Am really amused with the headline in TNIE that stared at me, this morning. It screamed "Sreedharan to be the 'SilverLining'.
The LDF government thinks that it's a master stroke by roping in Metro Man, E Sreedharan to provide suggestions for the Silver Line Project. Now, mind you, the Metro Man is an ardent supporter of PM Narendra Modi and is considered a BJP man. And a few things about the K-Rail - the Silver Line project - which cannot be lost sight of :-
(a) A DPR is yet to be formulated.
(b) The central government has already given it a thumbs down, questioning its viability and with a
strong dissent from the Indian Railways.
(c) The project was stalled midway through the land survey following public protests.
(d) The Metro man had already criticised this project as unviable!
Now, we come to Mr Sreedharan's suggestions which is not in consonance with the Kerala Government's thinking:-
(a) The entire Silver Line stretch should be elevated or underground.
(b) To begin with, it should be from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur.
(c) Kerala government should bear entire land acquisition cost.
(d) 60% of construction cost should be equally shared between the state and the centre.
(e) 40% should be raised via borrowings.
(f) KSDCL shouldn't execute the project. It should be done by either the Railways or the DMRC.
(g) New DPR to take one-and-a-half years.
(h) Project can be completed in six years from the date of approval.
My take
It's pretty clear that there's no meeting point between the LDF government's stand and the Metro Man, on the issue.
Tailpiece.
Got up at 4, the chores and were ready by a quarter to 6 though I'd planned to take off at a half past 5. Despite the delayed start, we reached the toothy at a half past 9; we'd breakfast at the Aryaa's at Edappalli.
The toothy took on Lekha's case at the start itself and we were on our return trip within an hour of our arrival at the clinic. Reached The Quarterdeck by a half past 2; lunch was at Mathilakam.
The evening chores.
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