Kochi: The governing body meet of the Vytilla Mobility Hub Society will be held Monday when it is expected to take key decisions concerned with hub’s second phase implementation including the funding and implementing agencies.The Rs 430-crore Vytilla Hub second phase project, which mainly involves construction of 120 more bus bays and parking facilities among others, has suffered an inordinate delay with no action taken for the past over six months.
“The last meeting with regard to the project was held on May 4 when the concept plan submitted by the Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) was approved with certain suggestions to be incorporated into it. However, thereafter no action was taken with regard to appoint a consultant to finalise the design and work out the final concept plan after incorporating the suggestions,” a senior VHMS official said.
“We’ve been informed that the governing body meet will be held at Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. Though the government is busy with ‘Ockhi’ cyclone rescue works, we’ve not got any notice on postponement of the meet yet,” the official said.
The delay from the part of the state government to convene the governing council meet has forced district collector K Mohammed Y Safirulla, who is also the managing director of the Vytilla Mobility Hub Society, to write to the Local Self-Government Depart-ment requesting steps to fasttrack the project.
With regarding to funding agency, a decision needs to be made whether to get financial aid from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) or go for availing loan from the French agency AFD through KMRL. Also, the implementing agency has to be chosen from between the Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (KITCO) and the KMRL.
The target was to complete the second phase work before the Kochi Metro starts operation in the section. As per the DMRC plan, the metro operation in the Aluva-Thykoodam section will start by March 2019. Phase-II involves construction of 120 bus bays and an underground parking bay for 1,000 two-wheelers and 800 cars among others. A total area of 25.16 acre was earmarked for the second phase.
