3 per cent of the city's power requirement. For Kochi metro also, about 3-4 per cent of the power consumption of the city would be needed for the metro project, he said.
Sreedharan said for 90 per cent of the work of the Kochi Metro, land acquisition would not be a problem. No project can be started with 100 per cent land acquisition, he said. Once the project gets started, everyone would cooperate.
The pre Planning board and investment board (PIB))clearance has been received and was awaiting Planning board and Investment Board and Union government clearance on the project.
He said he was not getting enough cooperation from the Kerala state electricity board and Kochi Metro Rail Limited for shifting cables and water lines and would meet Kerela State Electricity Board chairman at Thiruvananthapuram tomorrow in this regard.
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