Source : The Hindu Date : 08.07.2009

Corporation seeks allocation of funds for metro railway

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The Corporation Council on Tuesday requested Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to earmark funds for the Kochi metro railway project.

Moving a resolution in the council, Deputy Mayor C.K. Manisankar said the project should have been given budgetary support considering the growth potential of the city.

The metro railway was necessary for addressing the increasing traffic snarls in the city, he said.

Mr. Manisankar said the city needs to take a positive stand towards development projects.

It was unfortunate that funds were not earmarked for the project, which was approved by the State government and the Planning Commission. The Finance Minister, while replying to the budget discussion, should earmark funds for the project, he said.

As the Central authorities, including the Planning Commission and the Union Ministry for Urban Development have approved the project, the debate whether metro railway was required or not and the change in the alignment of the rail did not have any relevance, he said.

Works Standing Committee chairman M. Anilkumar seconded the resolution.

UDF leader in the council, A.B. Sabu, suggested that the State government should complete the formalities of the project including the fixing of the alignment and formation of the Special Purpose Vehicle for the project. Though the commission had cleared the project proposal, it is yet to get the Union Cabinet’s nod. The budgetary support may come after the Cabinet clearance for the project, he said.

Mr. Sabu also urged the Mayor to take up the case of traffic issues in the city with the government. The Chief Minister and the State Transport Minister had earlier promised to convene a meeting of the officials concerned to address the traffic issues of the city, he said.

Congress councillor N. Venugopal’s complaint that the Mayor used rough words against him outside the council hall led to a heated debate in the council.

Raising the issue, Mr. Venugopal said the Mayor’s office was a respectable post and its incumbent should uphold the dignity of the office. Mayor Mercy Williams said she was expressing her regret as the councillor had said that he held the office in high esteem.

In another resolution moved at the council, K.J. Antony urged the Cochin Port Trust and the Public Works Department to repair the Thevara-Venduruthy bridge road, Naval Base road and the badly damaged roads in West Kochi.