Barricades will be erected on the eastern side of the piling site at the junction, following which Soma Constructions will begin piling. Kaloor is expected to be among the busiest metro stations, because of its proximity to the private bus stand and a host of institutions. Crucial corridors like Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road and Pottakuzhi Road take off from the junction.
Design
The structural design for stations is being readied by Egis India as instructed by DMRC, while Kochi Chapter of Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) will fine tune aspects like introducing elements of regional culture into the design.
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The structural design will be in tune with the specifications for platforms and other facilities envisaged for stations, all of which will specially cater to the needs of disabled and elderly. Kiosks, coffee shops etc., have been planned within stations, to generate additional revenue for operation and maintenance of the metro.
Though it might take a couple of weeks more for handing over land for all the 22 stations proposed in the Aluva-Pettah route, civil works are expected to begin in a few of them in the coming days.
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After Kaloor, next in line would most likely be the terminal station proposed near the municipal bus stand at Aluva, sources said. A huge pay and park lot has been envisaged near this station.
100 Piles over
Piling to construct pillars for the metro’s viaduct is underway at three places – Aluva (40 piles over and third rig is ready to take position), Changampuzha Park (50 over and third rig getting ready) and Kaloor (10 over), while it will commence at M G Road this week. L and T is engaged in piling at the first two locales, while Soma Constructions is doing piling at M G Road.
M G Road
In M G Road, work is set to begin to relocate electric posts, underground cables, demolish road median, install lights and fix LEDs atop barricades, prior to beginning piling.
Era Constructions, which was awarded civil works for metro’s Ernakulam South-Pettah reach, is expected to begin piling near Kunnara Park in the Vytilla-Pettah stretch. A plethora of problems await the firm since piling can be done only in the 700-metre-long Vytilla Mobility Hub-Kunnara Park stretch.
“By not laying pipelines along SA Road, Kerala Water Authority is delaying commencement of metro’s civil works on the road. The PWD has so fare been unable to begin widening of Vytilla-Pettah road into four-lane,” said sources associated with the metro.