Work on Rs 5000 crore Kochi Metro rail project commences

KOCHI: Construction work on the Rs 5000 crore Kochi Metro project began today with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurating the piling work at a funcion here.


Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had laid the foundation stone for the project on September 13 last year.

Chandy waved a green flag at the function at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium as simultaneously, the piling work commenced at nearby Edapally.

The Chief Minister said this was a "proud moment" for the state which had waited for years for its dream to become a reality.

Urging everyone to pledge support for the project to ensure its completion within the stipulated time frame, Chandy said Delhi Metro Rail Corporation ( DMRC) Principal Advisor, E Sreedharan had promised that the project would become a reality in 1095 days. But had also wanted that the metro work should not be affected even a single day.

The 25-km Kochi Metro route, which will have 22 stations from Aluva to Petta, is expected to be completed in about three years time.

The Chief Minister said there have been demands from various quarters for the extension of the metro to the IT hub at Kakkanad, Tripunithura, Nedumbassery airport-Angamally and Mattancherry.

Chandy said the government has decided to ask the Kochi Metro to study the demands and submit a report in six months on the extension after which the Centre's consent would be taken to go ahead with it, he said.

Consultancy agreement with the DMRC would be signed within a week on the Rs 5000 crore Thiruvananthapuram-Kozhikode Monorail project. By August this year, the Mono rail work will commence, he said.

The metro project received the centre's sanction in July last year and the Union and Kerala government are equity partners in the project, executing agency of which is the DMRC.

The centre's share is Rs 1002.23 crore (about 19.3 per cent of total project cost while the state's share is Rs 2009.56 crore (about Rs 38.7 per cent) while loan from funding agencies is Rs 2170 crore (about 42 per cent).

Urban Development Secretary, Sudheer Krishna, who is also the DMRC and Kochi Metro chairman, said Metro rail and Mono rail are the key drivers of growth and 'pied piper' of development.

Efforts would also be made to integrate the Kochi metro with the city's waterways, he said.

Kochi city could face several inconveniences during the construction work, he said, adding Kochi Metro Rail LTD (KMRL) would take steps to minimise the discomfort.

KMRL Managing Director Elias George presented the project report.

KMRL is also looking at aid from the Japan International Cooperation agency and French financial agency Agence Francaise de Development (AFD).

Union Minister, K V Thomas, state ministers-- P K Kunhalikutty, K M Mani, Aryadan Mohammed were among those present at the function. Former Supreme Court Judge V R Krishna Iyer was also present.