THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government will opt for a global tender for Kochi Metro Rail project if the service of former chief of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) E Sreedharan is not available, Power Minister and in-charge of Railways Aryadan Mohammed told mediapersons here on Tuesday. He also announced readiness to replace the present Kochi Metro managing director Tom Jose with Sreedharan if the latter is willing. Aryadan was clarifying the government’s stand after it was alleged that there were moves to deliberately keep the DMRC away from the project. The Minister said that the government was all for getting the service of Sreedharan. “He has been informed of this through regular informal communications from the top brass of the government,” he said. Aryadan revealed that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Industries Minister P K Kunhalikkutty and himself were in constant contact with Sreedharan. According to Aryadan, a transparent global tender was one of the three conditions set by the Japan International Cooperation agency which had offered the financial assistance for the metro. The other conditions are the rehabilitation of those evicted for the project and avoiding the environmental problems. He said that JICA was very particular about these three conditions. “Though this has not been discussed in the Cabinet, from the government’s point of view it is always safer to go for a global tender. But we are ready to waive this if Sreedharan comes to the scene, for he is a clean man who made Kerala proud,” said Aryadan. “We are ready to cooperate with DMRC, if it is headed by Sreedharan. But if he is not in the chair, we cannot trust them as before. But anyhow, they can participate in the global tender,” he said. He scoffed at the opposition for raising the plank of corruption in the case of global tendering. Aryadan feigned ignorance about the allegation of CPM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan that the Chief Minister ignored the letters from Sreedharan.
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