Kochi: Kochiites will have to wait longer for a ride in the Kochi Metro as the target of November one to start operations now seems out of equation and even the first of the metro stations would get ready only by October.
“The work has fallen behind schedule and we’ve now been informed that the first of the two metro stations will be handed over to us by August only. It will take us another one-and-a-half month to do the station theme. Only after that, clearance of the Railway Safety Commissioner can be sought, a time-consuming process. It’s certain the project will overshoot the deadline by at least three months,” said a senior Metro official.
Though the civil work in the Aluva- Palarivattom stretch was scheduled to be completed before the onset of monsoon, the works are still pending, especially station construction activities. “There is a dip in labour force strength by 40 per cent post the Bengal and Assam elections,” the official said.
Currently construction activities of Aluva, Muttom, Kalamassery, CUSAT, Pathadippalam, Edappally, Palarivattam and Kaloor stations are progressing. “With the monsoon ringing in, we now mainly focus on interior works such as plastering and room fabrication,” the official said.
While flagging off the initial test run of the Kochi Metro at the Muttom Yard, then chief minister Oommen Chandy had announced commencement of commercial operation by Novermber one. (Kerala Piravi day).
