The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : DMRC decision soon: Minister

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Tuesday, Apr 08, 2008
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DMRC decision soon: Minister

Staff Reporter

Change in alignment of Metro Rail

KOCHI: The government expects to receive “within days” from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) a decision on the demand for a change in alignment of the proposed Kochi Metro Rail project, Minister for Law M. Vijayakumar, who is also in charge of the Railways, told The Hindu on Monday.

Uncertainty prevails as demarcation of the central alignment and stations of the proposed project had been completed on the entire stretch, except M.G. Road, where protests by traders demanding a change in alignment has stalled the work.

The Chennai-based agency entrusted with the demarcation process is mulling over returning as they are left with no work until a final picture emerges on the alignment. However, if the agency chooses to return and a decision evolves on the alignment it will further delay the resumption of work, it is feared.

Ever since the traders’ protest forced the district administration to call off the demarcation work on M.G. Road, the agency had been carrying out demarcation of stations and giving finishing touches to works on the rest of the project area.

The traders raised a revolt under the banner of the Cochin Metro Action Council and stalled the demarcation work stating that the project would hit their business. They demanded realigning the project through Shanmugham Road.

This demand is being processed by the DMRC, which is the implementing agency. Twenty-two stations on the 25.3-km stretch between Aluva and Petta had been demarcated by laying boundary stones.

“Two stations on M.G. Road, the ones at Madhava Pharmacy and Maharaja’s College, could not be demarcated owing to the protest,” an official associated with demarcation process said.

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