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This time, it is a transport project that holds out prospects of significantly easing congestion on roads in Kochi and providing a long-term solution to develop the city’s suburbs.

Some have aired fears that the Metro Rail project, during its construction phase, will affect trading and the service sector.

Another opinion is that freezing of substantial extents of land along the proposed Metro Rail route and subsequent uncertainties will affect business and even infrastructure development.

The district administration, on the other hand, has gone ahead with earmarking specific areas along the proposed route for development. For example, 50 cents of land (approximately 0.2 hectares) has been identified at the north end of Mahatma Gandhi Road and 20 hectares at Muttam, near Aluva.

The first major step for the project will be acquisition of land. It will require 25.33 hectares, of which 9.37 hectares belong to the government.

The Metro Rail can bring about remarkable developments for Kochi.

The most significant are expected at the terminals at Aluva and Petta, near Thripunithura. Besides becoming major commercial hubs with opportunities for sales and services, the terminals will see significant auxiliary units coming up. Repair and servicing of the system will generate a large number of jobs, turning Muttam into a major centre of economic activity.

It is a big thing coming for Kochi, says George E. George of Kerala Builders’ Forum. The stations along the 25.25-km stretch will become the focus of attention for commercial activities.

According to him, construction of Metro Rail has to be carried out in a time-bound manner to not disrupt city life for long.

The stations, 23 of them elevated, have been planned to serve major passenger destinations and enable convenient integration with other modes of transport.

These stations are potential growth centres with opportunities for new sales and service outlets.

Spaces in the stations have been divided into unpaid and paid areas.

There will be provisions for escalators. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which prepared the detailed project report for Kochi, had pointed out certain difficulties.

The report had said that implementing the project would affect property at Ernakulam Town station, near Madhava Pharmacy Junction and at Jose Junction.

Nobody has yet opposed the proposal for establishing the project.

The proposal has been pending over five years and interest in the project, on the lines of the Delhi Metro Rail, has swelled through years of waiting.

Planners in Kochi, the City Corporation, trade bodies, merchants and the public at large have welcomed the State government’s interest in realising the project.

They feel that the Metro Rail will help a growing Kochi meet its transport needs in an efficient, cost-effective way.

However, there is fear that the proposed project, during its execution phase, will adversely affect commercial activities along its route.

A memorandum by the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the Chief Minister expresses a fear that commercial activities along some of the arterial but narrow roads will be permanently damaged by a prolonged phase of construction.

The memorandum first of all congratulates the Chief Minister and the State government for taking the first steps towards implementing the Metro Rail system.

However, it says, the present alignment via North Rail Overbridge, Banerjee Road and Mahatma Gandhi Road will affect commercial activities along these roads.

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