Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today announced that work on Kochi Metro Rail would begin on June 7 and be completed in three years.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the newly-constructed Rail Over-bridge (RoB) connecting Salim Rajan Road and Rajaji Road, he said both KMRL and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation have agreed for the to begin civil works on June 7. The DMRC completed the 425-metre over bridge at a cost of Rs 38 crore as the first of the five preparatory works to divert vehicular traffic for the Metro work. The Chief Minister pointed out that there is no need for any apprehensions over the delay in inking of the pact between DMRC and KMRL. The agreement has already been prepared and the pact will be inked soon. “Signing it is just a formality,” he said.
He said Metro’s alignment and acquisition of land has not met with any opposition. Of the approximately 100 acres [40 hectares] required, 52 acres have been acquired. The land will be utilised to construct a viaduct and a coach-maintenance yard.
The remaining 48 acres will be acquired soon, mostly for building the Metro stations he said, adding that the DMRC would execute the monorail projects mooted for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.
On the issue of potable water shortage in Kochi, the Chief Minister said the State Government would soon allot Rs 23 crore to the Kochi Corporation to the speedy completion of Maradu Water Treatment Plant Project.
He said instructions have already been given to the District Collector to initiate the steps required for acquiring land for the new flyover proposed at Edappally.