RailEnquiry

The general consultancy agreement with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for the Rs.5,581-crore elevated mass rapid transit system in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode will be signed here on June 19.The agreement will be signed between the DMRC and Kerala Monorail Corporation Limited (KMCL), special purpose vehicle set up for executing monorail in the two cities, at the legislature complex at 12 noon.The pact will be signed in the presence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Ministers, Speaker G. Karthikeyan, legislators, Principal Advisor of the DMRC E. Sreedharan and officials. The agreement will make the DMRC responsible for the design, preparation of the bid document, short-listing and selection of contractors, supervision, and quality certification for the 22.2-km monorail in Thiruvananthapuram and the 14.2-km project in Kozhikode.A single agreement will be signed with the DMRC for the projects as the general consultant and the executing agency are the same.The DMRC will get 3.25 per cent of Rs.5,581 crore as consultancy fee for the projects. Of the Rs.5,581 crore, Rs.3,590 crore is expected to be incurred for the Thiruvananthapuram project and Rs.1,991 crore for the one in Kozhikode.

Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju told The Hindu that instructions had been given to commence the work at the earliest and complete the projects in a time-bound manner.

Tender formalities would be initiated soon, the Minister said. As land acquisition would not be a problem, the government was hopeful of completing the projects on schedule. In Thiruvananthapuram, 17.170 hectares was needed for the project .

Of the land needed, 13.75 hectares is government land, 0.58 hectares is with Railways, and 2.820 hectares with private parties. Only 39 families and 65 shops will be affected as per a DPR prepared by the DMRC.

The monorail has been mooted from Techno City to Karamana in the State capital and from the Government Medical College hostel area to Meenchantha in Kozhikode.

The KMCL has posted a chief general manager and a project manager for the monorail projects. Project offices are to be opened near the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram and the District Collectorate in Kozhikode soon, sources said.