: With a good share of Kochi Metro pillars ready in the Aluva-Maharaja’s College Ground corridor, work on metro stations are on in full swing.
These cantilevered structures will branch out from 2-metre-wide pillars, forming a 10-metre canopy on each side of the road. The station sites can be made out by square-shaped pillars, in contrast with round-shaped pillars of the viaduct. And pillars are located at a distance of 13.50 metres, as compared to 20 to 25 metre distance between pillars in other parts of the metro viaduct.
In keeping with its passenger-friendly nature, each Kochi Metro station will have a minimum four elevators and four lifts, apart from stairs to reach the elevated platforms. Each station will be 81-metre long, with platforms on either side, sources said.
The elevators and escalators will take commuters from either side of the road to the ‘unpaid area’ in the 22-metre-wide concourse. From there, they will be taken to platforms (paid area). The whole aim is to make it easy for even people with disabilities to make it to metro platforms and back, said sources.
The station site where civil works has progressed is Cusat station near Kalamassery, where work on concourse has begun. Kiosks vending food and other items will be located on the concourse in all 22 metro stations in Aluva-Pettah stretch. Terminal stations will have kiosks at station entry as well.
Most stations will have parking space for private vehicles, with major stations having bigger parking lots. Feeder buses will operate from city suburbs to each of the stations, aimed at ensuring inter-modal connectivity.
Land acquisition for entry points (located on road sides) to almost all stations is over.
The station structure is standardised, while their exterior will have a regional touch, based on themes readied by Indian Institute of Architects.
