KOCHI: Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas said that he would prefer advice and guidance of E Sreedharan and DMRC for implementing the Kochi Metro Rail project.Speaking to reporters in Kochi on Monday, Thomas said that Sreedharan is the ideal choice available in the country for implementing a metro rail project.“He has been the man behind this project since 2001.Even Chennai and Bangalore metro rail projects have Sreedharan as an advisor.So, I personally believe he should be there for the Kochi project as well. Also, the Chief Minister has said that Sreedharan’s assistance will be sought for the project,” he pointed out, adding that Sreedharan’s involvement would also add to the public support for the project.Asked about the State government’s condition for inviting global tender for the project, Thomas said he would not like to go into the details of the issue. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is a government body operating under the Delhi government and the Union Government, he pointed out. Union Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia will visit Kochi to review the project, K V Thomas said.“His visit has been tentatively planned for January 11 and 12.However a final decision would be made based on the availability of the Chief Minister. Montek would be in Kochi for a day for the site visit and in Thiruvananthapuram for a discussion with the officials and the Chief Minister.We hope his visit would accelerate the project , ” Thomas said.EDRAAC wants E Sreedharan to be in-charge The Ernakulam District Residents Associations Apex Council (EDRAAC) has come up demanding that the metro rail project should be implemented under E Sreedharan only. Sreedharan, who has successfully implemented the firstmetro rail project in the country, should be given the charge of Kochi Metro, the EDRAAC meeting said. The meeting demanded that along with the Kochi Metro Rail project, the suburban rail project should also be implemented at the old railway station in Ernakulam. The meeting was presided over by EDRAAC president P Rangadasaprabhu. Association general secretary A Ajith Kumar, D G Suresh, T Varghese and T S Madhavan also spoke.
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