Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Limited (KRTL) managing director Ajith Patil has said that the State government will speed up the process of acquiring land for the Kozhikode Light Metro.
Addressing a review meeting at the District Collectorate here on Monday, Mr. Patil said the government had decided to seek approval for the project after acquiring land and that it did not have to wait for the Centre to announce its metro rail policy.
The KRTL is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up by the government for the implementation, operation, and maintenance of metro rail systems in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.
Commercial complexes
Public Works Department special secretary Biju Prabakar has also issued directives to expand the proposed light metro stations by setting up commercial complexes, multi-level parking, government offices and a skywalk. Thus, additional land should be acquired by keeping the proposals in mind. There should be an acre of parking space at major stations.
The land required for the project is 10.05 hectares, which includes 1.5 hectares in private possession. The proposed light metro, covering a distance of 13.3 km from Meenchanda to Kozhikode Medical College, will have 14 stations at Medical College, Chevayur, Thondayad, Kottooli, New Bus Stand, KSRTC station, Mananchira, Palayam, Railway Station, Pushpa Junction, Kallayi, Panniyankara, Vattakinar, and Meenchanda.
All metro stations should have facilities for entry to commercial complexes. However, priority would be given to the rehabilitation of those who would be displaced. The land for rehabilitation would also be identified along with the acquisition of land for the project. A survey would be conducted on the number of people requiring rehabilitation, said Mr. Prabakar.
The Mananchira-Meenchanda road would be expanded in connection with the project. The meeting also reviewed the progress of the roads under the Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB).
