The Hindu Business Line : AP to file defamation case against Delhi Metro chief

Hyderabad, Nov. 3 The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to file a defamation case against Dr E. Sridharan, Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), for levelling what it termed as “baseless” allegations and casting aspersions against the Government with regard to awarding contract to the Maytas consortium.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Mr K. Rosaiah, Minister for Finance, has said the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Rs 12,132-crore Hyderabad Metro Project was prepared by DMRC itself. “We have not deviated from it after finalising it. We had to extend the third line (Shilparamam-Habsiguda) to Nagole as there was problem with original location at Osmania University. The DPR for this extension too was prepared by DMRC,” he said.

He argued that all the bidders knew about the change. “The lowest bidder had been awarded the project. We have not made any changes after awarding it,” he said.

Turning down all the allegations made by Dr Sridharan, he said even Planning Commission had given detailed answers to the issues raised by him in his earlier letter.

He pointed out that DMRC had nominated four of its senior officers, including two Directors, on the committee for evaluation of technical bids. They had submitted an independent evaluation report. “Two DMRC directors (Mr Satish Kumar and Mr Mangu Singh) were associated with the bid process throughout. If this is the case, how can Dr Sridharan claim that they withdrew from its Prime Consultancy services due to lack of transparency,” he pointed out.

“They should have raised objections at that point. But to say there was no transparency at this juncture is not correct,” he felt.

One of the main allegations of Dr Sridharan- the extension of the third line to Nagole was to benefit private developers, who owned huge chunks of land there.

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