Kochi: The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety has given safety clearance for starting commercial operations in the second reach of Kochi Metro from Palarivattom to Maharajas. After the two-day inspection conducted along the route on Monday and Tuesday, CMRS K.A Manoharan gave clearance to Kochi Metro Rail Limited on Wednesday.
“The CMRS team is fully satisfied with all aspects of the second reach and has not recommended any rectification. In the first reach, from Aluva to Palarivattom, the CMRS had made some suggestions and recommendations. But this time, clearance was been given very fast without any suggestions for changes,” said sources at KMRL.
It can be recalled that during the first reach, CMRS asked KMRL to rectify the positioning of security cameras. It was also instructed to complete the installation of the telecommunication system.
Now, with the clearance from CMRS, the 5-km-long second reach will be opened for traffic as per schedule on October 3. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan will commission the project in the presence of Union minister for urban development Hardeep Singh Puri.
Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Kaloor junction, Lissi junction, MG road, and Maharajas college ground are the five stations along the second reach.
KMRL expects significant increase in the number of regular passengers after opening the second reach and the Metro agency has plans to introduce special packages and revisions in ticket fares.
