A team of Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel arrived here on Thursday to ensure foolproof security for Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has confirmed his visit to the city to launch the Kochi metro on June 17.
Union Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu is among the other dignitaries who will attend the inaugural function. However, the venue and time are yet to be finalised, KMRL sources said.
The security personnel will chose a venue from among the international stadium at Kaloor, Marine Drive ground, and the open space near the Aluva station. An event management firm will be short-listed in a day or two, they added.
Services from June 18
The metro will begin commercial operations on June 18. The services will be conducted between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
The operational hours will be up to 12 midnight after the metro is extended to the Maharaja’s College Ground station, which is scheduled for September, and later to Thripunithura, the sources said.
From June 18, as many as six trains will run in the Aluva-Palarivattom corridor, one every 10 minutes. Another three will remain at the Muttom yard as spare trains.
Meanwhile, 10 MPs representing the Parliamentary Committee on Urban Development, led by K.V. Thomas, MP, visited the metro premises on Thursday, besides travelling on board a train from Kalamassery to Aluva.
They also visited the Muttom yard. The panel will submit a report to Parliament.
Station works
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) expects to complete all pending works on the interiors of entry/exit on one side each of the Changampuzha Park and Edappally stations before June 17. This is to ensure trouble-free entry for passengers to all stations. The ongoing works on covering the exteriors of all the 11 stations in the Aluva-Palarivattom corridor with aluminium composite panels (ACP) will be completed by June end.
The construction of commercial space near station buildings at Aluva, international stadium, and MG Road are in progress. Their completion, however, will take a few more months, DMRC sources said.
