Kochi metro Phase-II project report soon

The Kochi metro's board had already approved the extension of the Phase-I metro to Infopark (Kakkanad) at an estimated Rs 1,600 cr

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The detailed project report (DPR) of the Kochi metro rail Phase-II,expanding the metro's reach to Cochin International Airport and Angamaly town, is in final stages and would be submitted shortly.

Informing the development, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) today said Indian Railways-run Rites, which was tasked to do a feasibility study as part of the DPR, would submit the report soon. Phase-II will connect the north and western suburbs of Kochi.

Rites has conducted the study on three prospective routes-Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium to Infopark (Kakkanad), Aluva to Cochin International Airport and Angamaly, as well as to western Kochi.

The KMRL board had already approved the extension of Phase-I to Infopark (Kakkanad) at an estimated Rs 1,600 crore.

The DPR for connecting International stadium -Kakkanad has already been prepared, while for the other routes is expected to be finalised shortly, a KMRL press release said.

While finalising technicalities for the integration of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium-Info Park (via Kakkanad) segment, Rites has proposed that certain works as part of extension at the stadium station and those at the Muttom maintenance depot are required to be carried out with the ongoing works as it requires both technical and structural integration. Additional funds are needed to undertake these integration works.

The KMRL board decided it was economically beneficial to undertake execution of the Stadium - Info Park extension along in the ongoing Phase -I as the additional ridership and concomitant revenues would help improve financial viability of the project.

Also, on the revenue front, it is projected the planned extension would save costs and a possibility for obtaining additional funds from the funding agency AFD, the release added.

Survey for land acquisitions from Palarivattam to Kakkanad will commence shortly.

There is a strong demand from the public and elected representatives to take up proposals for metro extension to Angamaly and west Kochi. These will be considered after the respective DPRs are finalsied and the financial viability is scrutinised.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which is executing the Kochi metro, has set an action plan to complete the civil works from Aluva to Ernakulam Maharajas College by October. Phase-I of the metro is scheduled to be commissioned in 2016.