The next meeting of the board of directors of Kochi Metro Rail may take a call on the extension of the project to more areas, including Tripunithura, as recommended by an interim report submitted by the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES).
A day after RITES submitted the report on the extension of the Kochi Metro, the report was discussed at a meeting attended by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Principal Advisor E. Sreedharan here on Wednesday.
Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) managing director Elias George and representatives of RITES were also present at the meeting held at the KMRL office. Mr. Sreedharan held discussions with the RITES officials about various aspects, including the route for the second phase expansion of Kochi Metro.
RITES had recommended extending the project to Tripunithura from Pettah along SN Junction in the first phase itself. The alternative alignment proposed through Gandhi Square was found unviable because of proximity to an eco-sensitive waterbody.
However, approval of the Union and State governments and the Kochi Metro Rail director board would have to be secured before going ahead with the recommendation.
RITES has recommended extending the project to Nedumbassery, Angamaly, Kakkanad, and West Kochi regions in the second phase. RITES submitted its report at a meeting held at KMRL office on Tuesday evening.
The agency was tasked with finding the most feasible alignment for Kochi Metro’s Tripunithura extension.