Kochi metro Phase-I extends to Infopark

Early completion of this extension would help improve the viability of first phase

Kochi metro rail will be extended towards Infopark in Kakkanad in  Phase-I of the project.

A board meeting of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) held in New Delhi today approved the detailed project report (DPR) for the extension of metro from Jawaharlal Nehru stadium to Infopark via Kakkanad for a distance of 11.17 km with an estimated Rs 1,600 crore.

Early completion of this extension would help improve the viability of Phase-I metro. The board has approved the report on rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy and its package for the project-affected.

The R&R study was undertaken by Aarvee Consultants & Abnaki Infrastructure and it was prepared in accordance with the requirements of Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act and the social safeguard guidelines of the funding agencies.

Though KMRL is not legally obliged to provide R&R benefits to the project-affected-persons (PAP) as part of the land acquisition for projects approved before Jan 1, 2014, however, for ensuring an equitable and  best-in-class package, KMRL is extending it to all the PAPs. The total cost implication for the R&R package is Rs 25 crore for the 332 affected families, said Elias George, managing director.

The meeting also approved the report on Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management and Monitoring Plan for the metro.

Even though the ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) does not insist Kochi metro to conduct EIA, KMRL decided to conduct it and the study was undertaken by Senes Consultants Private Limited.

The cost of implementation of the proposed Environment Management and Monitoring Plan would be Rs 2.17 crore, consisting of Rs 50 lakh as recurring cost and Rs 1.67 crore as one-time cost towards open space development and greening.

The board also has approved the proposal to undertake works on improving and strengthening the city roads at an estimated Rs 31.10 crore. Of this, Rs 11.10 crore would be provided by KMRL and the rest was being sought from the Kerala government, which is open to it, he added.

The director of the board also took note of the induction of three new members in the board—VK Jain, who is  additional member (works) in Railways; KM Abraham, state additional chief secretary (finance), and Narasim Prasad, director of systems, Chennai Metro Rail Ltd.