'Metroman' Sreedharan moots alternative railway project

Kochi: Metroman' E Sreedharan on Friday said he has proposed a high-speed rail system as an alternative to the shelved K-Rail project of the Left government in Kerala and offered all cooperation beyond politics to develop the southern state.

Sreedharan, a national executive member of the BJP, said he had submitted a proposal to the state government after its representative in New Delhi, K V Thomas, held discussions with him regarding the project recently with the consent and knowledge of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The Metroman said he was yet to receive any communication from them on the proposed project to connect Kerala's northern Kasaragod and southern Thiruvananthapuram through the high-speed rail network.

Addressing a press conference here, Sreedharan said Thomas had requested him to give a note about the alternative project he suggested. The one-and-a-half-page note on the proposal was submitted to him the very next day, the Metroman said.

"Thomas said he was coming for the discussion with the knowledge of the Chief Minister. I was happy to hear that...I thought the state government would be on board and things would become easy. I don't know anything (any development) after that."

Sreedharan clarified that neither the CM nor Thomas had contacted him after the meeting happened early this week.

"If the state government seeks assistance, I am ready to provide it. I am ready to co-operate with any project that is beneficial for the state, beyond politics." The project can be implemented only if the state government agrees with it, he said. (PTI)