Kochi Metro gets Cabinet green nod
Green signal came for the Kochi Metro with the Union Cabinet giving its clearance on Tuesday. The project promises to change the face of the port city and make travel easier and faster.
As per the Cabinet decision, the project will be implemented with Centre-State partnership on the model of Chennai Metro.
The Union and state governments would contribute 15 per cent each to the total project cost estimated at Rs 5,182 crore.
Also, a loan of Rs 2,170 crore will be availed from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA).
“We are extremely happy to receive the approval. Kochi Metro is the dream project for Kerala and that dream is becoming a reality,” said Kochi Metro Rail Ltd managing director Tom Jose.
The Metro rail will cover an area of 25.6 km from Aluva to Thripunithura where 22 stations will be set up.
The project will require 31.92 hectares of land. The state government will have to undertake land acquisition.
There will be three coaches on each metro train initially, which will be later raised to six.
With the cabinet’s approval, the first step will be reconstitution of KMRL and also including the Centre’s participation.
Also, steps will have to be hastened for getting the JICA loan which, though, will be needed only later for the rail projects.
Earlier in the day, chief minister Oommen Chandy told the media that the project would be completed in three to four years and the state government had already begun the preliminary work.
The Prime Minister is expected to lay the foundation for the project when he arrives for the Emerging Kerala in Kochi in September.
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