The Hindu : Front Page : A step forward for Kochi metro rail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 21, 2007
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A step forward for Kochi metro rail

Staff Reporter

Chief Minister holds talks with DMRC chief E. Sreedharan in New Delhi

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director E. Sreedharan

KOCHI: The proposed metro rail project for Kochi has taken another step forward following Wednesday’s meeting held between the Managing Director of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) E. Sreedharan and Chief Minister V.S. Achutananadan in New Delhi.

Minister for Law, Railways and Sports M. Vijayakumar too was present. They discussed the role that Kerala ought to play in the Rs.3,000-crore project and what the State should do to speed up the commencement of work. Though the State government had given in-principle clearance for the project, the mode of implementing it (whether to use government funds or opt for a build operate transfer scheme) is yet to be decided. The DMRC has been identified as the implementing agency.

As of now, land acquisition is yet to begin since there is no clear-cut idea about the project’s alignment between Aluva and Thripunithura. A detailed sketch is yet to be readied. Many projects to build flyovers and bridges have been held up indefinitely because of the delay in finalising the alignment and allied infrastructure. An example is the proposal to build a bridge at Vytilla junction. Steps have not been taken to freeze land on either side of the proposed alignment either.

Land acquisition

A DMRC official said the project would get delayed further, unless work was done to widen or develop new roads and bridges, to divert a section of the traffic when work on the metro-rail’s pillars was on. “Vehicles can be diverted in places like Bangalore, that has circular roads. This is impossible in Kochi, which has some very-narrow roads even in the heart of the city.”

As for land acquisition for the project, he said the government had to get dynamic and offer options to land owners. “An apt example is the transfer of development right that was done in Hyderabad. Under this, owners who gave up a portion of their land were given exemptions on the height of the building and free space on the sides. They could even sell to others the privileges and exemptions granted to them.”

The metro rail will have a station every kilometre. Escalators will link the elevated stations with the footpath. Regular passengers will be given season tickets. The metro’s spans will leave a ground clearance of 5.5 m, allowing vehicles to freely pass beneath and to take U-turns.

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