Kerala - Kochi   

More funds for metro rail; sanction yet to be granted

KOCHI: The allocation of Rs 5 crore in the State budget for the Kochi metro rail project and Rs 50 crore for allied works like acquiring land would not bring about the desired results unless the Union Finance Ministry sanctions the project.

The Rs 20 crore set apart in the previous budget had lapsed because of the Centre's delay in granting the nod for the system of mass rapid transport that would considerably unwind traffic snarls in the city. “Only Rs 50 lakh of the Rs 20 crore was utilised, to set up the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation's office at the eastern entry to the Ernakulam Junction railway station and for associated works. We are awaiting details of the total of Rs 55 crore allotted in the present budget,” said a senior official in the agency.

The delay in getting Central sanction has held up widening works of many roads, the prominent ones being Banerjee Road and the Vytilla-Pettah Road into 22-metre-wide stretches. The DMRC had also drawn up plans to pull down the North overbridge in two phases (so that traffic flow is unaffected) and build a four-lane bridge there.

Utilities like pipelines, cables and electric posts can be relocated only after land is acquired. The survey work along the 25-km alignment from Aluva to Pettah is over.

An amount of Rs 5 crore has been set aside in the budget for the proposed bus terminal-cum-mobility hub at Vytilla. Sources in the Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (KITCO) said that the agency is preparing a detailed project report based on updated data, so that the tender for phase one of the project can be awarded in May.

Consultations are on with the PWD to widen roads in the vicinity and with the NHAI to construct a flyover or two at Vytilla junction. The Vytilla-Kaniampuzha Road would soon be widened up to the Kaniampuzha bridge. Bus traffic would be possible only if the bridge and the road on its eastern side are widened.

Waterways

The allocation of Rs 114 crore in the budget would come in handy to develop the Kollam-Kottapuram National Waterway III and State waterways/feeder canals, so that goods and passenger vessels can use them.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Chithranjali opens studio in Kochi
Threat to merchant vessel averted
‘Adapting nano materials for rockets a challenge'
Nazir brought to Kochi to take evidence
‘Budget expresses LDF's vision'
A happy day for underprivileged children
VS to attend school jubilee
‘Boban and Molly' on silver screen
Cusat seminar
Cardiologists' meet in city today
More funds for metro rail; sanction yet to be granted
Dentists' Day
IT sector has much to cheer for in State budget
FACT trade unions vow to disrupt work on Vallarpadam road link
In Kochi Today

Copyright © 2010, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu