Expressing concern over the delay in starting the work of the project, he wanted Kamal Nath to intervene and remove the hurdles in the way of the project.
"Kochi Metro has been a long-cherished project of Kerala. There is no point in delaying it by raising flimsy objections. The Kerala government and people of the state as a whole are keen that the work is carried out by DMRC under the proven leadership of eminent technocrat E Sreedharan," the Congress leader said in a letter to Kamal Nath.
Though work on Kochi Metro rail was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, uncertainties have been clouding the project since last week with DMRC casting doubts over its participation.
This has turned into a hotly debated topic in Kerala, with charges being raised that DMRC had reversed its stand under pressure from certain political quarters that wanted to keep Sreedharan off the project.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy,however,called up Sreedharan last night and the latter agreed to meet him here on Wednesday to sort out the issue so that project work could get going.
Chennithala said delay in starting the work would cause a huge loss to the tune of Rs 60 lakh per day to the state.
"There is unanimity, as far as the state and its people are concerned, that the project should be taken up by DMRC with Sreedharan as its principal advisor. Considering this, it is important to start the work without giving in to irrational objections and speculations. So it is important that the Union Government intervene in the matter and remove hurdles in the way of the project", Chennithala said.
