With the Central Government convinced about the need for the Kochi metro-rail project, its clearance is expected in four to eight weeks' time, the Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited Tom Jose said.
“We recently held meetings with the Advisor to the Prime Minister T. K. A. Nair and representatives of the Planning Commission, who have agreed to most of our suggestions,” he said, at a discussion on the project organised here on Thursday by the Kerala Merchants' Union.
Taking note of concerns aired by members of the public on the demolition of the Ernakulam North overbridge's two and three-wheeler bays (in phase one of the project to build a wider bridge), he said that the demolition work would begin only after alternative roads like the Thammanam-Pullepady Road are widened for smooth traffic movement.
Dry runs of vehicles through the alternative roads too will be carried out. The Roads and Bridges Development Corporation (RBDCK) would ready the roads for smooth traffic movement once there is a break in the rains. Arterial and side roads would have to be widened so that there is less inconvenience to motorists when work on the metro-rail is on, Mr. Jose said.
A special team would acquire land for the metro rail in seven months time. The preliminary works (widening roads, re-building North bridge and Salim Rajan Road flyover) would take around 15 months.
The work on the metro rail would follow. The total work would get over in around four years, with civil works taking two year's time. Each kilometre of the elevated rails and all allied infrastructure would cost Rs. 100 to Rs. 150 crore, he said and reminded that the Bangalore metro-rail is ready for commissioning, four-and-a-half years since work began.
He warned that commuting speed in Kochi city would get to as low as six kms per hour, the average speed of a person on a morning walk, if a system of mass rapid transport was not introduced at the earliest. “The Urban Development Ministry has warned that the average commuting speed in prominent Indian cities that do not have such mass-transporting modes would soon reach eight to 10 kms per hour,” he said.
Road widening
In the absence of a point to point transport, people would shun coming to the city. Referring to the response to the Kochi metro's website www.kochimetro.org, he said that replies are sent within a few days to queries from people.
“The State Cabinet had approved a Rs 1,000-crore project to improve/widen a total of 19 stretches in the city. The works would be carried out in a phased manner,” he said.
Merchants in rented premises too will be rehabilitated if their building is acquired for road projects, Mr. Jose said. He welcomed the Merchant Union's proposal to rehabilitate merchants in a commercial complex in the 67-cent plot that houses the Excise office in Kacheripady and the adjoining public land.
The past president of the Merchants' Union K. M. John said that the corporation must develop the Padma Junction-Pullepady-Thammanam Road using the Rs. 25 crore given by the State Government.
