For Elattuvalapil Sreedharan, the commissioning of the Kochi Metro means turning a dream into reality in his home turf. In an interview, the Principal Adviser, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), says the DMRC will complete the Maharaja’s College-Thaikoodam stretch in two years.
Excerpts:
How is the Kochi metro unique when compared with the other MRTS in the country?.
Of all the six metros in operation, the Aluva-Palarivattom section of the Kochi Metro is the fastest first section to be commissioned in the country.
It is also the longest first section of a metro at 13 km. The latest signalling system -Communication Based Train Control System - is being rolled out for the first time in the country in Kochi. This is also the DMRC’s first metro with 3rd rail 750 v DC traction. All the other metros opened by the DMRC so far have 25 kV overhead traction.
How useful were the lessons learnt by the DMRC in executing the Kochi Metro work?
The DMRC employed its rich experience of planning and building metros for the Kochi Metro. This is how we were able to adopt and introduce frontline technologies here.
Did the Kochi Metro come up to your expectations and dreams?
No. The DMRC’s expectation was to commission the first section from Aluva to Palarivattom in three years. But, it took four years. However, the DMRC was able to execute the project with least discomfort to the public despite the metro running along narrow roads in the commercial capital of the State. This, we achieved by doing most of the work between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.
What are the benefits that await the citizens of Kochi?
Yes, the Kochi Metro is the first MRTS in Kerala. It will transform the travel style of the citizens of Kochi with good integration with the other public transport systems such as railways, roads, and water transport. The city will have a hassle-free transport system.
What was the biggest obstacle faced by the team while executing the MRTS in Kochi?
The difficulties in acquiring land for the project and frequent work interruptions due to strikes, bandhs, quarry strikes, shortage of construction materials etc,… so common in Kerala were the biggest hurdles
Are you of the view that Kerala, which boasts of many development indices on a par with developed countries, was late in going for the MRTS?
We lost about five years to get the mandatory Central government approval. To that extent we were late.
The hurdles in execution during the last five years... Was the home turf difficult than the Konkan Railway?
The Konkan Railway was a different challenge. That was a 760-km line passing through one of the most difficult terrains. It has a unique ownership with 51% stake being held by Indian Railways and the rest by four State governments. The government support was only for one-third of the cost and the remaining two-thirds had to be borrowed from the market by the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd.
The Kochi Metro was a different experience. We had to execute it in crowded urban conditions. It is a joint venture between the Government of India and the Kerala government. But the actual execution is through a third party, namely DMRC, which was engaged by the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. (KMRL). The challenges and difficulties of Konkan Railway were certainly much more complex than that of the Kochi Metro.
What is the future role of the DMRC in Kochi Metro?
The DMRC has still to complete 7 km of the section from Maharaja’s College to Petta. This will take about two-and-a-half years. The KMRL is now in a position to-take up further expansion on its own and, therefore, I see no role for the DMRC in the Kochi Metro after December 2019.
