Ker to expedite land acquisition work for light metro projects

: A high-power committee headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today decided to expedite the process of land acquisition for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode light metro projects.
The committee also entrusted Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Principal Advisor E Sreedharan to decide the technology to be used for the two projects, estimated to cost over Rs. 6,000 crore, a government press release said.
The Thiruvananthapuram light metro will cover 21.8 km from Karamana in the city to Technocity in Kazhakootam. It was also decided at the meeting to conduct a study with regard to extending the light metro from Karmana to Papanangode.

The light metro projects were approved in 2015.
The project was to be implemented through 20 per cent capital investment each from the Central and state governments and remaining 60 per cent was to be raised through loans.
The government has already given sanction to acquire 1.98 hectares land in the capital city and 1.44 hectares in Kozhikode, the release said.

The amount for the land would be sanctioned from Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIFB).
The state government is moving ahead with the project with the expectation that centre would participate and provide clearance.
DMRC has been engaged as interim consultants to identify and take up preliminary preparatory works for the two projects.