KOCHI: The state government has taken steps to realise the extension plans of Kochi Metro, including Tripunithura and Kakkanad lines and Angamaly and the international airport in the later phase. Instructions have been given to expedite land acquisition in the remaining stretch, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. He was commissioning the five-km second reach of Kochi Metro from Palarivattom to Maharaja’s College ground in the presence of Union minister of state for urban affairs and housing Hardeep Singh Puri at a function held at Ernakulam Town Hall on Tuesday.
With this, the 18-km of the proposed 24-km Aluva - Petta stretch has been opened for commercial service. Mr Vijayan hoped that the current average daily ridership of 30,000 along the Aluva — Palariva-ttom stretch would increase significantly as the Metro reached the city centre. An integrated urban public transport system was being planned for Kochi and when Metro reaches Trip-unithura, it will make a considerable change in the sector, he said. “The Rs 747-crore Kochi Water Metro project will help residents of islands to easily access the city and for livelihood. Once the Infopark and Smart City projects are completed, Kochi will become the major financial hub,” he said.
The chief minister also stressed the need to devise plans for revenue generation sources other than ticket revenue to make the Metro project financially feasible. As part of integrated urban transport development, CNG and electric buses will be introduced in Kochi. Appreciating the development plans initiated by Kochi Metro Rail Limited, he said that the Rs.24- crore drainage-cum-walkway project along Edappally -Kaloor road and the development of busy junctions and Aluva and Edappally were underway.
Union minister Puri congratulated the KMRL for entrusting the customer phasing services of Metro with Kudumbasree Mission, a role model for poverty eradication programmes and for recruiting transgenders. He asked the KMRL to expedite the works in the remaining six- km stretch. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation principal advisor E. Sreedharan, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, transport minister Thomas Chandy, K.V. Thomas MP, MLAs Hibi Eden, John Fernandez, Roji M. John, Anwar Sadath, mayor Soumini Jain, district panchayt president Asha Sanil and KMRL MD Elias George were also present.
