The precise extent of land required for the Kochi Metro Rail project will be known only after the Revenue Department conducts a survey along the metro’s Aluva-MG Road-Pettah alignment and the proposed station sites.
Subject to change
The DMRC’s estimate that 40.40 hectares of land would be required might vary after the revenue survey.
The survey, expected to begin shortly, will reveal the amount of land encroached on roads and metro-station sites. Many ‘puramboke’ lands too are reportedly encroached upon.
“There might be slight variations in the land required, based on the survey’s outcome. Metro stations will make optimal use of vacant and ‘puramboke’ lands,” KMRL sources said.
Rehabilitation plans
Plans are afoot to rehabilitate traders and dwellers in ‘puramboke’ lands. Sources said the proposal to acquire six more hectares for the coaching yard at Muttom was for shifting electrical high-tension lines.
Ninety four more hectares of land is required at Muttom and 20 hectares at Kakkanad for establishing commercial hubs (a metro village).
Officials of the DMRC said they had handed over their requirements of land, so that the metro’s work could be speeded up.
“The survey might throw up aspects that will marginally vary the land required.”
Around 1.70 hectares will be acquired along the Aluva-Edappally NH for widening narrow portions in the stretch, so that four-lane traffic is possible when work on the metro’s pillars is on.
An MoU is expected to be signed with the NHAI in this regard.
With eight metres’ width of the road out of bounds for vehicles, parking is likely to be banned at select stretches.
Parking curbs
The following are the places where the viaduct will be positioned outside the median — the Aluva shunting neck, Aluva railway station to Pulinchodu, near the Muttom yard, near the Vallarpadam Road at Kalamassery, the over bridge at Kalamassery near Nippon Toyota, the Madhava Pharmacy – M G Road corridor, Jos Junction corridor, the entry and exit of South Railway station and Vyttila mobility hub, and Silver Sand Island area.
