Kochi Metro to run 18 Km in phase-1

To begin operations by June 2016

Refuting recent media reports that created doubts over the commencement of Phase-I metro, a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Oommen Chandy today said the initial phase Kochi metro rail covering an 18 km stretch between Aluva and Maharaja’s College station would begin operations by June 2016.

The meeting was attended by power minister Aryandan Muhammed, DMRC principal adviser E Sreedharan, chief secretary EK Bharath Bhooshan and managing director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) Elias George.

Aryadan said  KMRL could avail a Rs 470 crore loan for ensuring metro’s smooth progress. A major chunk of this would be utilised for speeding up the land acquisition process at various locations.

The meeting decided to initiate a process to provide a loan for KMRL for immediately taking up road widening works in the Vyttila- Petta sector and other locations.  

The loan will be taken from banks or financial institutions by KMRL and the repayment will be undertaken by the government of Kerala for a period of 10 years through KMRL.  

This will clear major bottlenecks in the progress of the project, a KMRL press release stated.  

The meeting also took a call to consider rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) package applicable for all preparatory works related to the project.

Concern was raised on the non issuance of manufacturing clearance for the rolling stock, which is supposed to be ready by December 2015.  

Sreedharan assured the issue would be solved in a meeting on January 12 with the officials of KMRL and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, followed by a meet with Alstom on January 13.