Kochi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has received the government’s approval for construction of the Pachalam over-bridge.
DMRC chief, E Sreedharan received the green signal at a meeting on Saturday after he submitted a proposal for constructing the 10 meter wide over-bridge at a cost of Rs 30 crore to Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution, K V Thomas, Ernakulam MLA, Hibi Eden and Kochi Mayor, Tony Chammany.
While Thomas said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would decide on whether or not to entrust the project to the DMRC, Sreedharan told reporters that the construction of pillars and the bridge could be completed in six months once the project took off.
He , however, warned that the entire road would have to be blocked for the duration of the construction and traffic would have to be diverted via the Vaduthala Bridge.
Although the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) had proposed acquisition of nine acres for a 30 meter wide bridge, the government would need to acquire only one acre of land for the smaller bridge now planned, according to him.
“The administration will have to acquire land before going ahead with the project. We will take a decision on this soon,” said Eden.
Mayor Tony Chammany meanwhile hoped the state government would provide the required funds for the project.
