The inspection of land on the Technopark campus on Friday for a monorail station has increased the chances of rerouting of the facility through the IT hub.
Kerala Monorail Corporation Limited (KMCL), the special purpose vehicle set up to execute the elevated mass rapid transit system (MRTS) project, has sought 0.5 hectares to set up a monorail station on the premises of the premier IT hub.
The additional line is to incur a cost of Rs.316 crore.
Apart from the land from the Technopark, another 86 cents will be needed outside the premises.
Inspecting teamThe inspection will be jointly carried out by top officials of the KMCL, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the general consultant for the project, Kochi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (KMRL), which has been made a consultant, and the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (Natpac).
The inspection comes after a letter by the KMCL to the Technopark authorities asking whether they are ready to fund rerouting Reach 1 through the IT hub and provide the land needed for the station. Though the Technopark authorities have not responded favourably to the letter, sources say the KMCL has decided to carry out the inspection of the land.
The move is being taken now, as the tender process is nearing completion and the alignment has to be fixed on Reach 1.
Natpac has been entrusted with the fixing of alignment on this stretch.
The KMCL has pointed out that the MRTS can be rerouted from Kazhakuttam Junction through the periphery of the Technopark to rejoin Reach 2, which extends from Karyavattom to Kesavadasapuram.
Other two sitesThe officials will also inspect the site for the two monorail stations at Pattom and Kesavadasapuram, and look into whether it can be relocated to another place.
The high compensation that has to be paid is learnt to have forced the authorities to look into the possibility of relocating the two monorail stations.
