Can Metro Man Help The CPM And BJP Reach An Understanding? The Idea For Sreedharan’s Train Project Wins Support
The Left-led state government and the BJP are both considering the idea of a high-speed rail corridor project proposed by “Metro Man” and BJP national executive member E Sreedharan, even as the CPI(M) government’s ambitious semi-speed Silverline railway corridor remains in limbo due to a lack of approval from the Railway Ministry.
The state’s special representative in Delhi, former Union minister K V Thomas, presented Seedharan’s proposal to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the state’s BJP leadership met with Sreedharan in Ponnani, Malappuram. According to Thomas, the state government has chosen to investigate the suggestion.
Due to Sreedharan’s popularity across all political lines in Kerala, the CPI(M) and the BJP will likely agree on the proposal.
Kerala hired the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to build the Kochi Metro ten years ago, mostly because Sreedharan was the organization’s advisor. Sreedharan opposed and labelled the Silverline project dumb after the CPI(M) government accelerated its work.
Following their discussion with Sreedharan, K Surendran, the state president of the BJP, praised the Metro Man’s proposal and promised that the party would talk about the project he had suggested.
“The state’s development is what matters. The government should work to make it a reality. We’ll talk about the idea. According to Sreedharan, something other than Silverline is practicable. There is no question that the state needs a quick rail line. But that shouldn’t cost the state money or hurt the environment, he said.
Before, the BJP had been outspoken in its opposition to the Silverline project, with senior party figures, including Union Minister V Muraleedharan participating in a door-to-door campaign. After Thomas’ involvement, who is renowned for his connections across the political spectrum, especially with the BJP in Delhi, the party abruptly altered course.
