Kochi: Widening of the Thykoodam - Petta stretch has gained momentum after the initial hiccups and the widened road will be handed over to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation this week for Metro Rail construction.
Buildings in the acquired land including the fish stalls in the Chambakkara market and a chapel were demolished earlier. The wayside vendors were evacuated and after levelling the ground, tarring of the stretch is now progressing.
"Widening works are in final stage and once the road is handed over, Metro construction works will begin without delay," said a DMRC spokesperson.
It was through several rounds of negotiations which lasted for couple of years that the Revenue department could complete land acquisition in the Vyttila - Petta corridor. Though plots from Vyttila up to Thykoodam were acquired and handed over to DMRC earlier, acquisition of the remaining plots from Thykoodam up to Petta was delayed for several months.
Acquisition along the Vyttila-Pettah stretch was the first to be undertaken in the state invoking the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency under Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act.
The Maharajas - Thykoodam Metro corridor will be opened for traffic by June 2019, while the Thykoodam - Petta stretch is expected to be complete by December 2019. Construction of the Thykoodam Metro station is in final stage with only the finishing works remaining.
Meanwhile, reconstruction of Chambakkara bridge is progressing on a fast pace and the first two-lane portion will be ready by March 2019. The entirely reconstructed bridge will be opened for traffic by March 2020, said the DMRC spokesperson.
