A letter written by senior IAS officer to the DMRC chairman Sudheer Krishna seeking clarifications on Metro Man E Sreedharans authority has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the proposed Kochi Metro. After being removed from the post of managing director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited in August,principal secretary Tom Jose had last month written a letter to DMRC chairman asking whether the DMRC has given the mandate to Sreedharan to take up projects in Kerala. The letter,which was brought out by CPM Rajya Sabha member P Rajeev,said Sreedharan has been telling the state that the entire resources of DMRC was behind him on the project. It also pointed out that DMRC would take up even works of minor bridges even if it were assigned the works without contract. The letter asked if DMRC has given powers to Sreedharan to enter into contracts with the state government agencies. After being removed from his post,Jose had said that professionalism did not mean entrusting all projects to a single person. The state government has taken a stand that the project would go to DMRC only if Sreedharan continued as its principal adviser. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said he was not aware of such a letter and would seek a clarification from Jose. Chandy would also talk to Sreedharan. Although the state government wants the project to go to DMRC,several roadblocks such as the recent Central Vigilance Commission directive would come in the way of the agency taking up the project. DMRC chairman,who is also the Union urban secretary,has told KMRL that the agency has not taken any decision on Kochi metro. He said the director board will consider taking up projects outside Delhi.
