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Ideology war stalls Kochi Metro project
The capitalist-communist ideological war has stalled the Kochi Metro project, with the Planning Commission telling the CPM-led Kerala government the project cannot get off the ground without private investment.
The capitalist-communist ideological war has stalled the Kochi Metro project, with the Planning Commission telling the CPM-led Kerala government the project cannot get off the ground without private investment.
“The Commission’s principal advisor for infrastructure recently told the government the project cannot take off without the public-private-partnership model. This is unfortunate,” Ernakulam MP Sebastian Paul said.
The government is against private players and wants the Kochi Metro to be modelled on Phase I of the Delhi Metro: 30 per cent of project cost should be borne by the state and Centre on a 50-50 basis, while the remaining amount should be raised as loan from banks.
A Commission official, seeking anonymity, told HT: “There is no money under the 11th plan for the Kochi Metro, which is why private investment is important.”
The CPM has said the Commission’s stand was “unreasonable”.
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