True, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath have shed their reservations and agreed to let the DMRC participate in the Kochi metro project’s implementation ‘following heavy pressure from central ministers and MPs from Kerala.”

Thanks to the intervention of senior Congress leader from Kerala and Union Defence Minister A K Antony, both Kamal Nath and Sheila Dikshit softened their stance – albeit grudgingly – in their meeting with the Kerala CM in Delhi last week. But Kamal Nath’s remark that he was agreeing to the DMRC’s role in the execution of Kochi metro very reluctantly has left a bad taste in the mouth. The patronising manner of the central leaders is out of sync with the federal spirit of the Constitution, which should govern the relations between the Centre and States.

But many questions still remain unanswered. First and foremost, there is ambiguity over the role of the DMRC. Indications are that the DMRC will not be given full charge of the Kochi project; it will play only a limited role in its execution.

That has clearly put a question mark on the role of Metro man E Sreedharan, who has made it clear that he won’t be there unless he has the full backing of the DMRC. Significantly, Sreedharan did not attend the meeting that Chandy had with Sheila Dikshit and Kamal Nath. It is also to be noted that both the Delhi CM and Kamal Nath have maintained a deafening silence on the role of Sreedharan in the Kochi project.

What is adding fuel to the fire of suspense is the fact that the participatory role of both the DMRC and Sreedharan will be decided by a three-member committee headed by the Union Urban Development Ministry secretary Sudhir Krishna and having the chief secretaries of Delhi and Kerala as its members.

It is a known fact that the IAS lobby, both at the Centre and the state, is not very keen on the Kochi project being entrusted to Sreedharan. That being the reality, it remains to be seen whether Sreedharan will have a free hand in executing the project. There is no doubt that if Sreedharan were to be marginalised, the Kochi project would suffer grievously. Also, any attempt to curtail Sreedharan’s role will evoke a strong reaction from the people of Kerala who want him to supervise the Kochi project. The United Democratic Front (UDF) Government ruling Kerala will have to pay a heavy political price if Sreedharan is eased out of the Kochi project.

The focus will now shift to the outcome of the next board meeting of the Kochi Metro Rail Limited meeting due to be held on December 4 in Kochi. (IPA)