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The Finance Ministry has expressed apprehensions over the implementation of the Kochi Metro Rail Project. The Planning Commission which had given the green signal to the Metro Rail Project on the lines proposed by the State may now be in a dilemma over the recent move.
It is to be seen if the Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, who had claimed on June 29 that he will include the Metro Rail Project in the 100-day programme in the Ministry's action plan for the coming 100 days, will go ahead with it.
Earlier, the Planning Commission had expressed the same fears and now the finance ministry too is towing the same line. The main reason behind the Finance Ministry's move is that the Centre does not have any money and the central assistance of Rs 500 crore may be difficult to meet.
The Centre feels that if the amount is sanctioned for the Kochi Metro then in future the centre will be bound to oblige for various other projects. Moreover, the government feels that cities like Pune and Ahmedabed need to be given preference over Kochi.
The Kochi metro rail project is an undertaking of the state government of Kerala. The estimated cost of the 25-km long Kochi Metro project is around at Rs.3,050 crore - with the state and the centre each putting up 20 percent of the outlay. The state government is keen to get the project funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation for the remaining funds.
To overcome this a strong political pressure will be needed to make this a reality.
It is to be seen if the Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, who had claimed on June 29 that he will include the Metro Rail Project in the 100-day programme in the Ministry's action plan for the coming 100 days, will go ahead with it.
Earlier, the Planning Commission had expressed the same fears and now the finance ministry too is towing the same line. The main reason behind the Finance Ministry's move is that the Centre does not have any money and the central assistance of Rs 500 crore may be difficult to meet.
The Centre feels that if the amount is sanctioned for the Kochi Metro then in future the centre will be bound to oblige for various other projects. Moreover, the government feels that cities like Pune and Ahmedabed need to be given preference over Kochi.
The Kochi metro rail project is an undertaking of the state government of Kerala. The estimated cost of the 25-km long Kochi Metro project is around at Rs.3,050 crore - with the state and the centre each putting up 20 percent of the outlay. The state government is keen to get the project funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation for the remaining funds.
To overcome this a strong political pressure will be needed to make this a reality.
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