KOCHI: The HMT junction development action council has submitted a proposal to the Kochi Metro Rail Limited authorities for setting up the parking terminal of Metro stations at HMT junction. The vacant private land between the old road and the new national highway can be used for the purpose, according to the action council representatives. A memorandum was submitted to KMRL authorities on Thursday and they responded positively to the proposal. “The KMRL managing director has agreed to refer the proposal to the Bangalore-based consultancy agency which has been entrusted with identifying and developing parking areas for Metro stations. If a parking terminal is constructed, it can be used for both CUSAT and Premier Metro stations as the HMT junction is conveniently located between the two spots,” said M. Nandakumar, chairman of the action council.
Though Kalamassery municipality proposed to set up a bus stand in the area and allocated funds in several budgets since 1995, it failed to materiaise. Now a portion of the land has already been occupied by a private firm. “If a multi-storeyed terminal is constructed, it can be used for a multi-level parking area for Metro Rail, bus stand and shopping complex. KMRL should take over the land and implement a scientifically designed and far-sighted project which will be beneficial for the development of HMT junction,” added the action council chairman. Earlier, the action council had submitted a memorandum to the chief minister seeking his intervention to hand over the more than 40 acres of land owned by the government polytechnic to the Greater Cochin Development Authority for construction of auto-taxi stands, comfort station, footover bridge and indoor auditorium.
