Technocrat E. Sreedharan has ruled out the possibility of the State government’s K-Rail project being implemented in the State. “I have given an alternative proposal and the government seems to have liked it,” he said here on Saturday.
Mr. Sreedharan said that the Centre would not approve the K-Rail project and therefore it would not be implemented. He said the alternative proposal would obviate many of the troubles that K-Rail would give to the people.
He said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s concerns were about the Centre giving its green signal to the alternative proposal. “The State should be ready to shelve the K-Rail project. Then only we can propose the alternative project,” he said, adding that it would have the least environmental impact and land acquisition requirement.
Mr. Sreedharan said that the alternative proposal would have underground and elevated stretches. “It will not be a State government project. It will be a Central government project. Then only the work would be fast and funding would be available,” he said, adding that the State government would have 49% participation in it.
If the Centre permits, a detailed project report (DPR) will have to be prepared. “I wish to get this work done by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which has experience in doing a similar project. They have the data and the wherewithal to do the project,” he said.
He said he had asked the Chief Minister to write a letter to the Rail Ministry asking for its permission for a new project after abandoning the K-Rail. He said he had assured to intervene to get the Centre’s permission, but the State is yet to write the letter.
Published – March 22, 2025 09:18 pm IST