Daijiworld Media Network

Kochi, Jun 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Kochi Metro on Saturday June 17, in what is expected to be a grand ceremony. What has raised eyebrows is the list of dignitaries to grace the event - apparently, the man behind the project, E Sreedharan, known as the 'Metro Man', has been left out.

The names of at least 10 dignitaries including E Sreedharan have been struck-off by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for the inaugural of Kochi Metro on Saturday.

Of the 14 names sent by Kerala government to PMO - Former chief minister Oommen Chandy, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, MP K.V. Thomas, Sreedharan and MLA P T Thomas have been declined permission to share dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, E Sreedharan not being invited to share the dais has triggered a controversy, with people expressing their anger on Twitter. Sreedharan is considered to be the real hero behind the successful completion of the Kochi Metro.

Construction of Kochi metro began in 2012; The Chandy Government entrusted the project to Delhi Metro Rail Corp, with its principal advisor Sreedharan, heading the project. Sreedharan has earned the name “Metro Man” for creating an impressive metro rail network in Delhi.

"The final list is made by the PMO (Prime Minister's Office). We have no role in this," says Elias George, a top official of the Kochi Metro Rail Corp to the media.

MLA PT Thomas has called BJP government arrogant for excluding key people from sitting on the dais. “When the foundation stone for Kochi Metro was laid by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, none was left out from the dais,” he says.

However, according to a report on Manorama, Sreedharan says there is "nothing unusual about the decision and that he accepted it”. Sreedharan has confirmed he will participate in the inaugural and is heading to Kochi.

It is reported that Kerala government headed by Pinari Vijayan has written a letter to the centre asking for the inclusion of Sreedharan, Ramesh Chennithala, and local MLA PT Thomas in the list of dignitaries who share the stage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday will inaugurate commercial services of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd on the 13-km Aluva-Palarivattom section. The PM will board the train from Palarivattom and travel till Pathadippalam and come back to Palarivattom along with the dignitaries. In the first 25-km phase, trains will run for 13 km between Palarivattom and Aluva. Work is on the remaining section.

Those dignitaries invited to be on the dais along with PM are Governor P. Sathasivam, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.