Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) is planning to complete the construction of its new line from JLN Stadium to Infopark at Kakkanad in two years.
In a stakeholders’ meeting convened on Wednesday to evaluate the progress of preparatory works on the new line under Phase II of the Kochi Metro, KMRL authorities sought the support of public and people’s representatives to complete the project in a time-bound manner.
It was on September 1 that Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the 11.2km long Phase II corridor.
The meeting was chaired by Hibi Eden, MP, in the presence of KMRL MD Loknath Behera and was attended by Thrikkakkara MLA Uma Thomas, district collector Renu Raj, commissioner of police C H Nagaraju, additional secretary of Kochi corporation V S Shibu and the councillors of the wards falling under the Phase-II alignment.
KMRL officials presented the approved alignment to the stakeholders at the meeting and MD invited suggestions from the people’s representatives.
Eden suggested that KMRL should improve the conditions of the roads along the proposed alignment and the roads to which the traffic would be diverted, to ensure the free flow of traffic. Uma Thomas asked KMRL authorities to relook into the drainage plan of the catchment area of Phase II keeping in mind the flash floods during the monsoon season. The councillors have extended their support for the project and KMRL has assured that regular meetings would be held to update on the progress of the work and also to consider the suggestions of the legislators and people’s representatives.
KMRL authorities informed that the geotechnical investigation for the new stretch would begin by the end of October. “As far as the land acquisition for the stations are concerned, administrative sanction from the state government is awaited and is expected to be accorded soon,” said a KMRL official.
KMRL is planning to publish the construction tender by the end of November or in the beginning of December and to start the actual construction of the new line by the end of January 2023.
