KOCHI:The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will begin the metro construction works on Thykoodam-Petta stretch as the land acquisition is over. "The land will be handed over to DMRC after the ongoing road widening, expected to complete without any delay," said a Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) spokesperson. Buildings in the acquired land including fish stalls in Chambakkara market and a chapel are being demolished.
It was through several rounds of negotiations lasting for a couple of years that the revenue department was able to complete the land acquisition in the Vyttila - Petta corridor. Though plots from Vyttila up to Thykoodam were acquired and handed over to DMRC earlier, the remaining parcels up to Petta got delayed for several months.
It was in March last year that the State Level Purchasing Committee approved the land price submitted by KMRL for the acquisition of 28.46 ares of land in category 2 and 76.81 ares in category 3 for widening the Vyttila - Petta Road. The District Level Purchase Committee earlier fixed the land price at Rs 67, 60,752 per are for category 2 and Rs 55,64,380 per are for category 3. Once the land is handed over, DMRC can start piling work for the metro rail viaduct along the Thykoodam - Petta stretch. DMRC sources told DC that construction works would begin soon after the widened road is handed over to the agency. Meanwhile, metro works are on full swing from Vyttila to Thykoodam with the station construction progressing at Thykoodam. Reconstruction of the Chambakkara Bridge also is underway.
