The first fact-finding mission of the Japan International Co-operation Agency (Jica), which is expected to provide financial assistance to the proposed Kochi metro rail project, arrived at Kochi on Wednesday.
The team will hold two meetings with Kochi Metro Rail Limited starting from tomorrow on the planning, evaluation of detailed project report, technology updating, procurement & package, implementation and preparation for repayment of the loan. It will also have a site visit for the potential alignment of the project.
DMRC, which was associated with the planning and preparation of the detailed project report, will also participate in the discussions.
The JICA team is led by Takeshi Fukayama, senior consultant, Mitsubishi Research Institute - Japan, and has 10 members from different areas of expertise, a release said.
In the first phase, Kochi Metro is being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 5,181 crore. It is expected to be completed in 2016. The metro will go from Aluva on the north and Petta (Thripunithura) on the south with 22 stations, stretching 26 km.
