Tenders to be floated in a month

KOCHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will float the tenders for the Kochi Metro Rail project within a month, the Principal Advisor to the DMRC E Sreedharan told reporters on the sidelines of his visit to Kochi on behalf of the proposed Moolampilly-Chathanad four-lane road.Sreedharan said the first section of the tender was ready and the project was currently under the consideration of the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCAE). But the work on the project, including the floating of the tender do not have to wait till the approval of the CCAE. “The Public Investment Board (PIB) clearance has been obtained for the Kochi Metro Rail Project. The project is now awaiting the CCAE nod. But we will not wait for the CCAE approval for floating the tender,” he said.On the loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the Kochi Metro Rail, E Sreedharan said that it will take at least one year for the loan to be processed and the funds to be released. Meanwhile, the allocation from the Central and state budgets for the Metro Rail would be used till next year.The state government had allocated a sum of `150 crore for the Metro Rail this year, while the Central Government had provided `60 crore. Sreedharan said the ministers would be requesting the government to increase the allocation for the Metro Rail. The former DMRC Chief also expressed satisfaction over the working of the preparatory works of the Kochi Metro Rail.