While bagging the consultancy and contract for the Kochi Metro Rail project, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had seen to it that its writ alone ran in framing terms and conditions irrespective of who is in power — UDF or LDF.
There is a sound reason why the LDF does not oppose the UDF Govt’s initiatives in the Kochi Metro Rail project. A Government Order issued by the V S Achuthanandan Government near the end of its term shows its eagerness in giving the DMRC whatever it wanted.
The LDF Govt had even okayed depositing the entire cost of the work with the DMRC at the beginning itself before work commenced. A copy of the GO issued on March 19, 2010, based on the minutes of the meeting convened by the then CM Achuthanandan on November 24, 2009, is with the Express.
The DMRC had told the LDF Govt in advance that an office was already opened for the Kochi project and sought a role in the preparatory works on deposit terms. The GO granted permission for the same for five specific works with a total outlay of `158.68 crore. The terms and conditions listed out in the GO had also allowed ‘’DMRC to prepare the tender documents, call for tenders, fix up agency for execution and supervise the execution and hand over the completed works to the government agency concerned.’’
“The cost of the works as indicated in the estimate mentioned above will have to be deposited by the Kerala Govt with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, except what is required for land acquisition and rehabilitation. The deposit shall be in the beginning before the work commences,” says clause 5 of the GO. But the condition has been altered to some extent in the final draft agreement now, but insisting that payments shall be released by the KMRL every three months.
The UDF Govt is adopting the same approach of LDF Govt for the Kochi Metro, with slight changes effected in the clauses seemingly favourable to the DMRC.
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