Delhi’s move could derail Goa Skybus

The Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) might have carried out successful test runs of the Skybus Metro but the project is yet to elicit any Ex...

The Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) might have carried out successful test runs of the Skybus Metro but the project is yet to elicit any Expression of Interest (EOI) in implementing it.

To make matters worse, the Centre has rejected the Skybus MoU signed by KRC and the Goa government. Interestingly, the project was sanctioned as a gift by former PM A.B. Vajpayee during his Goa visit in January last year. KRC managing director Rajaram admitted that the Goa project between Panaji and Mapusa is yet to get the Centre’s green signal and refused to elaborate on the topic.

The 1.6-km test track in Goa is proposed to be a part of a future centre of excellence for testing and certifying various subsystems of the Skybus project. The Konkan Railway has termed this as a laboratory and had signed an MoU with six per cent partnership with the Goa government. The state government was to be paid royalties out of the project. Speaking to the media, Rajaram said that this too has been rejected by the Centre.

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But Goa CM Manohar Parrikar refused to accept the fact that the previous NDA Government rejected this proposal. ‘‘Vajpayee had cleared this project and had announced to install it between Panaji and Mapusa and had sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore for the project. He had instructed the Urban Development Ministry to dole out the money for the same. The money is still with the Ministry and the state government will pursue the matter once it gets security clearance,’’ Parrikar said.

However, former Urban Development Minister Bandaru Dattatreya had his doubts about the technical feasiblity and the allocation of funds for the same. During his visit to Goa, Dattatreya was quite specific that so far no funds have been allocated for the pilot project between Mapusa and Panaji. Referring to the allocation of funds, he said it was yet to be decided whether the funds should come from Urban Development Ministry or whether the Planning Commission should make a special provision.

Fears were expressed that the Union Ministry was dilly-dallying in this matter. Unfortunately, the Urban Development Ministry is still nowhere in the picture. Rajaram admitted to The Indian Express that security clearance was proposed by the Ministry without specifying any parameters. Now it is up to the Railway Ministry to judge it since the Skybus is a new project in transportation. Rajaram pointed out that UV Capitals, a Germany-based company, which is a certifier for modern systems has agreed to certify the Skybus project.

The high-powered committee appointed by the Ministry of Surface Transport will lay down certain safety norms for this technology, he said. But the Urban Development Ministy will have the final say.