Inaugurating the extension of the Kochi Metro on September 3, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Hardeep Singh Puri said that systems of mass rapid transport such as metro and light metro were inevitable, since over 60 crore Indians would be living in urban areas by 2030.
873 km of metro rail systems are under construction in 27 cities, he added. The Centre issued specifications for light metros in July since metro rail was capital intensive, he said. The 5.6 km extension of the Kochi Metro will go up to Thykoodam. Metro trains will operate in the extended corridor from Wednesday.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the first modern ferry for the ₹740 crore water metro project would be launched in March 2020. CNG-run buses will operate in feeder routes in the islands linked by water metro ferries, said the Chief Minister.
Referring to the arrest of the former PWD Secretary T.O. Sooraj and three others in connection with the Palarivattom flyover fiasco, he said compromise on quality of infra projects would not be brooked.
