Ruckus at Thiruvananthapuram Corporation over light metro project

Thiruvananthapuram: Mayor V.K. Prasanth has shot down a UDF resolution demanding to bring back Mr E. Sreedharan at the helm of light metro projects in the state. It may be recalled that Kozhikode Mayor Thottathil Raveendran of the CPM had openly made such a demand.  The  BJP did not join the UDF push for the city's dream project and criticised the  weak resistance put up by Congress councillors in the well of  the council on Tuesday. Though 21 UDF councillors raised the slogans for one hour, they could not hinder the proceedings.

The resolution was moved by Mr Beemapally Rasheed demanding that it be passed unanimously, the same way the airport red zone resolution was passed. However, the mayor said that the issue can be discussed later and permitted the discussion on council agendas. UDF leader Johnson Joseph said that politics be set aside to ensure that 'Metroman'  Sreedharan was  part of the project. The sloganeering by UDF councillors was buried in the BJP-CPM fight on different issues and finally they walked out. The UDF leaders will protest in front of the secretariat raising the issue on Wednesday.

The Rs 4200-crore Thiruvananthapuram light metro project was expected to cover nearly 22-km stretch between Technocity and Karamana. However,   Mr Sreedharan has left citing the state government's indifference. The finance department also hinted that the project could go into the backburner. There are unconfirmed reports of various private companies approaching the government to collaborate with the project replacing DMRC as its consultant.