KOCHI: One of the major bottlenecks in the Kochi Metro project, the Vyttila – Petta stretch, will be cleared soon as the land acquisition process for widening the road is in the final stage.
Of the 410 cents of land required for the project, 124 cents has already been taken over and the process is progressing fast. Except a couple of plots under dispute, all other land owners have submitted consent letters.
“Land acquisition is in the final stage with 46 plots along the stretch already being taken over. The remaining plots, except a few which are under dispute, will be acquired soon,” said sources at Kochi Metro Rail Limited.
Though there was a strong public protest demanding a proper rehabilitation package for evacuees, the residents and traders later agreed to surrender their properties after the state government approved a rehabilitation and resettlement package in May.
KMRL had earlier allocated Rs.25 crore for giving the rehabilitation package which was approved by the government.
The KMRL had earlier signed an agreement with the Ernakulam District Cooperative Bank to avail an additional loan of Rs. 470 crore for land acquisition of which Rs. 104 crore was for acquiring plots to widen Vyttila – Petta Road.
It is expected that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) would complete the works before June 2017 when the contract with Kochi Metro Rail Limited ends.
Meanwhile, ahead of beginning the survey for land acquisition for the Metro’s Tripunithura extension, pegmarking started last week.
After the process, the Revenue Department will initiate the process for takeover of plots. The 1.50-km-long Tripunithura line, with two stations at Alliance Junction and SN Junction is expected to cost Rs. 323 crore.
